Sunday, December 8, 2013

Unusual Things To Bring To Your First Gig: Guitarist's Survival Guide

One cold windy day in 1992 I played my first solo guitar gig. It was at a little place called "Miracles Caf?" (Now a bank) on the coast of San Diego. I set up outside, tuned my guitar, breathed deep, and proceeded to play for the five or ten people brave enough to listen. Half way through the first song, it started. Wind.I was supposed to play for three hours, but I only had about 15 minutes of music learned by memory. No problem, I'll just read the music for the rest. It would have worked great...if it hadn't been for the wind. I'd get half way through a piece and flip, music gone. I tried desperately. I put every heavy object I could find on my music stand. Of course that helped, but then it blocked the page. Either way, I was doomed. The lesson? Bring clothes pins to every gig. Twenty years and countless gigs later I've learned there are lots of little things you have to have at every gig. Here is my list of items you wouldn't think to bring to a gig. (I'm assuming you will remember your guitar, music, amp, tuner, etc.)Clothes Pins - Even a little wind can turn your page.Extra Strings - The first band I played in was a bluegrass group. I'd strum and strum hard. First band gig? You guessed it, broken string. Third string to be more specific. I attempted to play the rest of the gig with five strings. Didn't work. Now I bring two extra sets with me every time I play, just in case.Extra Cables - Cables go bad, get lost, so bring a few extras. Cables are good for other things too. One time, I found my guitar amp had a horrible hum that would only go away if I held on to the end of a cable plugged in to an unused jack. Solution? I plugged an extra cable into the amp and put the other end in my sock. Worked like a charm. Well, until I stood up and walked away with it still attached.Hand Wipes - Hands get dirty after setting up equipment. And if you are running late or playing an outdoor festival there may not be anywhere to wash up, so bring some hand wipes.Hand Lotion - It's hard to play if your fingers feel like the Atacama Desert, a little lotion helps the touch.Dolly / Hand Truck - Moving amps may be good for your biceps, put its rotten for your fingers! If you lift enough equipment you can actually fatigue your hands making it difficult to play.Bungee chords - When you are moving your equipment make sure you attach it with bungee chords. I've seen many an amp tip over and fall.Tape - Preferably black, masking tape. After you finish your perfect set up, tape down any cables people may trip over. One tip, make sure to remove the tape first before pulling up the cable, otherwise it may wrap itself around the cable and never come off.Cable Ties - Whereas you may think it's all about the music, the event host might have other ideas. For instance they might actually want their restaurant, hotel, etc. to look nice! Tidying up cables with cable ties does a lot to make things presentable!Water and Energy Bar - Performing makes you hungry and thirsty! Bring some water and energy bar, just in case your host overlooks you. I'd say I get food and drink at about half of the events I play.

William Wilson is a San Diego Wedding Guitarist. He performs Spanish and Classical Guit

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