The butterflies............

[Mindseyes]

Ok so friday night me and my band are opening for Hoobastank and we are looking at about 3000-3500 in the crowd!!!............you could say im nervous!!!!!

Ive never played outside before so im kinda triping on what to expect as far as sound and what not.

Can anyone fill me in on what to be ready for? We are playing an hour set at around sunset and the temp's should be in the 70's-60's, big azz covered outdoor stage.

can someone please tell me it will be ok!!!!!!!!!! LOL

[Ethan]

You'll be ok. Sound outside usually isn't as good but onstage it should be fine. Make sure you can see your tuner leds! If its a big festival type thing with a lot of bands and you're on wireless, make sure you aren't getting a bunch of interference...this happened with some of the rigs I was teching at a big outdoor festival last year. Other than that just treat it like any other show and you'll be good!

[cmatthes]

Also - make sure somebody is there to take great pics/video of ya.

Very important!

[zenmindbeginner]

Also - make sure somebody is there to take great pics/video of ya.

Very important!

Listen to the man.

You will slap yourself silly if you don't.

Pics or it didn't happen right?

You'll kill it bro, just be in the moment... not many people get to have that moment.

[veatch]

You'll be OK, and good luck.

I've only done three outdoor gigs, so i'm no expert - but i do have a fond memory...

First outdoor was a festival, and while bending over to get under the barrier tape to get to the stage, i ripped the back of my pants out. (this was the mid 80's when everything was too tight to begin with...)

God was on my side, though, and it started to rain, so we didn't go on. We went to another location that was inside, and i had a chance to take a wardrobe change.

So i guess my only advise is wear loose fitting clothes.

[The Shark]

I understand the replies, but you need to understand a few things. Your amp won't sound the same. It will be thinner and the farther it is from you, the more it will sound "foreign". Stage volume will matter less in the overall mix, so get your amp as close to you as possible. If you have a good mix in the monitors, that should mitigate the thinner than usual tone. You'll also hear less of your bandmates. If the stage is large, you'll really need to have your monitor mix with the drums and bass mixed in more than in a room environment. It is a challenge and your post is evident of your concern. It's well founded. Playing on an outside stage can be a great experience, but you have to have "your tone" and be able to hear your bandmates in an even mix. Don't get freaked out, if it's thinner than you're used to. The mix out front will be drastically different than what you hear. Never equate the stage sound with the "house". The two are mutually exclusive in a room that big! Just have fun and don't panic if the mix you hear isn't what you're used to. Cause it won't be. Dogs can sense fear and so can large crowds of people. Have fun and nail your parts. If it isn't the tone and mix you're used to, that's the game. The folks in the crowd aren't hearing what you are. And they are there to have a good time. If you're having a good time, it translates. Just my three cents.

[HoboMan]

I've played a few large stage gigs and the thing that I enjoyed was getting to turn my amp up.

I played a festival once and had my MusicMan HD130 (130 watts) cranked. The amp was far away from me and when I was up at the front of the stage I could hear my guitar coming out of the PA speakers more than I could hear it from the amp.

Have a GREAT time!

[Turdus]

Make sure you can see your tuner leds!

I've had the Sun wipe out my view of the tuner pedal many times. Cardboard and tape can make an effective shade. Not pretty, but it works.

[juanferdiaz]

The only two times I played outdoors/big stage the perception I got is that the tone of my amp was dry as hell. The first time it was as if the reverb had gone and the second (different band and style) the gain. It was only my impression as outside tone was ok. Simply be a little bit more concentrated.

[Steve Haynie]

Wind will take a spare guitar off of a stand. If there is any wind you will want to sandbag your guitar stand or keep the backup guitar laying flat.

[serial]

All great points. As long as you don't have sideways rain (like I have had on occasion), it's fun to have a big stage to play around on.

One thing I'll add...

Don't stand still-run and jump around, etc. Have a hell of a lot of fun with it.

You'll kick ass. You've gotta be ok to get selected for a cool show like that, so I wouldn't worry about butterflies-you've got the talent surely-go rock it! Congrats and post pics!!

[BubbaVO]

You'll be OK! Just rock out and have a good time.

[GaryT]

Sounds pretty cool, Good Luck.

Everyone is a bit different how crowds effect them though. Without a doubt how well your prepared will have an effect on the outcome. But for the first few moments focus on exactly what your doing and not the crowd. I believe once you get rolling you should loosen right up and loose the butterflys.

[MCChris]

Things will go superbly if you use the Studio I sold you.

[hamerhead]

You'll kill it bro, just be in the moment... not many people get to have that moment.

Exactly. And it'll be the quickest hour of your life.

[doody]

Don't wear shorts.

[Scottcrud]

Here's probably the best advise I can give you, I've had my share of opening for Big bands like Carcass, Prong, Napalm Death, Sepultura (the original band during the Roots tour, SOLD OUT), Motorhead, Obituary to name a few. Anyway back to the advice, about 30-40 minutes before you start playing drink two pints of beer, your choice, (I like Guiness or Newcastle) and about 5-10 minutes before you hit the stage drink ONE Irish Carbomb, it's very important to only drink one Carbomb and 2 pints, if you drink 3 pints and a carbomb, or 2 pints and 2 carbombs you'll put yourself in jeopardy of being to loose.

Anyway, that's what I do and it works like a charm.

[Mindseyes]

Thanks for all the advice guys!!!!!

We owned that shit!!!!!!

Pics later my Internet is trash right now....

[veatch]

Great to hear. Can't wait for the pics!

[DavidE]

Dang, I missed the original thread and was going to put in my two cents learned on a gig I played last year on a much larger than normal stage in a big place. Photo below....