Blood law from a thousand smoky nights, bad coffee load-outs, and cats who vanished for breaking it.
The Dos
These are the overall big ones! Listen up!
Master at least two. Better all three:
Master at least two. Better all three:
- Play good.
- Show up every time, same guy, same level.
- Be a solid hang. Feed the vibe, don’t drain it.
Break one, you might slide. Break three, you’re gone.
Show early. Early is on time. On time is late.
Stay sharp: you there for the band or your spotlight? Play for the cat who cut the check.
Be economical. No fat.
Be economical. No fat.
Know the book cold. Serve the song—nothing more.
Dress the gig, not your ego. Look like you belong.
Listen harder than you play.
Blend, don’t bury.
Subbing? Nail it colder than the regular. Return the call. Don’t angle for the chair—karma’s got perfect pitch.
Money talk upfront. Clear numbers.
Smile at the room. Tip the soundman. Thank the booker. The scene’s smaller than your stick bag.
Play everything. “I don’t do country” means you don’t eat regular.
Dress the gig, not your ego. Look like you belong.
Listen harder than you play.
Blend, don’t bury.
Subbing? Nail it colder than the regular. Return the call. Don’t angle for the chair—karma’s got perfect pitch.
Money talk upfront. Clear numbers.
Smile at the room. Tip the soundman. Thank the booker. The scene’s smaller than your stick bag.
Play everything. “I don’t do country” means you don’t eat regular.
The Don’ts
Booze, powder, and whatever. Nobody fires the guy nursing coffee.
Volume wars.
Poaching the leader’s room.
Vanishing at load-out.
Being a dick.
One big truth:
If you’re gigging, you’re gigging. Act like you won the lottery every night you hit the stand. The room smells misery a mile off.
The unwritten stays unwritten because the ones who ignore it don’t last long enough to talk about it.