This is the first time this has come up for me in 20+ years. Is there a way to leave the first bar blank, with no chord at all?

I assume you are not speaking about the lead-in bars.
Not sure exactlty about what you intend to get.

So, you can set a C. chord for example in the first bar.

Assuming, as above said, that you do not mean the lead-in-bar, this would be my "solution": double the first measure (that is if you want to start with a C chord on measure 2, gice C in measure 1 and C in measure 2).
Go to "bar settings" on measure 1 (mouse right click) and set "all instruments" to mute.
Go to "bar settings" on measure 2 (mouse right click) and set "all instruments"
to "back to normal".
You may set this procedure for all choruses or restrict it to the first chorus.
Have fun!
Bernard

I should have said that I want a blank first bar with no chord cymbal or notes. In every bar except the first bar you don't have to enter anything and the bars will remain blank. BIAB always puts the chord symbol of the key that you're in whether you want that chord symbol or not. The example shows a C. I would like the option to leave out the C.

In fact, you want a blank music score with 8 staves.

OK, you can get what you wish :

1- In the mixer, right-click on Melody channel
Select : No MIDI patch

2 - In the PRINT menu :
Select Template : Custom
Enable only :
- staff lines
- Treble clef
- Staves per pages : 9 (to get 8 lines in final).

Done.

I use the same method as John-Luke, works for me:

Thanks Vt. I want a blank first bar ony, but the option to enter chords after that. Say I have a drum solo for a 4 bar intro, there's no way to avoid having a chord symbol in the first bar except for White-Out.

No, not a blank sheet, just the first bar.

Hmmm... I tried everything I could think of, but BiaB insisted on placing a chord in the first bar. I can delete the chord, but BiaB puts a C there, regardless. So I tried harder, and I think I won.

You can delete more than one bar if you require. In this sample, there are no chords on bars 1 to 4 and it prints chords for remaining bars.

Is this what you want?

VT, you are a cool dude! Exactly what I need. Thank you very much.

You're welcome Ray (actually, I surprised myself a little too )

Note that these settings can't be saved with song.
When you load again the song, the chords in bar #1 are back.

It works only for printing purposes.

Good tip, John-Luke. I hadn't tried that. Worth remembering. Thanks.

That's exactly what I need, for printing only.