- Show up on time. Guitarists are irritating enough already. Late ones are unbearable.
- Know the material. You might think you ‘smoothed over’ that clam…you didn’t. When in doubt, don’t play.
- Mind your volume. Playing softly is no fun, but if you can’t hear the rest of the band, you’re too loud.
- Less than 5% of most songs is a guitar solo.
- Re-read #4
- Use the least amount of distortion you are comfy with. Everything you play will be easier to hear.
- When the sound guy mics the dead-center of your speaker, wait till he leaves and move it close to the edge.
- Be nice to the sound crew. They can make your life MUCH more miserable than you can make theirs.
- Re-read #4 again.
- In the studio, play half of what you ‘can’ play. Simple works.
- On a gig, make sure your tuner is on your pedalboard or otherwise ‘in-line’ with your guitar for instant access.
- Always carry business cards…even after you blatantly violate #2 and #4, someone may still want your number.
- Learn the proper way to wind cables. Nobody wants to play jump rope on stage.
- Get your setup/teardown routine down pat. Speed is key when you’re sharing the stage with other bands. And NEVER pack stuff up on stage – take it offstage first.
- Always carry extra fuses. If your amp has tubes, carry them too. Tape the fuses in the back of the amp.
- Warm up backstage. You’re not going to generate a lot of crowd excitement or anticipation if you’ve been standing there noodling for half an hour.
- Room acoustics have every bit to do with your sound as the rest of your gear.
- Plug your gear into the same electrical circuit as the PA. If you don’t, your mic can become a taser.
- Plug your amp and pedalboard into a circuit that shares the same ground as the P.A.
- Re-read #4 and #16