Warming Up

[Zed]

Our banjer picker fella keeps saying that he'd like to arrange things so we can warm up, as a group, before a gig, for a 1/2 hour or more. He feels that we're really not warming up and loosening up enough before a gig and therefore don't start hitting our stride until the gig is about over (for an hour gig, anyway). I'm not sure i completely agree with him on that... but i'm thinking it's just not possible in most cases or practical to jam for 1/2 hr someplace at the venue before the gig. It's not like our venues have dressing rooms. I have my own little warm-up routine i go thru and that seems to work for me.

Anyway... just wondering what those of you in working bands do and would appreciate your thoughts.

[mandofiddle]

We've played gigs where we have the chance to warm up, and gigs where we haven't. We DEFINITELY play better when we've had a chance to warm up, no question about it. Some of the places we play, there just any way to do it, but when we can we do... At least half an hour warmup is good, though we've hadfull on 2+ hour rehearsals before gigs that turned out to be our best gigs.

[Rob Anderson]

Hello Zeke,
Good topic.
I'm always amazed at the lack of any warm-up by many wonderful musicians. I love to have a solid hour alone with my mando and voice before each show. I can almost always find some place in the venue thats isolated or I sit in my car. A concrete stairwell with that lovely reverb is the best! I absolutely cherish this alone time, it centers me and generally takes away any nervousness if I'm sure my voice is working properly. I like to sing and play songs that we are not doing, just my personal favorites that no one ever hears.
Band warmup is important as well. Ideally we play for a half hour together and then I disappear for another half hour before the show. Timing is critical, but usually we can pull that off in the venue or when it's warm, outside. Personally I would sacrifice band warmup for individual warmup, having each member responsible for preparing themselves in whatever way the choose to play at 100% vocally and instrumentally from the very first song.
If every member is starting with no warmup theres no way that band is going to sound as good as it could for at least a handfull of songs. In my opinion the first set should not be used for a warm-up!
Having said all that, I understand that each person has different ideas about what it means to be ready to play and certain logistical factors can make a full band warm-up an impossibility. As a member of a band I consider it my responsibility to step up to the mic ready to go vocally and instrumentally.
Hope this helps,
Rob

[Tom C]

I need to warm up. For the first 1/2 hr it feels like I have not played in a month
-Or like when your dreaming and it feels like you're being held back from doing something.

[TonyP.]

This has always been a battle in bands I've been in too. I have to warm up and I always seem to get with people who would rather wander in circles. It's the same as your banjo player says, we get going about the end of the set. For me it seems warming up as band isn't about "warming" up as much as "getting in sync". We did back to back gigs and we sounded better in the second gig so I know being warmed up is best. I've also never been in a band with a real boss so this issue still gets dodged. The bands I know with a boss always warm up.

[Bobbie Dier]

I think our band does better when we warm up 30 min to 1 hr before a gig. It gives you a chance to relax a little and get rid of some of the tension before you get to play on stage. I would rather warm up as a band than just by myself.
We need all the practice we can get.

[mandopete]

I too like to have at least 1/2 hour to warm-up before a gig, but sometimes it just isn't possible. On those ocasions I just put my hands in a microwave oven.

[TonyP.]

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif your a genious Pete! Can you give me your secret for getting the microwave to come on with the door open? I can't fit http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[mandopete]

Just pop yer poodle in there too, it's all good!