Musicians Beware: Bad Hangs Destroy Careers

[@effsixteenblock50]

I guess the terms "bad hang / good hang" have changed from their original meaning. I was a full-time musician throughout the '80s and '90s and when I or anyone I knew used those terms, we were talking about the "hang" - not work ( rehearsal, load-in / load-out, stage time etc.) but the time spent with a fellow band-mates during the day or after the gig, which was considerable since "tours" didn't last weeks or months but rather years at a time. "He's a great musician but a bad hang." was something you might hear. So a band-mate could potentially not commit any of the "sins" in the list mentioned in this video and be utterly professional in every regard but still be a drag to be around, which would earn them the "bad hang" title.

[@YmirVEVO]

That's still what it means. He's stretching the definition of it to fit the title.

[@Larrymh07]

I always try to do the positive things mentioned in this video, but felt I was a bad hang because I don't drink alcohol before performing and Maryjane never suited me. I'm just not a partier.

[@carlg2882]

​@Larrymh07 a friends band will take hiatus to dry out every 4 or 5 years.

[@Larrymh07]

@@carlg2882 That is a very good idea! A few of my favorite bands could have benefited from that idea.

[@aprilkurtz1589]

@@Larrymh07 The more I matured as a musician and a person, the more I appreciated non-partiers. I can't party and play...I found it increasingly hard to tune and play the buzzder I got.

[@ricardodubatti657]

In my band we have a motto: "Always be the artist that you would like to work with; always". Great video, as usual.

[@matthewbeckwith663]

That's a great motto!!

[@devilsboxcar3925]

Like that

[@philipconradmusic]

Love it!

[@neveser]

That's pretty good.

[@PatrickMacCready]

I recognized a couple yellow cards from my last gig, which made me want to message the touring band and just thank them for being so professional and nice. Thank you for making this very thoughtful video.

[@flapjacks9402]

Huge one for me is Don’t telegraph it when someone in the band makes a mistake. Nobody in the audience noticed until you made it weird. Look, no matter how much a band rehearses mistakes are inevitable. You hit a wrong note, you go into the chorus too early. It happens. You correct it and move on. What you don’t do is shoot daggers across the stage at your band mate shaking your head at them. It’s awkward

[@pw6002]

I was once in a band where our singer was the most insecure person I have ever met. At the end of a gig, where the concert was great and the audience very happy and responsive, she said in a very first-degree manner: « thank you, but you know, we were better during our rehearsal yesterday. » Needless to say that she killed the vibe in a microsecond.

[@Troumbadour]

I felt this in my soul, thank you for saying the quiet part out loud

[@FuzzWoof]

Yup, an ex-girlfriend of mine once came to watch a show I was playing, I felt I had a really bad gig and screwed up all over the place, she sat me down after the show and said, "You know, the only reason anyone in the audience knows you made a mistake is by the look on your face." and that completely changed my approach, haha.

[@orinblank2056]

Just give a smile or a laugh, it takes a mistake and makes it a silly little moment

[@hegemonycricket2182]

​@@orinblank2056exactly.

[@charlielong262]

Back when I was touring, our rule was "the first thing the audience hears is the first chord of the first song." People are so used to seeing bands sauntering onstage and noodling and tuning, that when you all walk out plug in and LAUNCH into that first song, it blows people away. Also played in a Beatles-centric 60s tribute band and we'd always have trouble with auditioning drummers. They would say things like "Beatles, yeah, Ringo's stuff is so basic" and then play it all wrong. When confronted with the original recording, they would invariably say "oh wow I never realized this was so complex." Next!

[@mj.l]

@@acbulgin2led zeppelin are awful. you sound like you don't see many "modern" bar bands

[@philipconradmusic]

Great insight! Thanks for sharing

[@georgesimpson1406]

I'll remember that with the 10 minute crescendo post-rock or IDM I see (then maybe the first thing they hear is the drone, or some reduced beat haha) I totally get the complex/simple thing though. Many drummers not nailing basic beats and timing, but between songs its "oh I was just practicing my paradiddle polyrhythmic solo in reverse" where we are all blown away by the skill of this solo, but can he please just do your 8th beat to the actual tempo that would suit the feel of the song. Same with bassists really; they need to know FEEL and GROOVE not slap and twiddle, or especially not be 'hey I play guitar for ten years, how hard can bass be lol, never tried but must be easy right". Well a pro-tip to at least statistically reducing those chances is just find a female drummer. They tend not to care about ridiculous technicality or have hubris, but 'get' the FEEL of a song as a whole and their part in it. OF course this is a massive generalisation because I'd also think a male songwriter excelling might be based on a similar property, and of course a female drummer has a chance of just being crap too, however, there's definitely a statistical likelihood involved all other variables remaining the same.

[@willdenham]

​@@mj.lWho are you talking to?

[@HarshanSandhu-c4r]

@@mj.l zeppelin are awful? 1971 zeppelin is pretty easily the greatest band ever both live and in studio

[@duncan_parkinson]

A mistake I’ve seen people make is thinking that there is a separate amateur and professional reputation, when actually you just have your reputation. If you behave poorly at gigs that aren’t paid that reputation will eventually reach the people booking gigs that _are_ paid and it will cost you.

[@goatfromhell666]

We're a well behaved band, and still haven't gotten paid yet

[@Triqii]

@@goatfromhell666being well behaved won’t guarantee success, but not being well behaved guarantees failure. It’s only one piece of the puzzle

[@oldgoat381]

There's a thin line you can... not really cross beyond superficial points. Unpaid gigs are gigs, treat the music and performance with respect, you chose to be there and you chose to spend time on this. Yeah it doesn't pay but you had the opportunity to say no.

[@theguynamedgio]

NGL I think it depends wildly. Some circles just don't run with each other.

[@BavonWW]

All that matters is that it sounds good and sells.

[@Microtonal_Cats]

Introduce yourself to the sound person, remember their name, and call them by name instead of "Hey sound guy", whether it's during sound check or during the show.

[@philipconradmusic]

Absolutely! Great addition

[@goatfromhell666]

I'm terrible with names, so I just refer to them as sound God. They all seem to appreciate it.

[@DeltaEntropy]

As a “sound person”… We don’t remember y’all’s names either. Don’t sweat it. Just be polite and don’t get in our way too much.

[@jessedaly7847]

Definitely never refer to a woman as “sound guy” I did that once and I have to live with the heinous cringe of that regrettable memory until I die, maybe longer.

[@bkanderson2659]

Great advice @microtonal_cats. I'm pretty sure I read this in your book years ago and remembered to do it when I was in a band. WORMS!

[@ckturvey]

One rule I follow is "Don't bring new (or new to you) gear to the gig". If you haven't used a particular amp, guitar, pedal, etc. at a rehearsal, don't use it for the 1st time at a gig. it introduces too many variables.

[@MartinMCade]

I've been there. A drummer decided to bring a set of trigger pads and a drum module to a gig. Never tested an rehearsal or even on his own. It took an extra hour to get everything set up.

[@Charlyfromthenuclearcity]

@@MartinMCade Oooh yeah, I have a reaaally firm rule about brand new gig in my bands. Have you tried it in rehearsal and does everyone in the band validates this change ? If not, it doesn't go up on stage. Amp head, new pedal, new microphone... Nothing worst than that.

[@PukeyMcDork]

This is totally true. excellent observation. honestly i love using the backline gear and have gigged some amazing rigs over the years. That weren't mine haw haw. Best one was SRV's bassist's rig in Austin at a 6th street gig, we were chumps in comparison but damn what a nice sound that thing had.

[@100DollarHeadache]

I fell foul of that one recently. Replaced my bass cab with a lighter one with a horn, and ended up blowing out the horn during the gig.

[@petougao]

​@@100DollarHeadache dont beat youself over it. Horns simetimes tend to get drowned out live, and you notice only when its too late. Hence bi-amping in GK amps (you turn up the bass speaker but not the HF) or safety fuses in some speaker, specifically for the horn.

[@romestant]

I only play by myself, all my instruments, record the parts... and I still learned something today.

[@philipconradmusic]

Thanks for watching!

[@goatfromhell666]

You've got it hard, because the other bands won't tell you if you were sloppy, or break any of the rules outlined in this video, but bandmates definitely do

[@romestant]

@@goatfromhell666 Yeah, my drummer is a bit of an idiot and slob. but I do tell me of my mistakes.

[@mikesmith1290]

Same here! I had a few rather large gigs( well big for me at least) I’d remix my tracks to take out different instruments and play them live. It was just me, my Digitech GNX3 and an iPod.

[@IlBiggo]

@@mikesmith1290 And still the drummer was speeding up :D

[@paristhalheimer]

Ending Your Set on Time. I played a gig where the opening band was going over time and wanted more time to play their new single. We had a tight window and they couldn't get the extra time.

[@philipconradmusic]

That’s a great addition!

[@millenniumtree]

In the same vein, play your MUST HAVE songs FIRST, or at least early enough so that If you have to cut early for any reason, you've got your set done already. Extra time is for fun, easy, crowd pleaser or filler songs.

[@paristhalheimer]

@@millenniumtree we always time our set list in rehearsal. During our last show, we were given extra time and the promoter asked us to play 2 more songs: Message in a Bottle and My Own Worst Enemy.

[@Jman-jw8zx]

Had this one, opener band vocalist showed up 2 songs into the set because he booked a gig with another band on the same day Then at the end of their set, after being told by the engineer 'you have 4 minutes left' decide to go ahead and play a 10 minute song in full and cut into the next bands set 🙈

[@dk7472]

Also leave for the gig with enough time to change a flat tire.

[@leandro8897]

I was thinking about that hahahaha

[@mekromaniac6505]

No joke I on the way to a show I blew a tire - and I still got to the venue before the opener 💀

[@jamieashby8810]

Leave enough time for traffic, tyres, peeing, pooping, or puking. 🤣🤣

[@UncleWalter1]

There was a great quote by Michael League I heard not too long ago as rule he has for himself in not pissing off the rest of the band, which was to the effect of: If you're going to change your part, don't do it in such a way that everyone has to change their part also to make it work. This is especially egregious in a gig situation, which I have had happen...

[@shayneoneill1506]

The golden rule that must never be broken: The show must go on. Do not stop the song unless its beyond hope. Make shit up. Sing gibberish, try and do something tricky until you find the groove again. Just keep playing. The audience doesnt know your fucking up, so fake it till you make it. The show MUST go on.

[@AnonMemSoc]

This is cardinal and must be understood immediately by people just starting out

[@michaelcarey9359]

Have a "go to" F-up jam?

[@IlBiggo]

100% this. I've often been on stage with bands I never played in before, and people always noticed how well my bass is "in the mix", "in the pocket" etc. Of course. I'm muting half of the notes, I'm basically a percussionist :D

[@TheRealCeeJai]

The "show", mate, not the song. That's what must go on. You have a duty to your audience to put on a good show. If you screw up a song and the whole band knows it, especially near the start, just admit your fallibility, ask the audience if it's ok to start over (which is endearing as hell and humanizes the band) and get it right. "Fake it til you make it" in this context is generally bad advice that leaves a bad taste in the mouths of your audience members who do know what's going on (which, I assure you, is more than the no one you think it is), and can mark you as a band who is careless, lazy, or unpracticed for gigs. Alice in Chains famously had to re-start "Sludge Factory" 3 or 4 times during their Unplugged set. No one has ever complained about that. We all appreciate that they wanted to make sure it was 100% right for the recording. That, my friend, is really making sure the show, and the band, goes on - and that it is what the audience expects.

[@jerrylev59]

Everyone makes mistakes, the critical difference is in how you react. Amateurs draw attention to it by trying to replay the flubbed part. Musical time waits for no one, you can only do that when you're practicing alone. In rehearsal or performance, pros pick it up as quickly as possible with the next part played correctly. Better even to stop for a second if you're lost, listen to the other players and come in confidently on the one of the next bar. And a tight ending can make up for a bit of slop in the middle, so it's usually best to keep going. People most remember the last thing they hear, all's well that ends well.

[@edwardmooneyhan1928]

Last show I drummed I reached out to every band and let them know they could backline my kit, as I was the final act that night. Made everyone's life easier.

[@dkerwood1]

But man, if you're using a kit that isn't yours, make only the smallest adjustments. I've seen drummers get up there and completely disassemble the backline kit to fit their preferred setup. I've seen them loosen memory locks to set stands lower, move toms around, change tension on pedals, retune everything... It's one thing if it's the venue's house kit or a rental, but when you know it's somebody's dialed-in, personal kit, be respectful.

[@edwardmooneyhan1928]

@@dkerwood1 guess it depends on the situation. We didn't really have a hard first note drop so we all agreed to take our time with the kit and I was ok with them making adjustments as I have everything marked with ink and tape. I backlined the shells and the hardware and one guy used my snare. But if it's like a hard time crunch and you agree to the backline, yeah keep it simple. Cancel Reply

[@MrStanleyMilton]

@@dkerwood1 WOW...That is diva-diabolical.

[@michaelhaydenbell]

@@MrStanleyMilton That is divabolical!

[@DrBackBeat]

@@dkerwood1 I will allow drummers on my kit to adjust throne height, snare height/angle, hi/hat height, and perhaps some minor adjustments if they are VERY different from what I do (which is very middle-of-the-road so they really shouldn't). I will also expect from them that they set it up back to what it was originally, roughly anyway. If they don't do that, it's not the worst crime but I think it's respectful to say the least. I want people to be able to play comfortably. But if you go and mess with the spring tension of my hats, retune my floor tom or take the pillow out of my kick, I'm coming for you.

[@johnjacobs4704]

Glad you added the body of water exemption to the no shorts rule. I play a lot of Florida (really hot) beach gigs in the summer and it’s hard to concentrate on music when you’re uncomfortable and excessive sweat on your instrument can impact technique and fans create unnecessary noise on microphones. Also, unsolicited advice for budding coastal musicians-wipe your gear down after every show. Salt and sand are the enemy (yes sand is in the air somehow lol)

[@ckturvey]

Also gig in Florida and outside daytime gigs mean shorts...

[@electrolinks]

Water rule is a good rule

[@samuelspear445]

Unless you're in a band that wears costumes or has a very specific aesthetic not many people will notice or care if you're wearing shorts. The few that do tend to be very vocal about it and can't ever articulate why they feel that way.

[@andrerenault]

The Offspring energy

[@hegemonycricket2182]

As a Florida-based musician, can confirm...story checks out. Wipe down instrument(s) at the end of gig, but when you get home you gotta open the cases up and really clean...instruments for sure, but also cables, amps, board, etc.

[@MrOtistetrax]

I just want to thank you for shouting out my band so many times in this video. Much love from So & So.

[@johnman84]

^^^ This comment deserves more love. I didn't realize we were in the same band! Haha 😎

[@philipconradmusic]

😂

[@IlBiggo]

My band "Yellow Card" wants to thank him as well.

[@KurtisStoops]

Love your point about people's expectations of your playing based on the gear you bring. As an amateur bass player who's always struggled with "spending just a little more" to get the better/best equipment, I'll fully acknowledge that my playing (currently) does not warrant the type of gear I fantasize about, so this really hit home.

[@ileutur6863]

Here's an example of a band behaving perfectly fine, but in the wrong context - This prog band local to me recently invested in a full digital amp rack and in ear monitoring system, while still touring local 100-200 capacity venues. They thought they were being professional and forward thinking, but instead they were met with hundreds of small time sound guys who don't know how to work with that system. So now their gigs sound like unmixed garbage despite them being top tier players and no bands want to tour with them because their setup takes up the entire soundcheck and disrupts all the other connections on stage.

[@jason.braatz]

As a guy in a new band with a brand new IEM rig hearing stuff like this bums me out. My plan is to over-communicate with the venues beforehand, have a backup plan, and not force it if it seems like the sound guy at the venue is unfamiliar. It's such a huge downgrade in our ability to put on a good show, though.

[@mattbridges8908]

Obvious solution is to hire your own sound person at that point. If you can shell out thousands for gear you may as well shell out a few hundred for someone who can run it.

[@mikek9955]

"Here's an example of a band behaving perfectly fine, but in the wrong context - This prog band" there! fixed it for you!

[@100DollarHeadache]

I once opened for a touring band that was unable to get a good sound on stage (and cancelled their performance when the sound guy just couldn't get it working) because they had a digital system for guitar/bass/synth sounds and the venue was one of those local 100-200 capacity venues that was just expecting an old school amp and miking up setup.

[@petougao]

Two words: spliter snake (or DI split, or Midas & Klark teknik). You make your mix and control your mix. The soundguy can have his mixer in any way he wants, or format, or technology.

[@kwyatt261]

Thanks Phil. Understanding this stuff is harder than learning and playing songs for me. I have a hunch that I may be a little autistic lol. I can sit in my room and learn jazz standards by ear, but knowing what all the other people seem to know in public settings can seem impossible for me. Like I'm just seeking approval and conformity of how, what, where and why of everything gig related so I don't seem like an alien or something.

[@UncleWalter1]

Rest assured, you're not alone. Also, there are plenty of neurodivergent folks out there playing gigs too. I am one of them. It can all be learned through experience, and being mindful. The fact that you're identifying that pain put already puts you ahead and already shows self-awareness. It seems impossible now, it felt like it for me too, but the fact you're thinking about this stuff means you're already on the right path, you care and that you can have a fulfilling life as part of a community of gigging musicians. You've got this!

[@mattnieri1202]

Playing in the rhythm section in styles of music where everybody plays something different (e.g. salsa, some funk, small group jazz, etc. i.e. not most rock music) and getting a lot of time in jamming with them and obsessing about how the ensemble sounds altogether ... Does your part respond well to what each musician is playing? What does this musician or that musician need from your playing to help them play better? Etc. etc. etc. This is something that really develops empathy skills for life in general. I say "rhythm section" because this is completely different from being, say, a saxophonist in a jazz group, or a soloist or singer. The musician who is a superb ensemble player (such as in the rhythm section) and also a superb frontman/soloist is not common. (Stevie Wonder is an example of both that comes to mind.)

[@philipconradmusic]

Glad you found it helpful, and glad to have you here!

[@jsarguitar]

number 1 and 2 rules simply put- be nice and timely!

[@subularreno]

honestly, I'd wager most of the GOATs were seriously neurodivergent. It seems to go with the territory of great artistry. I think it's cool that you're being cognizant of your strengths and weaknesses. The world would be a better place if more people were like that.

[@davidrick959]

I'll add one for singer/guitarists who are lucky enough to finally get a show with a backup band: Know what key you're doing the song in and stick to it. Don't hand out song sheets with the wrong chords in them and then go, "Oh, I use a capo". Horn players don't use a capo, string players don't use a capo, and keyboard players don't use a capo. It's asking a lot of those folks to transpose on the spot and in some cases, it might be physically impossible. If you're a guitarist and you do use a capo, then count your damn frets! If you get on stage and start a song one half step flat or sharp of how it was done in rehearsal, you're going to make everyone else look bad and possibly cause a complete train wreck.

[@jegr3398]

That's a really good one

[@FriedMetroid]

I agree but I also think it's incumbent on the serious professional musician to be able to transpose on short notice, within reason. At least, I've come to expect last minute requests for transposition and prepare for the possibility.

[@hegemonycricket2182]

Yes indeed...a G "shape" is not a G chord 😅

[@tompoynton]

I remember back in 2008 my friends band had been asked to support The War on Drugs here in Bristol, UK on their first UK/European tour. I went along obviously to support my pals, but even though I wasn’t even in the band, Adam and the guys (Kurt Vile was still in the band at that time), were more than happy to let me join them all and hang out backstage afterwards and chill, smoke some nice hash etc. Obviously they weren’t a known band at that time but I never forgot his generosity, and it left a big impression.

[@michaeledmondsonrock]

Play shoe gaze but don't actually shoe gaze. Got it!

[@michaelhaydenbell]

Exactly what I thought lol

[@electrolinks]

Stare at the snare

[@TheBassman28]

Heh Heh Heh... I liked that :)

[@georgesimpson1406]

Face back wall or drummer, usually. And have the mic directed upward so can fix it. I just give the example of Ray Manzarek who faced sideways and intently concentrated on his organ. You could always find your 'jim Morrison' instead or equivalent. Shoegaze bands already know this by employing pretty girls as their singer to be quite honest, so pedal-obsessed virgin nerds at the front taking notes actually look up at the band for a change.

[@TacticsTechniquesandProcedures]

We’re actually staring at our pedal boards but that wasn’t as catchy and easy to posture with…😂

[@bobbysquinch5085]

I do not consider myself a musician, but I do play in a blues group at a local music school, and we sometimes perform for local events and public recitals, and one thing that I really vibed with in this video is “stand with your shoulders back”because the biggest gig we ever did, I was really nervous didn’t know all the parts, but I acted confident I smiled, my shoulders back and it helped me feel comfortable and I think we did great

[@lilirune]

When I was gigging, I made sure I was always kind to everyone. I’ve never been the best bassist, but I got so many gigs just because people liked having me there.

[@mrsherwood2599]

Lol perfect. That's my day job story. People kept me around because I was funny and cool.

[@stephenkamienski4051]

as a drummer who plays fairly intense rock/metal stuff wearing shorts is often essential, it gets hot as hell up there

[@philipconradmusic]

Drummers get a break on this rule ✅

[@subularreno]

You can skirt this rule and wear a dress like Jon Fishman.

[@Kunibert_Knatter]

@@philipconradmusic Drummers and Jimmy Buffett RIP are allowed to wear shorts!

[@richardlanchester249]

Shorts are as much part of the regular uniform for metal, as the long hair!

[@mrsherwood2599]

We call this "The Copeland Exception" 😅😅

[@SublimeSynth]

"You are saying something about yourself when you say something about another musician ." Thank you for saying this! I can stomach when the average fan puts down a particular artist over taste or whatever, but hearing musicians bad mouth other musicians over such petty stuff just rubs the wrong way. Art is a collaberative effort, we all do better when we lift one another up

[@bulkvanderhuge9006]

Drummers - ALWAYS MAKE SURE TO WARM UP and PRACTICE NON-STOP, While everybody is trying to tune their instruments. The rest of the band will LOVE THAT.

[@221b-l3t]

Especially during discussions of arrangement. But key is having at least one guitarist trying to snap strings with his whammy.

[@CamCovello]

On gigs where the band is driving together in a van (might be on tour or just a one day trip), don't take long at the gas station stops. We all just want to get to the hotel or our house asap. Always appreciated when the band is quick.

[@MrStanleyMilton]

I've had a sound man throw a bunch of echo on my voice that was so egregious it literally threw me off time...I got so confused because of hearing the echos I didn't know where the next line started!...Unbelievable...I have experienced more diva sound people than diva musicians in my over 40 years of playing live shows. I've literally wanted to K.O. a couple. There have been some GREAT ones too though, Can't leave that out.

[@michaelhaydenbell]

Literally I literally can't literally believe that!

[@truthwinseverytime8805]

I have had that too. It sucks. The sound man has no right to add effects to a song they don't perform or write.

[@JakeStrange66]

If they're screwing up your sound, there's nothing wrong with letting them know. Just try to be nice about it unless the problem persists. I've seen several bands make it known the sound guy was screwing things up; not always, but usually being as polite about it as possible unless they kept screwing up something. I've only been in one band where we had to do that (although I've only been in 3 bands.) 😂 But every show I've played or attended where I've been lucky enough to get in for sound check, all the bands took time to do a sound check before the show.

[@BrianRissooumbofficial]

Honestly if you can’t correct yourself over a simple reverb sounds like a you problem

[@howardbwade]

Great stuff Philip! Another slight variation within a band - band members that don’t pull their weight with gear. I had a band mate who repeatedly didn’t show up in time to schlep gear and help set up. He’s a great guitarist and still a good friend. When we confronted him he denied that he did this. That band no longer exists. I do have a slight disagreement with learning songs in rehearsals. It depends. In my current band we like to learn the songs as a group whether original or cover. We’ll start with a rough sketch of the tune and slowly work it up over a number of rehearsals. We will then work on our own to really learn the parts but we get the tune pretty far along as a group from scratch. It’s kind of a special case I suppose. In this case the band is a unit rather than a frontman with backup musicians. The result over years with this particular band is that we have developed a unique band sound.

[@thomasinham]

a former roommate of mine once came home from a gig complaining about how their set was unfairly cut off, and what a terrible time the show was in general. i thought this was strange since i knew the organizers and had played the previous day in the same festival with no issues, so i reached out to a friend who was there. it turns out my roommate’s band showed up well after their set time on a tightly scheduled festival that was already running behind, were openly rude to the organizers and other performers, took an enormous time to get set up onstage, and played for well over their allotted time. they ended up having to be cut off since they started playing another song after already exceeding their set time. everyone who was involved with that city’s local scene, AND a neighboring city’s scene was in attendance at the show, and saw how rude that band was. roommate’s band has hardly played any gigs since bc all of those people saw that they were a nuisance to work with, and also warned their other friends in the scene not to book them.

[@paulcoleman3081]

Coming to rehearsal without knowing the parts is the one that makes me cringe. But also bandmates who only talk about themselves drive me crazy. My friend was in a band for two years and the keyboard player finally asked him if he was married or what. Everybody knew absolutely everything about the life and opinions of the keyboard player and could recite his anecdotes word for word.

[@NickBernzz]

I'm totally with you on hearing instruments that aren't being played live on stage! I much prefer when live arrangements vary from the record; makes everything more interesting to see live.

[@221b-l3t]

I agree which is why I joined a symphonic metal band that definetly can't afford an orchestra...

[@benspraker4137]

No apologizing to the audience from the stage. “Sorry guys, we didn’t rehearse that last one.”

[@philipconradmusic]

Great addition!

[@DamnSmoker]

On the other hand this works great as a joke.

[@transgenderdeathgripsfan549]

I have a friend who does this a lot. She'll play an amazing set and apologise about the mistakes she made. Noone noticed anything. Gotta believe in yourself

[@LonkinPork]

I guess you guys weren't ready for that yet. But your kids are gonna love it.

[@themagicminstrels476]

@@transgenderdeathgripsfan549 as a lead guitar player that started playing live one and a half years ago, I did this for easily over one year before I realized I was just a drag to interact with when I did that. I'll still do it to my bandmates, but not people at the show anymore.

[@Kyle_Noonan]

Great stuff as always. I think you handled this topic really well. One thing worth noting too is how people get dressed down when they goof up. I've had people do it publicly, and people who have had the grace to pull me aside and do it privately and definitely find the latter more effective. Treat people how you want to be treated folks!

[@dw7704]

I was at an outdoor show, not as a musician, but in the audience. It was over 100 F, the stage faced the sun, so all afternoon/evening it was shining right on the bands, no clouds. And almost every guitarist and bassist had a Snark or something similar on their headstock as they needed to retune between most of the songs due to the heat. I was okay with them.

[@221b-l3t]

Gotta hide the Harley Benton logo somehow haha. I actually have a pedal tuner but the clip on is sometimes more convenient, it's less accurate but more responsive and doesn't mute the signal.

[@johngjesdahl-xx2gb]

My particular observation on audience/performer ease of mind is this. Outdoor/ outside events rarely get the consideration needed for shade. Certainly no one wants the sun in their face. Besides that , people are much more at ease NOT under the glare of an open sky. The best outdoor gigs , and when audiences are relaxed and most conducive to being entertained, have plenty of shade for everyone. Not easy but way good.

[@dethkon]

#1 is great. Noodling on my guitar while other people were trying to tune/EQ/sound check was such a bad nervous habit of mine that I now ALWAYS turn the volume on my instrument all the way off during that time, religiously. Even during practice. It’s just such a rude/disruptive thing to do, it WILL make everyone hate you lol.

[@jeremythomas2865]

I’ve been playing in church for over 35 years. I’ve noticed church musicians have developed into the most needy, self centered musicians. I am also an audio engineer. I’ve done sound for a couple of extremely well known singers in Australia who have been doing it a lot longer than I. All they asked was to make sure they could hear their voice. Done. Had a band the next week. Young. Only played for a couple of years, wanted their monitors in stereo sounding like their CD. Wanting wedges the size of FOH speakers. My fellow church musicians and singers always wonder why our soundcheck and rehearsal only takes a short time to complete. Can I hear myself? Yes. Can I hear what I need? Yes. Turn down everything I don’t need. Done. Have we practiced at home? Yes. Let’s do an intro, verse, chorus and maybe a turnaround. Done. Next song. I’m big on rehearsal is not practice.

[@PsychorGames]

I love a youtuber who responds to comments so enthusiastically! I know I always try to do the same on my videos. I will say that I don't play live, in fact I just record all my music in my room, but this advice is just good advice for showbusiness in general. Good video!

[@tommaderos876]

I'm a beginning bass player and I appreciate that you took the time to make this video. A lot of these things are common sense, unfortunately sense is often not common.

[@grief_hammer]

We have a saying here in the UK that describes people with expensive equipment but lack of ability to use it: "All the gear & no idea".

[@Nigel-nv3lr]

I can hear with the accent that "gear" and "idea" rhyme lol

[@mrsherwood2599]

We call them "instrument owners" 😅

[@221b-l3t]

​@@mrsherwood2599 Blues dentists

[@mrsherwood2599]

@@221b-l3t 😂 😂 😂 EPIC.

[@221b-l3t]

@@mrsherwood2599 It's a fairly common description for upper middle class people who earn a lot and buy the fanciest guitars and amps to play some basic blues licks. There's also blues lawyers. They're also the ones that buy super rare stuff like original Klon pedals for 10 grand (you can buy an exact replica of the circuit for below 100 bucks).

[@nikgiengermakesmusic]

I loved that you brought up the "talkin shit" part. Something i do is never talk shit. It's been my main goal as a musician and producer to just always uplift everyone.

[@musictimewithjoel3020]

This is all very good info! Don’t play out much anymore but had to learn a lot of this the hard way 😅 I used to bring a lot of extra things I knew guitar players might forget or need like a capo, strap, headstock tuner, 9v batteries or cables. Definitely saved the day a few times and that’s what I like to call good hangs.

[@jarrod.ives92]

the only thing i personally disagree with her was the opinion on tracks. i feel like there are certain avenues in music where tracks are just necessary at this point. but other than that, i found this to be incredibly insightful and helpful. it actually confirmed a lot of unspoken feelings i’ve had over the years of working with many musicians of different calibers. professional or not. thanks for this one!

[@electrolinks]

Janes's addiction thumbs up this video.

[@J-kn1or]

Hahahahahah, well played

[@mellowords]

This is a gift to musical mankind. Many people need to see this in full. First vid I've seen of you and I'm a fan, thank you! Even i needed to hear the part about being self-sufficient. Sometimes i put off throwing a new IEC in my bag because i know theres a box of em every time. But thats actually reflecting something i dont want to.

[@doctorspook4414]

Regarding the ipads, well, Jordan Rudess from Dream Theatre always has an ipad and partially reads music on stage. Granted he is playing about a million more notes than most other musicians.

[@Cody-Palmer]

Awesome video and great content! I think it's always important to be patient with folks when they're not showing good etiquette (maybe they're exhausted from life/tour or just having a bad day) as well, at least be as patient as you can be, and that can sometimes bring that person out of their shell/funk/whathaveyou and make for an overall great night. A little positive mental attitude can go a long way. I'll also say that I've been very fortunate to work with a lot of talented folks who have both good and bad etiquette. From that experience, I'd say 9 times out of 10 you remember the folks who were nice AND talented, you form more and closer relationships (business connections or true friendships or peer/comrade relationships) with those people, and you're less likely to want to work with folks who were a bad hang. Even more reason to be friendly and have a good etiquette, while also doing your best to give other folks you work with for the first time the benefit of the doubt. Again, great video and lots of solid information that should be shared. Have a great weekend everyone and good luck at your gigs.

[@nathanminert3119]

In addition to tone, craft, and part writing- Ringo has great feel, and great technical ability.

[@offshoretomorrow3346]

I think the disrespect for Ringo came in the early 70s when virtuosity, vast kits, arenas and general pomposity were 'cool' and it stuck around even when pomposity had died off.

[@weronikazalewska2098]

Great stamina as well. Watch him playing their early stuff live with the quick hi hats.

[@dw8395]

The rehearsal rule is so true and a lot of musicians I know drives me nuts. As a bass player I feel Like I am the glue so I need to know the song so well so I don’t screw up the drummer and can stay in key with the guitar player.

[@BrianRissooumbofficial]

Chill out lmao you’re just the bassist

[@muatafalol]

Thank you for a lot of these! Regarding the backline conversation: please don't forget to also reach out to the venue operator and let them know about any agreements you've reached regarding shared equipment!

[@sonicaddiction]

Haha, I loved the inversion-moving around furniture analogy!

[@hrothgarvonmt]

The advice is sound, but really enjoyed the musical interludes between the segments. Thanks!

[@varantzmedia]

On gear, if you purchased it with your own money then you absolutely deserve it. There is no magical point when you can unlock more expensive instruments. And it isn’t the 1950s where you have to settle for a $100 guitar that goes out of tune every 5 minutes. There will always be haters who are gear watching

[@BifMcAwesome]

If someone is there to see gear they'd be better off gawking at the music store. I'm at a show to see the musicianship of the performer who can play a cigar-box banjo that doesn't even go to eleven for all I care.

[@WhatJeanWants]

This was a great video and lesson! You nailed it all!! At the moment, I can’t think of anything you missed, except maybe just one - the tip jar. My cover used a big empty Cheez Balls plastic container, and I always kept a dollar bill taped inside as a primer. People almost always tipped nicely. And sometimes the bar owner would grab our tip jar and rally the audience to tip even more. We always really appreciated that! Thanks for the great video!!

[@Palindromeater]

This is awesome Philip! Such great reminders, I am forwarding this to my band mates! All of us can fall into some of these at times.

[@ajdoesbass]

Backing tracks are always such a fascinating one to me. I’m actively trying to build a rig for my indie band to have backing tracks & Ive also 100% been the hater in the audience watching another band use tracks. But there is one giant truth about backing tracks I’ve learned & it’s that other musicians are the ones who are often turned off by it & majority of non-musicians don’t even realize they’re there. Communication of a feeling is the priority to me & if tracks improve the delivery of that message, I say RUN EM

[@devinnotschmevin]

Agreed. I saw an up and coming artist play a festival where he had a guitarist drummer and his acoustic. Took me a while to catch that there was bass coming out of the mains but no bassist. Weird to see, but I'd bet that the majority of the audience didn't know.

[@JojoG3110]

That "don't use backing tracks" statement is the most subjective in this video. Why not? Hav you ever been at a pop artist's show? Even rock bands do this. I think that non-musicians won't realise and musicians won't mind if they're good, fit in the mix and work with the song.

[@ZEGTHEFISH]

I say f* backing tracks. If i wanna listen to recordings I'll go on spotify. If its live im there to watch you make music live not do instrument kareoke.

[@jamesburns4363]

Solid advice. I was a sound engineer for a fairly big Mid Atlantic church and I agree with your Diva comments wholeheartedly. Build an extra hour into your travel schedule was some of the best advice I ever got. Thanks. Forgot to also add about the importance of keeping your connectors clean. I experienced this as a pretty big venue. It was super painful for the crew as everyone was pointing fingers at each other. During the set break one of the more experienced pro's advised the new member of the ensemble to clean his cable connectors on his board. Problem solved but set pretty much ruined. The good news is no one in the crew killed each other.

[@jakobbarger1260]

This is a genre of video I could watch forever. "Very hands-on best practices for an activity that I will never participate in"

[@AdamMalster]

Way on board with your point about the engineer sneaking delay on the vocal. We were recording once and the engineer sneaked chorus onto my guitar. Now, this is just my particular taste but God, I hate chorus, and that was a transgression.

[@BrianRissooumbofficial]

Why hate chorus lmao you sound like a damn diva!!!

[@markymark9516]

I agree with 99% of this and I'm very happy you're putting your thoughts out there - we should all be conscious of what we do on a gig! However, a band using sounds in a DAW is not something to gripe about. Plenty of top tier bands use sounds - usually the drummer - such as an 808 or super low tom that takes a performance from 0-100 instantly. I think if it sounds good, it sounds good. More importantly, think about all the artists that perform live with no band! It's still massively enjoyable and nobody is sitting there saying "Hey, where is the guy playing the piano?" on a song using a sample.

[@markymark9516]

Just look at Snarky Puppy. They're a massive band, but the drummer(s) still uses electronic pads in EVERY single song.

[@ImYourOverlord]

There's often not a green room area, but rather (in the case of a bar or nightclub) the only hangout area is the common room, where the audience is. In that kind of space, it's good to not stay huddled with your band, but make contact with some of the patrons there. Even just an introduction, thanking someone for being there, small talk, whatever is sincere is a "good hang."

[@LegsOnWheels]

Sound Engineers adding long-ass delays/reverbs to vocals is a pet peeve for sure, had one that was like a 4-second delay! Madness. Lots of great reminders and tips in here, thanks for the vid.

[@geordiemack4143]

Don't go into a gig with a bad mindset. This is a gamechanger, as it can change how you feel for the whole experience. I say things to myself like: I am going play amazingly tonight, I am going to meet and interact with some very interesting people, etc etc. Anything that puts you in a good frame of mind. No: I will fuck up, or even, im not going to make a mistake. No double negatives! Just positives only and its amazing how much calmer youll be, and how much more you'll enjoy playing, and the audience will sense it too. Happy playing people! Ps and no apologising onstage either!!

[@Microtonal_Cats]

Fun fact: to get the sound man to give a hoot about your sound at CBGBs, if you weren't a headlining band, you had to tip him 10 or 20 bucks. Played there 3 times. Was an open secret. Was back when 10 or 20 bucks was well more than it is now. If you're making a lot of money or have an important show now, might not hurt to give the sound person 20 bucks now. After soundcheck, before the show. Tip for a good soundcheck.

[@221b-l3t]

Damn I'm broke. I may have to offer services instead.

[@JonPaulTuckerMUSIC]

In regard to live vocal fx I think it can be done tastefully. I had an engineer once mix in some delay during a rousing chorus on a song and it really lifted it to another level. He didn’t overdo it. I thanked him after the set for caring and trying to elevate the music. I accept it can go horribly wrong with an inexperienced tech though

[@garytrees3650]

I was performing solo, sitting on a chair, playing my guitar and singing, early in my career, at our city's regional "folklife festival" . After seeing a photo of myself at that gig, I have never EVER worn shorts on stage again 🙃

[@Zoologic21]

Man, this is such a trippy moment. I started watching this video and didn’t get to finishing it yet on that first go. I’m quite scatterbrained in a lot of ways and I’m often jumping from one thing to the next by habit. One of the videos I saw before coming back to this one was the video Rhett Shull had on his channel about approaching bass as a guitar player, and you were the star of that video! I really appreciate your insight and you seem cool in general. I got lucky with a recent score of a used short scale bass for a good price that suits me perfectly and is extremely comfortable. I don’t think I put two and two together when re-watching that video on Rhett Shull’s channel that you were in fact the same person who is in this video that I’m now commenting on! It’s intriguing to see advice go out that’s also on the general/social/mental side of things involving music. Definitely nothing wrong with a traditional lesson, but I’m loving any true insight and experiences that can really serve people who are looking to break through and do music professionally. Thanks for this!

[@philipconradmusic]

Thank you for the kind words and for finding me! Glad to have you here and good luck with your bass journey.

[@TheWeekendYogurt]

Incredible video. Wish etiquette was more of a thing even in the DIY/amateur scene.

[@jimestooper1480]

At a certain level, everyone is good. The opportunities you get are more about how you are as a person, and how well you travel etc. I have learned this through firsthand experience, seeing incredible musicians literally get kicked off of tour busses because of how they act.

[@pgburke4158]

For those bands with multiple guitars, or stringed instruments, PLEASE use the SAME tuner to tune all of the instruments to! I was in a really great band, locally touring, great CD sales, lots of interest, etc, etc... BUT, two of the rhythm guitar players had older, analog tuners and SWORE by them! Would not tune with anything else! (Incidentally, if we all used their older tuners, we may have been out of proper tune, but we would ALL have been "out" by the same degree, so "out of tune together") Well, at the time, I was running a Guitar Synth rig for "playing piano\keyboards" and, as you know, digital "keys" don't go out of tune! But, we were playing along and on the first song with the synth, I started the song off with a lovely piano intro, and when the other two came in... apparently - I - was "out of tune"!!! Huh?!?

[@oed84]

on behalf of every sound-engineer; THANK YOU for that first part!

[@owenandrew8108]

i usually try to abide by the no shorts rule, however, if its an outdoor gig and im playing in 90 degree weather with little to no breeze/fans, im wearing shorts.

[@MrStanleyMilton]

I've got ugly legs so...Let 'em sweat...

[@doctorrobert1339]

Yeah lol playing gigs in the middle of summer wearing jeans is asking for trouble

[@QuikdethDeviantart]

and genre matters, too. If you play hard rock or metal or something, you might get away with stuff that a pop band wouldn’t…

[@aprilnelly]

Years ago met Barbara Bach with a friend, during her Ringo/ LA days. My friend didnt no who she was, but went on excitedly about his dream to move to LA and become a drummer, when Ms Bach indicated that she was livIng there. She was charmed by his innocence. And he was mortified after, when we told him who she was.

[@paul_solis]

Baddest hang: Causing damage to people’s eardrums. I’m looking at you guitarists!

[@MrStanleyMilton]

True...Sometimes. However, If you are a bassist, rhythm gtr., drummer, keyboardist etc. REMEMBER, when the lead guitar solo (or ANY SOLO) shows up, let it be LOUDER than the bed you're suppose to be laying down for it to lay OVER. I've had guys play louder when the guitar solo takes over from the vocals! As if the solo doesn't deserve the same respect as the words of the song. Soloing needs space too. Crowding solos sucks really bad.

[@JCTriple7]

Guitarists are looking at you drummers 😀

[@tcbevolver]

According to some of Perry Farrell's people, it was Dave Navarro playing too loud that led to the on-stage fight that ended the Jane's Addiction tour.,

[@TypingHazard]

​@@tcbevolver to be fair he was trying to outplay Farrell's raging alcohol problem

[@IanOPadrick]

The drums set the sound floor, everyone else has to meet them, and the drums alone are enough to kill your ears, if you like rock you gotta bring ear plugs

[@nikulas91]

The noodling during sound check/or while people are talking drives me nuts…. Checking your amp/getting a sound, I totally understand but just noodling just to noodle drives me up the wall

[@philbeau]

Also known as Finger Diarrhea...

[@devilsdoorbell]

Feedback relative to your prompts during the video: Visible clip-on tuners: I'm fine with it, if that's what keeps the player in tune and is easiest to do so, or as a backup. My own experience with clip-ons and noisy rooms is that it can resonate through the instrument and make clip-on tuning hard or less accurate, vs. a cable-in tuner. I don't mind visible clip-ons. visible tablets onstage or on a stand (or having a music stand with printed sheet music). There are times/places for it, but I agree that you should show up prepared and having the music burned-in to your brain well enough that you're beyond a tablet as a crutch. I've seen gigs where a last minute sub was brought in, and they had a tablet - fine. But I've also seen gigs where seasoned pros can wing it and be right on the money, because even if they've never heard the song(s), they just know how it's going to flow, or take in-song cues from the other musicians. A big help is when whoever's at the mic starts the show with "this is so and so over here sitting in on [instrument] tonight. We didn't get a rehearsal in before now, but I trust them to do well. Please support them and make 'em feel loved." or similar. Tracks: When there are tracks for the song that don't add up to the musicians onstage - or the musicians onstage are pantomiming their parts, that's bad. When there are some ambient/supplement sounds and it's clear that it's a track to fill in or flesh out the song (NIN's downward spiral comes to mind. All that extra atmosphere as a track is cool.) but if you're playing a song and the guitarist launches into a solo but the rhythm guitar is still playing and they're the only guitarist onstage, BUSTED! Either don't do the solo, or let the bass player handle the groove, ala Van Halen, and let the other part fall away. I agree with you that "a live band can make a live show work that doesn't sound exactly like the album but conveys enough of the sound and feel that it passes" vs. trying to do to much with supplemental tracks.

[@TRUSTLBLACKMETAL]

'A closed mouth gathers few feet', i love it. how have i never heard it said this way before?

[@josephconrad9189]

I also think that the "dress code" can be genre specific. Nobody is gonna bat an eye about you wearing shorts on stage in a ska band.

[@petougao]

Is shorts with punk or ska-punk stretching it? Asking for a friend.

[@philipconradmusic]

Absolutely. It does depend on the gig. That rule I have adopted across the board to keep it simple.

[@misanthropicalparadise]

Dallas metal scene veteran here, and it was camo shorts and hoodies across the board back in the day.

[@FacePomagranate]

In my experience, it's very band specific! Just make sure everyone is dressing with a similar vibe so nobody stands out awkwardly.

[@Nanigross]

I run sound at a venue and the amount of bands showing up last minute, drummers taking all the time in the world to tune the house drums, musicians leaving the stage to get a drink or pee when they're supposed to start, or ignoring the room size and driving people out with volume of the amps is real.

[@mikesatawake2277]

My only deal with Snark tuners is when they don't turn down to tune. I'd rather people use a pedal so they can mute. Just a pet peeve. Enjoy your vids!

[@MageeMC]

I'll use a snark if I need to, but I will put it on the back instead of the front. That way the headstock is hiding it a bit, and I've found that it's actually easier to use on that side.

[@hegemonycricket2182]

​@@MageeMCi dont think the visual aspect is the real problem...the issue is not being able to tune silently, stealthily, as with a proper true bypass footswitch/pedal

[@MageeMC]

@@hegemonycricket2182 silent and stealthy is only a volume knob away. If someone is tuning at full volume then they need to stop.

[@hegemonycricket2182]

​@@MageeMC on stage why not tune silently with a pedal tuner? I understand using a snark type at home or in the green room before you perform, but not on stage. To each their own i guess

[@brukernavn3409]

@@hegemonycricket2182 It's less equipment to drag on stage.

[@fzzyslpprs]

I'm a guitar player who switched to bass for a gig. Definitely did the thing where I was unprepared a lot of the time, but also the band played tracks of instruments that clearly weren't there, so I think that evens out.

[@bungalowfeuhler1541]

The band that walks out on stage and immediately starts their first song is deeply respected. The one who talks about their day into the microphone while the band fiddles about is not.

[@alisterfolson]

As a "sometimes casual" band member, I can relate to these. Scrolling your site, I like. Subbed!

[@MrRawnch]

Flip flops and Shorts on Stage: Flip flops are a no-no for safety reasons. Too many trip hazards and heavy equipment on stage. Shorts are ok if your playing outside in 90 degree weather with no cover from the sun. If shorts are an option make sure they fit the style of the band.

[@boopsnoot2807]

I’m gonna be honest, the shorts thing is kind of stupid to me. If you get weirded out by people’s legs, grow up. Now I understand that venue and genre are different. If you’re in a jazz band playing in a nice venue/lounge, you better get a decent suit. But if it’s a rock gig or even a tour gig, why do shorts matter? What is the reverence of pants for? I get flip flops, they are a safety hazard and also just kind of gross. But shorts are literally just an article of clothing. It gets hot on stages and most of the time there isn’t adequate air flow to keep people cool, shorts are fine. It’s an elitist view, and unless you’re playing a jazz or classical gig, shorts are fine.

[@shawnmcvey7789]

Great advice overall. The picture of backline settings is genius and now I feel silly for never thinking of it. Saying "This staff is awesome, make sure you tip your servers and bartenders" is one of the best ways to get asked back to a venue if you aren't bringing lots of people. Also, I don't use Snarks because I love that tuning pedals mute the signal.

[@FacePomagranate]

As far as speaking about gear, it's also good to not get pedantic about names. Had a rude sound engineer make a comment when I asked to borrow an amp power cable; he played dumb until I showed him the amp, and then gave me a sarcastic "Ohhh, you mean an IEC cable". Yeah buddy, the one that's on 99% of amps... You're familiar with this equipment, right?

[@alexeypolevoybass]

It's your problem if you don't know your terminology, that's called ignorance.

[@TheGiantMidget]

​@@alexeypolevoybassyou are a complete douche in the most profound way

[@themagicminstrels476]

@@alexeypolevoybass get laid dude

[@alexeypolevoybass]

@@themagicminstrels476 I get laid more often than you get to eat, learn to accept your inferiority; better yet, learn how to overcome it.

[@Cobalt985]

LOL that's not even correct! IEC is a _collection_ of standards, not 1 cable. Fucking gotta love people asserting entirely incorrect things

[@PaddyLeggBass]

Genuinely in my top 3 most useful bass videos I’ve ever watched - musically I’m fine, but some of this stuff I struggle with, this video has made me die inside a couple of times thinking back but it’s also been super super helpful. I didn’t know how much I needed this video, - thank you! 😊

[@me-bf1re]

I recently saw Buckethead live and he fucking melted everyone's faces in a pair of basketball shorts and a sweater from walmart

[@antoineleedolliole7549]

That's because he's legendary badass! Didn't just happen to him. He had to earn it for himself.

[@pmtoner9852]

Did he wear a bucket on his head.

[@AutisticVaxtard]

Autism for the Autistic

[@KeatonSilverBeats]

@@pmtoner9852yes.. a KFC bucket

[@221b-l3t]

Yeah okay but he's Buckethead. He's not going to fit on anyone dress etiquette list. He makes up for it by playing well.

[@hdslave]

This is actually a really good video. Been working in this stuff 10 years myself and I wish everyone would watch it

[@jeffreyhughes9162]

Why does the Ringo hate spread across space and time? Just why?

[@jegr3398]

I don't know... Ringo kicks ass

[@QuestionofHanTyumi]

I mean I could see it if it were still the 70's and the #PeteBest people still existed but yeah it's baffling how much hate he still gets

[@BillPeschel]

Ringo's talent may not be seen by the audience, so he looks like the weakest of the Beatles. You have John and Paul with their big songwriting chops, and George with his guitar and singing (believe me, I'm not minimizing his songwriting, either). Ringo just seems to sit in the back and keep the beat. But among drummers, almost universally, Ringo is revered, because drummers know about his work ethic, his mad ability to keep the beat, his fills (and I'll reveal that I'm technically ignorant about drumming so I'm working from memory), and his playing in general. He's not flashy like Moon, or Pert, or Bonham. He's capable of playing a wide range of complex rhythms that you have to listen to carefully to realize just how good he is. In general, drummers are unique cats. Their job is to hold the band together, both with their sticks, and being the shock absorbers. There can be a lot of stress playing in a band with so many egos, so if they can absorb the static that might be directed against the other players, they can defuse tense situations. Plus, Ringo's a really sweet guy. He comes off as authentic, happy, maybe even grateful for his life, and enjoys every sandwich. I wish I was more like him.

[@TheFinalByte]

Preparing for my first gig coming up. Glad to hear the confidence tips and also that not being confident is not like a bad thing in itself. Real stressed lol

[@dylanjastle]

I’d add a couple things: Playing too long when you’re an opener or part of a multi-band lineup. Even as a headliner, not reading the room and noticing when you’re playing too long. Social and situational awareness. If you play an instrument that is only played intermittently throughout the song or the set, not vibing with the song when you’re not playing. Messing around on stage without regard to the energy and vibe of the song. Also kills the energy and the professionalism/presentation of the song.

[@dylanjastle]

Also, acting like you’re playing an arena show when you’re only playing to 10 people who barely want to be there. Be aware of the crowd vibe at DIY shows, respect people and be thankful for their presence

[@johnholt2193]

Always leave them wanting more.

[@JustusAndTheLimits]

Most excellent video man! Have a couple to add from Denver: 1. Don't play your guitar amp or snare drum while the sound engineer is actively on stage miking your amp or kick drum. If you trash your engineer's ears you aren't gonna sound your best that night and it really pisses them off something fierce.... also, pissed off sound engineers aren't really killing themselves to make you sound incredible. Keep your engineers happy and frosty and give them a thank you shout out from the stage. 2. If you are an opener on the bill then that is not your beer in the green room fridge, that is the headliner's beer. Ask permission before drinking one or even better buy your own beer at the bar if you aren't the headliner. This gets noticed and talked about by everyone in the green room way more than you would think. Couldn't agree more on Ipads (and music stands honestly) and shorts on stage looking tacky AF! Cheers and thanks for the great vid!

[@riverbankfrank4896]

Other than some of the more serious red cards, I’d say you should be flexible on the others and dont be a snob or stickler. We can keep all these rules in mind but in reality we only fully learn these things in practice. If someone in another band forgets a cable, lend one to them, and allow yourself to be approachable for help & advice. Chances are you’ve been that person and its likely you will be again.

[@randytate6848]

Respect the venue and owner/staff. Don't damage anything! Leave the stage cleaner than you found it. Show up on time. I came from a genre (punk) that broke many of those rules. I got so many gigs because the bar owner knew I respected the opportunity they were giving me and responded accordingly.

[@robmaher9789]

I always bring a broom, dustpan, & mop to the gig for this reason

[@randytate6848]

@@robmaher9789don't leave the stage strewn with beer bottles, etc.

[@VERBmusic89]

What’s about solo artist who don’t have a backing band. Are backing tracks still a turn off? I’ve been searching high and low but can’t find anyone in my area into what I’m doing and about to just go live with my backing tracks

[@hegemonycricket2182]

How much of it can you do with just vocal and guitar? Do the songs hold up in a minimalist setting?

[@jessehutchings]

I started doing open mics last year just to basically build my familiarity and confidence with getting in front of people and performing. I highly recommend it to anyone getting started!

[@ArsenalHenryForever]

What is it about the Snark that makes some people so snarky?

[@Ross_From_Synthetica]

Snarks pick up pitches from all over the room, and don't work properly unless the room is quiet. Nothing makes a musician look like a diva quite like telling a whole room of people to be quiet while they tune. Plus they just look unprofessional. Snarks are great for tuning in your own home. Otherwise, you need to spend the 30 bucks and get a pedal tuner. I'm not a gear snob, but this is non-negotiable if you're serious about playing out.

[@ratman262]

@@Ross_From_Synthetica This. Snarks are good for practice and that's it. They are simply not up to the task of gigging and only cause problems in that environment.

[@alexanderdenison2950]

​@Ross_From_Synthetica I don't use a snark, but I do use a clip on tuner (fishman) and consistently tune in very loud environments with no issue.

[@Ross_From_Synthetica]

@@alexanderdenison2950 I don’t know how that would work enough to trust any clip-on, nor am I familiar with Fishman, but Im glad to hear yours does the job for you.

[@Nino.ElectricSoul]

One thing that i've found works niceley, is looking/playing to the one person you see gives more confidence and good vibes with the audience

[@girhen]

A few of these didn't make sense, but then I caught a piece of context: Not all this advice is for bands, but for playing with a band you're not normally part of. Shorts on stage, overplaying, changing the root - these are all fine in a band context (well, if your band agreed to write the song that way or dress that way), but make sense to avoid when you're filling in for another artist you don't share creative control with. Some of my favorite metal bands regularly play in shorts, play intense lines, etc. - but that's because that's what their band does.