Get the Gig and then Find the Players
Oct 04 '04 (Updated Nov 15 '05)
The Bottom Line Get the right gig and then you can get the players you want and play what and how you want.
I perform in a jazz genre, generally considered as mainstream jazz, but I can cross over into funk and contemporary jazz. For me, playing the right gig centers around self-expression. In essence, I look to be able to play good music with good musicians without lousy bookers/venues and for decent money
There are fewer gigs and they generally pay worse that were available 5-10 years ago. So, for starters, I tried to identify the ideal gig and marketed toward that. The ideal gigs for me are summer festivals and concert series'.
In fact, the photo to the right is from a festival stage, June, 2004 ------------------------------>
Those types of gigs have a lot going for them:
1. Decent Bucks Maybe not as much lately, but many festival gigs pay more than nightclubs, restaurants, etc. I figured early on that park districts and municipalities had money to spend on their constituents. No arguing about getting paid, either.
2. Good Schedules Many are during the day on weekends. This not only does not interfere with my day job too much, but I can also attract great musicians to play with because they usually aren’t working early to mid-afternoon.
3. Good parameters I can usually play what I want as long as it’s accessible to the crowd and the dress is comfortable and casual. No tuxes!
Marketing to these types of gigs is simple. Not easy, because there is plenty of competition, but simple. I identify lots of opportunities, make a few phone calls to identify the decision maker, look around and see if I can get referred (some park districts listen to their residents) and send a professionally recorded demo CD and press kit.
I also advertise in magazines that cater to local, wealthy individuals and have gotten some gigs, too.
Once I have the gigs lined up, it’s time to form the bands. Most of the jazz players in Chicago are free-lancers as opposed to working consistently in dedicated bands. I have at least 2 players I can call for any instrument in my band of choice: guitar, bass and drums, with myself as leader on tenor and soprano sax.
I choose players that solo and comp well, that are good to deal with before, during and after the gig, and whom I sound good with, based on past experience. By using players I’ve worked with before, they have familiarity with my own originals and my style of leading. While I identify potential players in jam sessions and live, the fact is that when I book early-to-mid-afternoon festival gigs, I rarely need to go past my first 2 calls on each instrument.
After that, it’s a matter of developing set lists and lead sheets. I’ll generally mail lead sheets for gigs a week or two ahead or give it to them on earlier gigs. I typically don’t rehearse the band unless the gig pays well enough to cover a paid rehearsal or I’m doing songs that have complicated intros or endings. It’s a little easier to find short-money gigs, so I’ve occasionally done them (essentially) for rehearsals in advance of better-paying festival gigs.
I also make sure that the musicians enjoy the gig, so that they will play more of them. That is pretty simple also. I give all the musicians plenty of solo space, pay them what I said I will and on time, approach the entire event with humor and try to be laid back if problems happen.
This approach has served me well. I get to regularly play good music with good musicians and have a good time while doing it. The other musicians and the audiences have a good time, too. What a country!
Thanks for reading. God bless!
Please check out some of my other epinions in this category:
Improve Your Intonation
Ear Training I - Beginning and Intermediate Players
Ear Training II - Prelude to Improvisation
My worst gig
Being a one man band for fun and profit
How to get your child started on an instrument
I compose the way I play
What music has helped me learn about myself
Fast fingers are important
How to eliminate recurring mistakes
How I help my students learn new music
I learned about a lot more than music from my music teachers
The value of creativity
Develop a business as a private music teacher
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