1. We all know the importance of the volume knob. Man, if there is a single more powerful, influential and attractive problem solver in existence, I don’t know what it could be. The loud control is the first thing we reach for when somethin’ doesn’t sound quite right, most often to turn up, rarely down. Step on over to your amp, crank it up a notch or two and watch the domino effect as each band member saunters back to his volume knob and does the tweak boogie. Being the exception, the drummer is back there wincing in sonic agony or dolting out in oblivion depending on whether or not he has ear plugs. The volume battle has begun; the primary loudnik realizes he’s been decibally confronted, so another twist of the trigger is in order. Not to be outdone, the other guitarist demonstrates his proficiency at using all three volume knobs on his rig. And on and on and on. At some point the vocals will need more volume, and that’s when the room becomes suddenly filled with vile, howling feedback. Finally, the audience begin voicing their opinion on the matter. What’s the moral of the story? The p.a. is numero uno, the Big Kahuna, the Top Dog of the volume pyramid. Show great respect for the dominant limitations of the p.a.
2. Devil or angel? Musically speaking, I guess it could boil down to which style of music you prefer to indulge. It’s probably safe to say that most of us have a fair balance between wickedness and sweetness in our musical tastes, and our listening preferences influence the product of our playing to a large degree. That balance between brash and sweet is one of the elements that define each of our unique musical personalities. The best musicians (not necessarily the most popular) are capable of playing a broad range of styles and techniques, and I would guess that their listening preferences are equally diverse. Whether you are a jackhammer whammy masher or a soft plucker, it is to your advantage to agressively (or occasionally) practice a style of music that is different from your normal, hormonal driven tendencies. While it may be admirable to dedicate your undying loyalty to a single genre of music, you should never allow that loyalty to restrict or inhibit your exploration of new realms. Attempting to incorporate both extremes into your playing style provides a valuable and instant lesson in dynamics. In short; broaden your horizons by listening, with an open mind, to something new. Then learn to play that new thing.
3. If you are a multi instrument sort of person, you already know how the knowledge of one instrument affects your technique on another instrument. The influence of one over the other can be both a groovy thing and a detrimental thing. A classic example is switching between guitar and bass; two similar instruments which are worlds apart in application. If your thought processes are in harmony with both axes, the music you play on either will be better because of the diversity. However, if you think of yourself as mainly a guitar player then the quality of your bass playing will probably suffer. In addition to unwavering consistency, bass requires absolute precision in relation to the beat. In contrast, playing the guitar is a celebration of the variety of notes and tones at your disposal. Switching between guitar and piano is also a radical gas. You might find yourself subconsciously transposing piano riffs into guitar riffs on stage, on the fly. Maximum brain burn. Which one do I have the most difficulty with? Switching from a Strat to a Les Paul.
4. Hauling your equipment. What a drag. I guess that depends upon how often you play and your overall vitality and youth. In reflection, hauling and setting up equipment has been some of the most beneficial exercise I’ve had during my life. I still reminisce on years ago and the sheer joy of transporting both cabinets of an Ampeg SST amp and a Fender PBass in my Chevy Corvair. And the rubber rattlesnakes I’d scatter around the interior to prevent the 8 track stereo being stolen while I was inside playing a gig. One night I realized; “Who on earth would steal an 8 track, even without the rattlers?” So I got rid of the rattlesnakes and, by gosh, someone stole the custom gearshift knob. Even though hauling equipment has transformed me into muscular, prime beefcake, I’d rather have roadies doing the toil thing. If you haul your stuff in a truck, use some thick mats or blankets in the bed. Tube amps are especially vulnerable to damage caused by sliding and bouncing against bare metal truck beds. Of course, the most desirable setup is having a flight case for each piece of equipment, but who wants to spend big money on something that doesn’t even come with a volume control?
5. Short songs and dancers. It’s not unusual for audience members to continue streaming onto the dance floor during the entire length of a song. If a song is coming off particularly well, it may be a good idea to extend the song so all dancers will have plenty of time to get down and shake. The most common extension methods are to double the length of the guitar solo or assign a second solo to the other guitarist, pianist or tuba player. Another common practice is to play the entire song as normal, but rather than end the song, repeat the second half of the song from the instrumental solo to end. In some cases the entire song can be repeated, but that method teeters on the threshold of cheeze. As the band gains experience, and you learn more of what to expect from dancers’ responses to your songlist, you can group certain songs together, maybe three in a row, and flow seamlessly from one to the next with no interruption to the dancers’ stride. The main idea is to keep the dance floor packed all night long. Enthusiastic dancers are also thirsty dancers, and those thirsty dancers keep the club owners very happy. A happy club owner will re-hire your band so long as you continue to make dancers thirsty. If you can make the dancers both thirsty and hungry, consider increasing your gig fee next month. A simpler, less commercial point of view; Continue in your efforts to improve your musical skills and tighten up the show. The rest of the stuff will fall together almost automatically.
