New Member here! Debut show Saturday, seeking advice. :D

[almostamour]

Hey guys, I'm a new MusicForte member, and I just found the site today.
Just was reading around, and I'm a solo acoustic artist and I have my debut show this Saturday with one other band here in the small town of Elko, NV. We have a pretty good little following here (I just put up my terrible-quality songs two days ago and I have about 600 plays, 315 yesterday).

Anyway, I'm playing outside this coffee shop (for free! ) and I'm very excited, and extremely nervous as well. Don't want to screw up (obviously), but I'm confident with my live vocals (as I've played in front of the majority of the people that will be there already) more than my live guitar skills. Any advice to calm the nerves pre-show (I'm pretty mentally tough, but anything to ya know, keep my hands from getting too sweaty? ) Any advice is very appreciated, anything from how to calm nerves, stage presence, etc.

And also, the band I'm playing the acoustic set with on Saturday (www.myspace.com/thegirlfriendseason) has asked me to become their bass player, and we have a show next Friday that is supposed to gather quite a few people (in Provo, Utah). Anyway, I'm learning the songs right now (they asked me two days ago, and I've never played a bass guitar before) and I've got the wireless connection to the amp ( I guess that's how you say it, I've never even picked up an electric guitar before this! ) so I have complete freedom on the stage. Any advice?

And one last thing, it sounds selfish, but I have much more range than the lead singer of the band that I just joined, but I don't want to ask him if I can sing backup (I get above his voice when we practice, and it harmonizes well) after playing with them for two days. How should I go about suggesting this? Never been in a band before, I'm a little confused on the 'rules' ya know?

Anyway, that's my first novel of a post on here. Thanks in advance for the help!

Colby
-Almost Amour

[SamDrummerBoy]

Provo, UT........ Yuck!!!! Why would you ever go there???? I hate that place......


Just play. That's all...... Yeah not much help....... You've done it all..... Do it again! Just play so that you enjoy it. Don't worry about everyone else. If you end up enjoying it they will too. If you worry about it you will no-doubtably have problems. Stop worrying...... It'll be fun.

And after all playing is fun. That's why we do it right?

Sam

PS sent a friend request..... Nothing on your sight? I'll go check Myspace....

PPS when and where are you playing? Maybe I'll show up and bug ya.

PPPS..... What's the deal with your myspace page???? It's a little messed up (just my opinion.... It's entirely possible that is how you want it. (To each their own.)) Had a tough time navigating through it though. Just wanted to let you know.

[SamDrummerBoy]

Gosh Darn Freakin 10 minute edit thing..... (That's a little Provo, Utah humor right there!!!!!!!) It's kind of an inside joke thing....... Unless you been here then.......... You know exactly what I'm talking about.......


Okay..... forget about the last PPPPPPS comment. I clicked on the main pic thing. Now I'm a little bit jealous. Cool little bio/news/all that other stuff chart thing.

As for the other questions..... Get a new battery and have a backup for the wireless. Pretend like being wireless is no big deal. It's just a cord without wires after all.

The other question.... Singing Backup....... Just ask. If they don't want it. They'll let you know. They may not know you can/want too. Just ask. Well....... on second thought you may want to wait for another reply...... I haven't been in a band for a while....... so...... .............
no..... I think you ought to ask. What's the worst that could happen........


Later

Sam

[almostamour]

Thanks for the response!
I just sent ya a comment. Didn't read this 'til now. Yeah.
Provo aint that bad!
We are playing at Muse Music (151 N. University Ave., but I'm sure you know) at 8 p.m. with a couple local guys.

I know I'm going to enjoy it, I'm just worried perhaps the crowd will not. So I'll just enjoy it and if they don't, well then whatever!

And I just want to keep good terms with the guys since I just joined (but I've known all of them through high school and stuff). Don't want to try and change everything up, ya know? Anywho, I'll bring it up when we jam next time.

So do you play for a living or is it something you do for fun or what?
I'm curious.
This site is very interesting.

-Almost Amour

PS: How bad is the recording quality? Be honest.
I think it's in need of being re-recorded ASAP, but I just whipped them together to get some songs up quicker for everyone. What do you think?

[SamDrummerBoy]

I play/record music for myself. That is my new philosophy anyway...... So far I'm maintaining my Ammatuer status (just in case there a an olympic event or something...... ) so the way I see it...... I can keep playing for myself. If someone wants a cd or something "BONUS"!!!!

I have been playing for 23+ years.......Picking up as many instruments as I can..... In a few bands. They haven't gone too far though....... SO I guess I'm just having fun. Did I just say that????

The Delusions of Granduer have worn off......... Oh well....... "At least I still have my guitar."

As for the recordings...... They're good. They get the idea across. I don't hear any of the typical distortion/clipping problems I sometimes hear on "quick" recordings. So, you have that ability anyway....I have really gotten into production lately. I love recording and manipulating the recordings. I can hear some things that maybe would make it sound better, but.......... Do you want to be a musician or a recording engineer? This is a question I've had problems with myself........ If you want to be great at your instrument........ (some may disagree....) Let someone else do your recording. As for me..... I'm insanely picky about stupid things, like compression. No one else does it how "I" want it so....... I do it all myself. If your looking for someone to blame my music on it's me........

Maybe some different mics or techniques....... The vocals recorded a little bit thin. The guitar would be cool if you stereo miked it or something. It could give you a stereo sound. (Leaving vocals centered.) I like the tunes though....... So no big deal. I'd still listen to them=good recording (in my book anyway.)

Well maybe I helped......blah blah blah.......


Sam

PS did you say what day you'd be in Provo? (I may have just missed it......)

Oh I do this way too much.........
PPS This is a cool site. You ought to post your songs and stuff here. Try it you'll like it..........

[Reconsiderate]

[Reconsiderate]

[almostamour]

[almostamour]

Had the debut show yesterday, and I wasn't nervous until...

...The first chord I played. My mind went totally blank, and I mixed up a couple words (not noticeable to fans, thank the Lord ) right off the bat.

Then the nerves just kind of went away and I sang. And the 25 or so people who showed up (just a tiny gig at the local popular coffee shop) seemed to like our acoustic set! So that's good, eh?

Next week, I've been slipped onto the bill for our 27th show in Provo (which is at 8, Sam, if you were planning on coming or anything). So now I'm slated to open there. Very excited. Hopefully I can beat the nerves (I'll be much more used to my 2 new songs next week and will be more confident). I learned a lot from my tiny first show, and hopefully can finish my 5th song this week and play a 5 song set for them (I think 4 is just a little short, IMO).

I've been sick all week and my throat seemed to go dry after about a minute and a half into each song. So it was tough hitting the rest of the high notes, but still got most of them (I bailed out and went low on a few ).

Anyway, thanks for all the advice guys, it helped. And I learned a whole lot too.

[Reconsiderate]