Whether you’re a guitarist looking to entertain some folks, or a trumpet player trying to make a name for himself, every musician has had to deal with gigs at restaurants, cafes, bakeries and cake shops at one point in time. Gigs are an amazing experience to build up your experience, connections, and training. That said, many beginners tend to be nervous before their first gig. For those inexperienced musicians, here’s a list of simple do’s and don’ts to remember before a cake shop gig:

Do’s and don’ts of a cake shop gig

Do

• Create a setlist. You should have a list of the songs to play that is organized according to duration and order to make setup easier.
• Grab the audience’s attention. It’s pretty obvious that you should open with a banger that makes the most audience impact.
• Take some water with you onstage. You’ll be surprised by how dry your throat can get when you start your gig onstage, so make sure to have a water bottle with you.
• Know that things may go wrong. Be ready for any worst-case scenario. Maybe keep an instrumental piece on hand that other musicians can play to make up for lost time during any mechanical or instrumental setbacks.
• Look the audience in the eye. Your music isn’t the only thing people are interested in. If need be, signal to the mechanics and engineers mid-gig if you feel something isn’t right, so that they can fix the issue immediately, like if the trumpet isn’t playing over the speakers properly.

Don’t

• Use the wrong instrument. This may seem like a basic tip to remember, but a lot of beginner musicians tend to take the wrong advice before gigs and use new instruments they’ve never played before. This rule is especially important for trumpet players, who require trumpets of the right size, build and use. One of the trumpets I would recommend is the jupiter 1100s intermediate bb trumpet. As a beginner, you’ll want to ensure you have a trumpet that works just as well as this to keep up your confidence before the gig. The Jupiter 1100S is also durable and well-built for long drives cross-country if your bakery gig is a little way over. You can easily find this trumpet anywhere on a number of online retail stores. The ideal seller through whom you can easily buy the product is using Amazon. Here the price starts just below $1,200, inclusive of free shipping. However, the one feature that stands out with this trumpet is the accident protection. This allows you to undertake easy, setups, use, maintenance and replacements without any fuss. The Jupiter Intermediate Bb Trumpet is the ideal instrument for any beginner or experience trumpet player ready for their next rehearsal or gig.

• Forget to announce your name between each song. As a beginner, you’re relatively new to the music scene. You’ll have to make people remember you by hammering your name into their heads.
• Allow long pauses during a set. If your crew or the mechanics are taking time setting up before or during the gig, try and lighten the mood by communicating with the audience. Maybe crack a joke here and there. You’ll have the audience ready to be entertained.
• Take too long to pack up your equipment. If you’re a support act, chances are that the next band will want to start setting up as soon as possible. So, get ready in time and keep the audience interested. You’ll have plenty of time to have some drinks and chat up with fans in the audience backstage. Pack up and move on!
• Be Shy. Confidence is key. Leave your shy disposition at home, and entertain the audience with your talent!