My First Gig

I can hardly believe I’m in a band! I can honestly say its one of the most exciting and fulfilling things I’ve ever done. Literally two months ago my good friend Neil, who has recently written some songs and recorded some demos on his home studio, mentioned he was looking for a bassist. I enthusiastically, but half-jokingly, suggested that I learn the bass for him, which then became a more serious discussion as I suddenly realized he was actually going to give me a chance. I’d been feeling my way around the guitar for a couple of years – I would have loved to have been the female Jimi Hendrix, but thus far had taught myself everything I knew and could only just about strum a few of my favorite songs! Neil agreed to write out the bass lines for me and give me guidance along the way. The very same day I contacted someone about borrowing a bass guitar and, having downloaded some bass tabs from the internet, was picking away the very next night. Spurred on by my own urges to be in a band and a recent viewing of School of Rock, I felt inspired and certain I could do it!

When I actually picked up a bass I had some anxieties about being good and consistent enough to play in a band. All the bassists I had seen on stage appeared relaxed and were having a great time, but with a machine-like sense of rhythm, tempo and tone. I realized that only by repetition would I get proficient enough, so I practiced every day for an hour or more and listened over and over to the songs I had to play along to. When it came to playing the bass lines, luckily, I have a fairly good sense of rhythm, and I found the extra space on the fret board of a bass guitar totally liberating. While my fingers got a little sore, not being used to the thicker strings, I found this a satisfying sign that I was working hard!

Roughly a week after picking up the bass, I jammed at Neil’s house, where we played along with each other and I astounded him with my progress and determination. I had discovered that playing a bass guitar is so enjoyable because, because you can have fun with the rhythm in a similar way to drums, while at the same time harmonising and creating melodies with the other guitars. I have grown to the love the satisfying rumble and boom of the bass sound and the way it underpins and drives a song. Seeing my progress, Neil suggested we have a proper practice in a rehearsal studio complete with his newly recruited drummer and second guitarist. I have to admit that when I first arrived at the rehearsal studio I felt rather intimidated to be the beginner playing with three experienced musicians. However, the others were so friendly and overwhelmed by what I’d accomplished in such a short time it really put me at ease! I found it a little harder playing with real live musicians as opposed to playing along with my practice CD – but a much more rewarding experience altogether. When it went right, I realized that magical warmth of feeling when a team of people are playing together in perfect collaboration.

In addition to playing, it was decided that I would provide backing vocals. I’d been in choirs at school and really enjoyed the idea of singing. My only problem was assurance in my ability and an initial crippling embarrassment about singing in front of the other guys – to start with I had to make Neil leave the room when I sang! Despite this, I knew it was something I definitely wanted to do and after a while my inhibitions dropped a little as I realized that I wasn’t actually that bad! However, playing the guitar and singing at the same time was definitely another hurdle that I had to deal with. It’s quite an art to hit the right note at exactly the right distance from the microphone while also hitting the right note and rhythm on a guitar you only picked up a few weeks ago! So again I practiced over and over, with Neil and by myself, keeping my neighbors up ’til the early hours with my booming bass and determined crooning. Again I found that time and repetition pays dividends, as I got more and more confident with singing and playing in unison.

Then, about four weeks since the band had been formed came our first gig, which I hope will act as a useful story to help anyone else who’s just embarked on a band and are perhaps facing their first live performance. Neil has many music contacts, having been involved in bands for many years and he managed to get us a support slot at a small venue. When it was confirmed I do admit to feeling a slight sense of dread along the lines of “I’ve only been playing 2 months!! What if I hit the wrong notes? What if I drop my guitar?…” I decided that I’d have to nip these feelings in the bud if I was going to be anything other than a shuddering wreck on stage.

So I tried a nifty little trick, which came to me out of the blue the day before the actual gig. I decide to fool myself into thinking I wasn’t nervous and that I was actually a cool-as-a-cucumber-rock-star-in-waiting. The day before the gig, I decided that whenever anyone asked me if I was nervous I would simply say “No, I’m excited” or something similar. Not in a big-headed way, but just to deny nervousness and turn it into enthusiasm. I’d practiced all the songs many times, I was totally capable of playing them, so why should I be nervous? I found that, amazingly, by the evening of the gig I’d actually convinced my brain that I wasn’t nervous – instead I was cheerful, relaxed and keen to get up there! The sound check was potentially the most nerve wracking part, as you have to sing a little and play on your own, but I found that just getting up and doing it without a moments nod to self-consciousness is the best way. Plus, because of my special preparation, it didn’t even affect me that much.

When we came to play it was absolutely exhilarating! We had all our friends in the audience and it felt great to show them what I’d learned and what we’d accomplished as a band. Plus, with all tension out of my body I was able to play to the best of my ability and I even spoke into the mic a few times! I even fluffed up a bit on the first song due to the flashing lights going dark for juuuuust slightly too long (!) but managed easily to recover. I think if I’d been nervous that might have thrown me more than it did (any guitar teacher will tell you that its impossible to play well if you’re tense). After the show, everyone congratulated us all on a good performance and commented on how at home I looked on stage! The overall message I’d like to share with anyone else who are just embarking on performing live with and for other people is to act confident even if you feel a little nervous inside and sooner or later that confidence will overwhelm inner jitters and you’ll perform all the better for it.

We performed our second gig about a week after the first and plan to write, record and perform some more over the summer. I’ve decided to take a few singing lessons and I’m also learning about writing my own bass lines and rhythms. I’m so glad I suggested I join my friend in this band – it’s going to be lots of hard work but I’m loving every minute of it!