Gig Nightmares – How to Handle and Avoid Them

Seasoned musicians will recognize a potential gig nightmare before it happens. But not every nightmare is avoidable. We’ll discuss a few examples, preventative strategies and how to deal with gig nightmares.

Preventative Strategies

Everyone deals with frustrations before a gig. Maybe the band members had an argument, or you were stuck in traffic on route to the gig. Whatever the source of the frustrations, try to keep your cool and keep in mind the frustration will pass.

Expect something to go wrong. I have found that if you expect something to always go wrong, you won’t be as bothered when something does happen. Avoiding issues that can be prevented are typically related to how much thought and time you put into preparing for the gig. We’ve all forgot to pack something. Being organized and taking the time to make a gig checklist and making adequate time to pack can alleviate the nightmare of leaving a piece of gear behind. Think about things that can easily fail such as a microphone, a cable, or a mic clip on your stand. Carry a spare and you’ll avoid the nightmare. Preparing for a recent gig where I was attempting to pack a drum kit and sound system into one vehicle distracted me enough that I forgot the tripod speaker stands. I got by using some stools to elevate the speakers at the venue. But on the same gig, I found the bass drum mic I’ve had for years suddenly died. So, I had to use a spare mic I always pack, just in case. That saved us as it was an outdoor gig.

Handling Unavoidable Nightmares

Sometimes the venue can make a mistake. I’ve played a gig where the venue booked a semi-private party and having a band play wasn’t welcome as part of the party. Discuss it calmly with the venue and party to find a solution. In my case, we slightly altered our volume and allowed the party to make use of our sound system during our break so they could make some speeches.

Years ago, I often played “showcases” at bars and venues that would book 3-4 bands per night. There were only 45-50 min sets per band. The challenge was to set-up quickly so we could play the full 45-50 minutes. Keep your rig simple in these situations. Don’t go with the elaborate pedals and multiple instruments if you can avoid it. The easier it is for you to set up, the better the overall gig experience. Ask the staff if they can direct you and the other bands to the ideal place to stage the gear out of the way while you wait for your turn on stage. Be patient and considerate. Wait until the other band has cleared the stage before you clutter it with your gear. If one band member is slow to strike his gear, ask if it’s ok to start loading your band on stage. Keep in mind that even if your time slot to play is on a schedule, live music often won’t adhere to the intended schedule. Just know that ahead of time and alert those that come to see you. Tell them it is common for schedules to be delayed.

The worst mistake a venue can make is to double book. It can happen more often than you think. It’s happened to me three times. Always discuss terms when you book. Discuss what happens when you show up to play and you are unable to play for reasons the venue has caused. My first double booking meant I didn’t play because the other band was booked for an earlier start time and they were playing when I arrived. The 2^nd double booking was resolved by the other band playing a shorter set. I started late but was still able to play. We weren’t angry with the other band; it was not their fault. The 3^rd double booking incident was more involved. The band had dropped their drums on-stage very early. So, when we arrived the drums were in the way. The venue called the other band and we had found out that we had been issued a booking confirmation via e-mail long before someone else double booked that date. The other band were told they would not be playing. But we couldn’t set up with their drums in our way. So, the venue finally got permission by phone for us to set the drum kit aside so we could set up. That band showed up and we were very friendly and apologized to them even though it was the fault of one venue employee. They understood and stayed for our first set. As much as we can view other musicians as rivals, it is beneficial to support each other.

You never know what you’ll face upon arriving at a venue. A few years ago, we arrived to play an afternoon set at a brewery. When we arrived, we were told it had been cancelled due to a shooting there the night before. We gladly left as we had no idea the venue had such issues.  Needless to say, we did not attempt to book there again. Avoid venues that are notorious for security issues. The most impactful example I can share is a coffee shop gig from several years ago. A young man that booked us failed to respond to text messages in the days leading up to the gig. We chalked it up to him being young and busy. When we arrived, the owner pulled us aside to tell us the young man had unexpectedly passed away a few days prior. The venue didn’t have our contact information, so they had to tell us on-the-spot that they were having a memorial gathering of friends and family that same day. The young man’s friends were going to play after us. We had to process all that we had just learned and try to entertain. Thankfully, we actually knew some of the young man’s friends and it became a really special performance. 

In all, there may be no way to prepare for certain gig nightmares. The best thing any musician can do is to always expect something will go wrong. Having the proper mindset and avoiding an attitude that you are entitled to a perfect gig can greatly benefit you, the venue, and your audience. One final tip: don’t take your frustrations out on the venue staff if you want to continue to play there. A musician friend just told me he observed a young man chastise the sound guy at a venue and the venue asked him to leave before he played, and he was told he was banned from playing there. Even if the venue is to blame for a mistake, it wasn’t intentional. Mistakes happen. Learn to expect them and you’ll handle them wisely.

Also in Audio Info & Education