Getting Ready To Go Live

Make sure you have a 6m or more cable, you don't want to be tethered to the amp.

Practise your set standing up.

Practise in the dark. Really make sure you can find the right frets in poor light conditions. To really simulate this have friend switch the light on and off at random.

Pick out what you are going to wear. Make sure it shows you are 'the band'. Doesn't have to be a fancy stage shirt like I got. What you don't want is a load of sludge coloured jeans and t-shirts. Could be your whole band wears the same t-shirt or maybe topless with body paint... just make you don't look like roadies setting up.

Take a tuner or two, I made sure I had my Intellisense contact tuner in case my friends rack tuner died. At worst the tuner gives you something to look busy with during setup.

Agree your set list and stick to it. Do not leave a paper list to flutter off the stage. Tape it your amp, guitar, mike stand - where  ever you can see it at a glance.

Make sure you have bottled water with an easy to glug top. Avoid anything that can be kicked over and spill. Do not be tempted to fill it with alcohol. 'Dutch courage' doesn't work.

How about a little towel for that rock sweat wipe away, oh and spare t-shirt for when you come off drenched. Both are good packing for your guitar case or gig bag.

Take your tab or manuscript, you don't have to refer to it but if a glance helps... On this score make sure you use large marker pen that can be ready at your feet under stage lights, I have taken to boxing in chorus and bridges, so I can take in the song structure visually.