SUMMER JAM 2024 – JOIN THE BAND – SAGEBRUSH CANTINA

134th  Concert Review – Summer Jam 2024

2024 SUMMER JAM

Saturday, August 10th

13 Bands Rocked The Sagebrush Cantina

I must send out kudos to my amazing team at Join The Band. Trent, Ryan, Taylor, David, Bianca, Miriam, Scotty, and Lynn. All these team members are there to make sure your show day is a fun experience. 

“Man, it was a hot one—like seven inches from the midday sun—but you all stayed so cool.”

Join The Band Summer Jam 2024. It’s been quite a few years since we rocked at the Sagebrush Cantina. Yes, it was “a hot one.” Not nearly as hot as our 1st show at the Cantina (105 degrees, but who is counting? 😎🌡️☀️)

Load-in for the day started at 7:45 a.m. The stage and band tent area were set up by 8:45 a.m. Sound check was over by 9 a.m., and the concert started promptly at 10:15 a.m. 

Congratulations to all of you on your performance. It’s one thing to talk about playing on stage. It’s another thing to actually do it. That is what sets all of you apart from the couch potato musicians. Every gig is a learning experience.

Playing outside is a very different experience. The sound is not trapped inside a room; it disperses quickly. The Sagebrush stage is unique in that it is like setting up in the corner of a room with walls on each side, but it is still outside. We also had the advantage of having a very good sound engineer. Gary is one of the few sound engineers who actually pays attention. He also worked well with our performers on stage, offering solid advice and solving problems. Thank you, Gary!

High temperatures can wreak havoc on electronic equipment. Fortunately, we had no issues with the heat except for “The Philfighters” heating up the mixing board and following it up with “Burnin’ For You.” 😎

I’ve said it over and over again: 

“There is nothing better for musical growth than playing live shows. Having a performance goal sharpens your focus and prioritizes your practice routines. Over the last 26 years of coaching bands, I still get excited to see the progress of our JTB band members on concert weekends!”

FRIENDLY REMINDERS TO IMPROVE YOUR CONCERT EXPERIENCE.

EVERYONE: 

1. Memorize your music and lyrics. The best and most confident performances happen when you memorize your music and lyrics.
2. Nobody wants to see performers with their heads down, buried in a lyric sheet or a phone. Good grief. :)   Can you imagine attending a concert of your favorite band and watching them with their head buried in a chart or lyric sheet? Not to mention the music stand blocking your view of them performing?
3. See number 1. 
4. See number 2. 

SINGERS: 

1. Memorize your lyrics. The best and most confident performances happen when you memorize your lyrics.
2. MICROPHONE: It is always best to have your own Shure SM58 microphone. Microphones are gross. Singers spit on them and touch them with their mouths. I don’t think you want to swap spit with your fellow JTB friends. Yuk! 🙂
3. Test your microphone at the same level you sing at; otherwise, the engineer cannot set your mic level correctly.
4. MONITORS: We test the monitors thoroughly beforehand, and they work. Most monitor issues are caused by the source (singer) not projecting enough on the microphone.
5. You have to project on the microphone. The microphone will only produce what you give it. If your singing projection is too low,  the microphone and the engineer will not be able to boost your level without getting feedback. (Feedback is high-pitched squealing from the speakers.)

GUITAR and BASS PLAYERS:

1. Memorize your music and lyrics. The best and most confident performances happen when you memorize your music and lyrics.
2. Did you tune up before you got on stage?
3. Please bring your tuner to the shows and rehearsals. We recommend the clip on “Snark” brand tuners. You can clip the Snark to your guitar headstock in case you get out of tune during your set. 
4. You do have your strap…right?
5. You do have your picks…right?

KEYBOARDISTS:

1. Memorize your music and lyrics. The best and most confident performances happen when you memorize your music and lyrics.
2. Please make sure the keyboard is not transposed. If you are not sure, ask the band leader on the stage. 

DRUMMERS:

1. Memorize your music and lyrics. The best and most confident performances happen when you memorize your music and lyrics.
2. You do bring your sticks…right? 
3. Make sure the drum throne and drum/cymbal heights are good for you. We have JTB teachers on stage to assist you.

Every time you play a show, you will learn something. “Things” happen during live performances.

Your preparation time makes a difference. Ask yourself these questions:

• Did I put in proper time to learn my songs? 

1. You know the answer to this question. Be honest with yourself. 
2. Put in the time. Work with your teacher.
3. Listen to your teacher’s input and apply their advice.

• Did I put in the time to memorize the music and song lyrics? 

1. Really? You had 3 months, and you still need a lyric sheet?  Come on, man! :)
2. Playing with your head buried in a music stand isn’t fun for your audience to watch.
3. The most successful performances I see are minus music stands. :)
4. Listening to the song is key. Listen to your songs when you are commuting in your car, going to work, going to school, etc… 
5. Listen to the songs until you can’t stand to hear them again. Then listen to them some more. :)
6. Is my instrument show ready? 
7. This applies to guitar and bassists. 
8. Do you need new strings, is your input jack working, volume and tone controls clean? etc…

• Drummers… Did I bring my sticks?

1. Really? You didn’t bring your sticks?  Come on, man! :)

• Guitar players… Are your effect pedals ready to plug in and play?

1. You should be able to drop your pedal board on the stage, plug it in with 2 cables, and be ready to rock within 2 minutes.
2. Are your gain stages appropriately set? Ask us for help.
3. Are your connection cables working correctly? No shorting out? no intermittent problems? etc…
4. Are your pedals mounted on a pedal board with a power supply?
5. We can assist you with setting up your pedal board. Just ask. :) 

• Avoid filling your head with “what ifs?” 

1. What if I forget a lyric? 
2. What if I forget a chord? 
3. What if my sticks break? 
4. What if I break a string? 
5. What if…? What if…? What if…? 
6. All you are doing is creating an image in your head of what you don’t want to happen. In other words. “Worrying is like wishing for an outcome that you don’t want.”

Things that are challenging to plan for:

1. The audience: The only way to get used to playing for an audience is to play live. Nothing else works. Remember, go in with the attitude that your audience wants you to succeed. Your preparation time is crucial.
2. Lights in your eyes: This advice sounds simple, but I’ll say it… Don’t look directly at the lights. 
3. Nightclubs sound different from rehearsal rooms. Every nightclub or venue you play will have its own sound. Some will be similar, but they are all different. The only way to get good at adjusting to a room is to play live in many different venues.
4. Sound engineer: Every engineer we work with is different. Some are detailed, others are not. Detail is better. Engineers have been fired for “phoning it in” at our concerts. 

PRACTICE ROUTINES: What is yours, and how do you make the best use of your time?

Let’s face it. We are all busy. Computers, phones, tablets, and even our watches are supposed to “simplify our lives,” but they are often vehicles for distraction and wasted time. There is always one more post to send, one more to read, one more email, one more text, one more tweet, one more whatever to keep us from doing the work that matters.

Plan your practice schedule and stick to it. Setting aside the same days and times for practicing will get you into a solid routine.  Do not use your phone, tablet, or computer to read charts and/or lyrics during this time.  Instead,  print out your music and/or lyrics to avoid spiraling down a “digital rabbit hole.” Place your phone in a different room, or just shut it off.  Believe me, the world will continue even if you are “not connected”.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the studio!

John Mizenko

Director

Join The Band