When you get on stage to play a gig, take a look around you and think about who is all working together to put the show together. You’ll immediately think of your band-mates and be thankful that there is a drummer, bassist and guitarist or vocalist helping you out when you play to a crowd. The only thing is though; do you think that is everyone that matters? If you do, perhaps you need to have a bigger think about what makes a great gig.
For starters, the sound check is a massively important guy and it is fair to say that without him, the gig would be of a much poorer quality. They go to great lengths to set the sound levels so every individual can be heard in their own right and that a good mix can be achieved. The band should thank the sound engineer for the work they put in, as should the crowd. The same goes for the lighting technician if there is one because even a few lights can make a massive difference to a gig.
And that’s just the gig itself, all the staff in the venue from the door staff to the bar-workers all play a part in getting the night organized. And don’t forget the people who put promotion together to advertise and promote the gig. You could be the best band in the world but if you don’t tell people where and when you are playing then no one is going to turn up. No one wants to take anything away from the musicians on stage but no matter how good they are, they need the support staff to ensure that the gig goes ahead.
And what about getting transport to the gig? Not many bands are seen going to gigs by public transport so quite often there are friends or family acting as drivers to make sure the band gets to the venue on time. This is a massive thing for any band and should never be overlooked. It can be easy to forget the amount of work that goes into arranging gigs and make a good night happen but it is always due to a lot more people than just the band.
Keeping these relationships healthy is as important as tuning your guitar!
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Filed under: Lessons, Performance, relationships | Tagged: band members, gig, relationships, show staff
