The following list was contributed by my dear friend and bass player, Dennis Woodrich, as reactions to a recent performance by our group. These items struck me as a good checklist for any band before and during a performance. Being in a band is different the just "jamming", and extra attention must be given to details like those listed by Dennis.
- consideration given to the setup
- monitors for the horns all the time, not just on solos
- talk thru…nuff said
- not everything needs to be exactly like the CD. Some things are already evolving. There’s little doubt that the Adderly band played anything the same way twice ( or Miles or Diz or anyone except Pop acts and cover bands…) There’s at least one problem that develops when a player rehearses with the CD….namely expectations that aren’t necessarily applicable to real life. A gig is real.
- be ready for proper count- offs and cues, etc. …..eye contact if possible
- the intensity you might feel during the rehearsal might have to do partially with proximity of the players…maybe all players face each other in rehearsal, or the room is more intimate.
- presentation……… rapport and respect for audience. Everybody knows how to do it.
- it’s a team effort, from the get-go. When another player has a problem, I prefer to ask myself what I might do to help and to ask what I may have done to cause it (like a mis-cue or bum note or line) and how to prevent it in the future.
- Mark parts correctly after the performance or rehearsal. Call attention to problems or changes.
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