beginners guide to good gigging

[morjaz]

The idea of this thread is to post points to consider when you have got to the point where you want to peform your material to a live audience.
topics can include:- venues,preparation,planning your sets,connecting with audience.....in fact all things relating to carrying out a good performance.....
So jump right in and ask any questions on the subject-we have some experienced musicians on the forum....
If you're experienced in this area your insights and comments will be very welcome....

[Professor]

My jazz gigging has been with big bands, but I'll go ahead and throw a few things into the hat.

Professionalism is an attitude, not a status:

Show up early, freshly bathed and groomed, wearing the appropriate clothes/uniform.

Make sure all your gear is in good working order a day or two ahead of time. Use quality equipment.

Bring all the gear you need for the gig with you. Including a music stand and light. Spare strings, picks and guitar cords, etc. as well as your own extension cord. Don't forget your eyeglasses.

Your cell phone never leaves your car.

Behave as though you deserve to be there. Set up and tune up quickly and efficiently. Do not chatter, but smile, sit still, and be ready. Do not noodle. Spend a very minimum of time checking amp settings, and then don't be too loud.

Play your best each time. Even if it's a boring song that someone requested and you don't like.

Count! Pay attention to the charts.

Do not gossip about other players or people you know. Other people know them too.....unkind remarks will get back around to you.

When you're done, tell the band leader and other members how honored you are to have played with them, and how much you are looking forward to your next opportunity to play with them/fill in for them.

Don't forget to have fun.

Pack up quickly and efficiently, and do not leave anything behind in your area...even if it was the piano players empty drink.

Have some pride in what you do, and behave respectfully. Other players will then extend to you the respect that you have earned.

Don't worry about whether you are the best guitar player in town, because he's a total jerk, and no one's going to be calling him up. Ever. You want to be a dependable solid player whose phone number is in everyone's little black books.

[morjaz]

Excellent points Professor....attention to all the details will surely ensure that the gig goes smoothly and that you leave a good impression...it all helps to be asked back for more performances.....
Just out of curiosity,Prof,I wonder if you might say something about your band.Like how many instruments and what are they.Is the band fronted by a vocalist or is it more instrumental?
Also,how many tunes would you play in the course of an evening?

[namaste]

Wow Prof. You pretty much nailed it. Some of the things I've noticed in my duo and solo gigs:

- I find it helps to offer to play requests. I found that to facilitate that I had to compile a lot of tunes (over 700) in one book that I bring to the gigs. My main gig is yuppie filled so the idea of "knowing your audience" comes into play.

- I also do vocals, and it's an absolute that you have to follow a formula if you want to sound professional: I use the 60/40 rule - 60% vocal, 40% instrument mix. When soloing, up the instrument to replace the vocal.

- Also important is to be vitally aware of your setlists. I have found that keys, tempos, and styles have to be mixed up a bit.

- Original tunes are okay, but don't do more than 1 or 2 a set.

- Bill Hammond, from another forum offers this gem:

"It is VITAL to make some sort of connection with the audience beyond saying "thanks" when applause smatters through the room. Eye contact, a quick impromptu conversation with someone in the crowd between numbers...To establish a little cooperative group in that room, not an Us Vs. Them arrangement."

- If you don't like a song, don't do it. Audiences can pick that up, and can pick when when you love a song.

- When you make a mistake (and I make my share) keep going. The worst thing to do is to stop and start over. I know pros who have done that and made a joke about it and started again. It's pretty hard to pull off tho. Also, avoid the grimaces on the face when it happens. Preparation is the best remedy for the mistake factor. Just stay focused on the music.

- My set lists usually contain around 14 tunes or so. I don't go off into long improvs, just 12 bars or a chorus. Long rambling solos can be very boring to a audience.

[Professor]

Morjaz,
Well, for nearly a year, I've been filling in for an older guitarist who had to have heart surgery in a local swing dance band. The 12 piece band is all older guys, mostly retired. They play a weekly tea dance and also private parties and dances. This band has 3 saxophones, one guy does clarinet for dixieland passages. 2 trombones, 2 trumpets, guitar, bass, drums, piano, and a singer, the drummer's wife. Less than half the tunes are songs, they play about 9 or 10 songs a set. 2 sets for the tea dance, 3 sets for an evening gig. The lead tenor leads the band.

The other band I play in is a full size big band at a local junior college. I think right now, it's 5 or 6 trumpets, 4 or 5 t-bones, and 6 or more saxophones. Plus a full rhythm section. This band has a full-time conductor. The charts for this band are also far more difficult and complex than the swing band. Faster, too.

I strongly encourage you all to get out there and play with some of these bands. The swing band has a hard time finding "guitar players" who can follow a chart and keep time. For me, it started as a fill-in thing, but I play every chance I get with the dance band, and I do the jr.coll. band for fun and edumacation.

[morjaz]

Thanks,Prof. That's pretty interesting....What a lineup!That must be so much fun.......
Do you,yourself, have favorite big bands on cds that you listen to?

[Professor]

Yeah, it is alot of fun.

...and no, I don't usually sit around listening to old jazz standards.

[slowpoke]

Yeah Prof, great advice. Not only towards gigging but also towards life in general. Especially your last couple of points. How do you guys deal with the money aspect of gigging?

Well you made $200 and you drank $300 in beer.

[morjaz]

Yeah,Prof,....I can see you might not sit round listening to old standards......I like playing blues-but rarely listen to any......
I just thought there might be some good contemporary bands that you liked.......

[Professor]

Well, the band managers do all the booking and billing. They run the band like a business. We play the gigs, and next week, we get a check or cash. If the bank balance gets up there, they pay out shares each 6 months.It's no hassle for me, I just show up and play.

They have the refreshments arranged ahead of time. Sometimes we eat, sometimes not. We don't drink when we play.