Day 14 - Bass and Heels: Dos and Don'ts at a gig

Divinity Roxx

I had my first performance after my heel contract with myself, where I decided that I will be in-touch with my femininity and dress up and wear heels for all my shows. Doing this is also a confidence booster and curbs stage fright, therefore a better performance. As is with every performance, this was also a different learning but enjoyable experience. Here's what I took from it:

• Do tell your band to arrive two hours earlier than the actual time you want them to be there, so that they can arrive "on time".
• Do something like a dress-rehearsal before hand. I usually practice while seated, but I had to stand for the performance and this was a different feeling, so I felt as though the quality of my notes was not as clean as it could have been because of the different position. Also, the one time I had performed with heels, I sat down. So yes, dress rehearsal.
• Do make friends with a bassist named Armstrong. I have always wanted to know an Armstrong. My mission in life has been accomplished. Additionally, he had a beautiful, red guitar, that I just had to try out. Luckily he was kind enough to let me use it for my performance. He quite willingly gave it to me. I even sound checked for him for his performance. Maybe it was the power of the heel? 
• Do pay attention to your weak areas. I believe I need more  finger strengthening exercises. I find that even if I play the exact same bassline as someone else, mine still doesn't sound as strong. I initially thought that it had something to do with being a pianist, but of the female bassists I have listened to, only Divinity Roxx, whom I aspire to be like, has a solid touch. I especially love that she has a perfect balance between her tomboyish side and feminine side, which is hard to find, lest you come off as a butch lesbian.
• Do love thyself. My instrumentalists are such attention lovers. They insisted on doing an instrumental and being introduced individually. Granted, I was a driving pioneer behind this idea. But who will love you if you don't love yourself?
• Do carry pebbles. To the vocalists, one instrumental is enough. They started singing in one of our carefully thought out and planned instrumental introduction. Note to self: carry pebbles to toss at vocalists who sing during my moment.
• Do have marriage material members. My saxophonist would make a great husband and father. Not only does he have great artistic genes, but despite having a very important issue to deal with, he still came and performed even though we would have understood if he didn't. That there is marital commitment (if you are looking for a husband, talk to me nicely).
• Don't tell your drummer he's arrogant. I told my drummer that I think all drummers are arrogant, especially when it comes to playing in a band, and he was no exception. So now he thinks that playing humbly means playing while pulling a face that I would expect him to pull as if I had just told him, "I have discovered I am in love with your father. I will be your step-mum and there's nothing you can do about it."

Now that the first performance of the month has been done and I have discovered a few things, I am excited for the other performances and looking forward to the rest being bigger and better. In heels.