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Old 09-13-2014, 01:37 AM   #1 (permalink)
Aichuk
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Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 91
Default Just Performed at My First Concert

So after a month of practicing, our band finally got it's first gig. It was at a ' music festival' called The Hailing Underground- it was all about metal. This is funny because I'm not a huge metal fan (I like some metal like Meshuggah) and our band is not a metal band but hey, a show's a show.

We did relatively simple songs like Smells like Teen Spirit and Boulevard of Broken Dreams and one really awesome Bengali song called Obocheton. Here, check it out.
Nemesis _ Obocheton (Subconscious) - Bangladeshi Band - YouTube

Anyways, our rationale was that it was better to perform songs solidly instead of attempting really complex 7/3 prog songs imperfectly. And the bands who performed before us were honestly horrible. We're not the greatest band in the world, but at least we didn't rape Iron Maiden's Rainmaker like a previous band did.

The show wasn't bad as 100 people were there but people didn't appreciate Boulevard of Broken Dreams because it wasn't that heavy but I think we covered it solidly.

We were decent but we messed up a little. Our lead guitarist (I'm the rhythm guitarist) didn't adjust his sound properly and he couldn't be heard that well. We all screwed up at one point by abruptly stopping during Boulevard of Broken Dreams (luckily our drummer/singer covered that up properly). It was OK for a first concert and I was nervous as hell as it was the first time I performed in front of a crowd.

Here's some advice and info. for fellow musicians who might be performing for the first time.

1) Don't panic that much, nervousness will fade eventually when you are on stage. Before doing the show, I felt like abandoning my band due to stage fright, but after I was done, I felt like doing it again.

2) Screwing up is not as embarrassing as you think. My worst nightmare was that I'd screw up so badly that everyone would laugh at me, but instead, the crowd was appreciative even when we messed up a part of BOBD. And even if you trip onstage and everyone laughs, you'll feel like laughing along.

3) Try not to get too excited. My body was jacked up of adrenaline and therefore I sped up very fast in the beginning of some songs. Calm down and remember that it's just a show.

4) Play alongside the song the night before. Simple advice, but many don't follow it. Even I barely did it and the bands before us didn't even do it judging my their horrible timing.

5) Pee beforehand. Really, I drank so much water that my legs were shaking onstage

6) Loosen up. I look kinda ridiculous onstage because i was so stiff due to nervousness. loosening up will also help you onstage.

7) Simple songs performed properly sound much better than complex songs done halfassedly. I said it before and said it again.

8) You will probably screw up a little so learn from your mistakes. Ask some friends to come to your show to judge.

9. Sound Check. Make sure all instrument volumes are adjusted properly. Very important.


Thanks for reading, I just felt like sharing my experience

Last edited by Aichuk; 09-13-2014 at 01:53 AM.
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