For those of you who are new to open mics or who have only had a few gigs, it's best to be prepared and have everything you need right there when you need it. The worst scenario is when you take a trip out to a gig and open up your case only to realize that you forgot the most common items. So I compiled a list of what to bring in your guitar gig bag (if it will fit). This list varies from performer to performer as your needs might be different than the other. The purpose of this posting is to hammer down the idea of Never Assume! Be Prepared as Best You Can!
Guitar Picks
If you use guitar picks, then this is a must have to have in your gig bag. Just throw in 5-10 guitar picks. I also always carry one in my wallet just in case. There's this thing about guitar picks....they like to disappear. Don't fall into the trap of just having one guitar pick ready to be used.
Guitar Strings, Mini-Diagonal Cutter and Winder
You never know when a guitar string is going to break on you. If you do break a string, you want to make sure that you don't spend a lot of time fixing it so that's why I also say bring mini-diagonal cutters and a string winder. You can buy mini-diagonal cutters from almost anywhere and a string winder is only $1-2. String winders are really handy. I hate having to turn my tuning pegs by hand. Sure you can do it, but it's much fast with a guitar winder! And when you're at a gig time is very important!
Guitar Tuner
There are several kinds of tuners you can get, but the basic idea is...get one. Whether it's a cheap $10 tuner, the Cleartune app for the iPhone or the one that clips to the head stock just get one. Even if you can tune by ear you should have one. Sometimes in a noisy room you can't hear yourself tuning the guitar. Just plug your guitar cable in a tuner and voila...a tuned guitar.
Nail Clippers
This is one that many new comers forget. I had to learn this the hard way so I hope this alleviates you some headache. If your nails are too long you can feel those nails pushing down on the neck and those chords just don't sound as clean. Sometimes I get caught up with life and don't realize how long my nails have gotten. That's when having nail clippers comes in handy.
Capo
If you use a capo, make sure it stays with your bag at all times. The capo is one of those things that just gets lost all the time. Keep it close. A friendly tip - buy a capo that you will use every performance and also buy a really cheap capo and keep it in your bag. You'll barely ever use it, but if you ever do lose your first capo you know that you have the spare in your bag.
1/4? Cable
If you own an acoustic electric, don't assume that a venue will already have a 1/4? cable for you. I've had plenty of open mics where I showed up thinking the venue had all the gear I needed. Imagine my dismay when there's not a guitar cable in sight. Try and carry a decent size length cable too. You don't want a cable that is too short.
Flyers, Business Cards and Other Marketing materials
Every gig is an opportunity to talk about your upcoming shows. If someone hears you in the crowd and wants to know when your next show is, you should have that information ready. Don't have an upcoming show? Then hand them a general flyer with your name, picture and contact information. If you have a website, that info should be on it too, as well as any other accounts you might have to promote your music (Soundcloud, Facebook, YouTube, etc). A lot of networking happens at a gig. You have other artists looking to do shows, online radio stations out and about trying to promote new artists and people are always looking for new music to listen to. Have that flyer or business card handy so they'll have all the information they need to contact you.
CDs and Merch
If your lucky enough to have CDs and merch, it's a good idea to always have a few pieces on you. I like to keep a few CDs, stickers and buttons on me at every gig in case someone in the audience wants to buy my music or support/promote me. I went to an open mic one time and wasn't expecting it to be packed at all so I didn't bring any of my merch. But there was an "open mic virgin" playing there that night and they brought their whole family! I ended up playing right before them. When I got off stage, 3 people wanted a CD but I had none in sight. I was able to give them some free stickers, but that doesn't feel as good as selling 3 CDs.
Scrap Paper and a Pen
You never know when creativity will hit and you'll have a great lyric in mind. Having scrap paper and a pen handy means you'll always be able to write that lyric down and use for later. Nowadays I use my iPhone, but if I don't have it on hand or the battery is dead then I can always use a good ole' pen and paper. A pen never run out of batteries (just ink)!
Spare 9 volt Battery
I have one 9 volt battery in my guitar case and it's been there for about a year. I haven't used it yet, but when the battery in my guitar goes, it's good to know that I have that backup available.
Cash
You don't necessarily have to have this in your case, but it's good to have $5, $10 or maybe even $20 and just keep it in there for whatever. It always comes in handy, especially when you find yourself short on cash and you want to buy a coffee or beer to support the venue. I remember one time I had no money to take the train back home and remembered my $20 I had stashed in my case. You just never know.
So there you have it. This is my list of what to bring in your guitar gig bag. Like I stated earlier, every musician will have their own list of "must haves" for their gig bag. But overall, Never Assume and Be Prepared as Best You Can!
Emilio Basa is an independent singer songwriter and the creator of musicians-journey.com, a blog offering tips and advice for musicians at all levels. His unique style is a blend of folk, pop and soul. To download a free mp3 of his latest single, Poor Boy, click HERE.
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