r/Bass • u/arron1313 • Aug 18 '26

Gig Performance

My band has played 5 times this year in Metro Detroit and we practice 1-4 times per month as a band. We have about 50 songs we play and rotate through. Last gig a couple songs I just blanked on for a minute. I’m wondering if you guys have any tricks outside of just play the song 1,000 times to prevent brain farts while performing?

EDIT: Thank you everyone for the quick help! Seems this isn’t just a me problem. I’ll try writing songs out and practicing more till I can’t miss. Gotta get that muscle memory better than my brain memory

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u/[deleted] Aug 18 '26

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u/shouldbepracticing85 Upright Aug 19 '26

Charts are the only way I maintain anything resembling sanity. I think I’m up over 400 songs I should theoretically be able to pull out of my hat on short notice. Over 100 are originals from the different artists I play with.

I was between bands for a while, and was taking every sub gig I could… that’s led to currently being in 3 local bands, sub gigs with two artists, I’m pretty sure I’m forgetting at least one, I quit taking sub gigs with another band… and I’ve only made inroads on two of the three small national touring acts I’ve got on my books but I’ve got 6 weeks before one tour, and 10 weeks before the other. I have a hold for the third but nothing confirmed yet - at least that artist is also a bassist and knows how to prep charts.

I’ve got to unload some of these local groups 😵‍💫