Finding Gigs

[Robb Bingham <robbingham@xxxxxxxxx>]

Randy Singer asked,

<Anyone have any good stories of finding gigs in
<tough times?

Once, a couple members of a band I had in Germany was
complaining that we were practicing too much and
gigging too little. Our drummer [a very literal guy]
took it seriously and came back in a couple weeks with
several gigs lined up for the next week. One was an
Opera Hall, one was in a historic museum [where we
were billed as ~Blues Experts~, and I had to explain
each song to the  EARLY morning, cocktail sipping
hobbymachers: ~Yes, Hootchie Kootchie is actually- -
- -bla bla bla~, and on and on about Mojo, Fish Frys and
banging the gong], and one gig was the last night at a
foreclosed bar [closing for lack of patrons I might
add]. The band grumbled about having to do these gigs
too and it's no wonder we soon broke up. Point is that
many of us think of each gig as a kind of ~test~ and
don't ~really~ want to do it [until the 2nd or 3rd
song!]. I once gigged with the guitar player and an
elaborate playback/drum machine to a beer-tent full of
thousands of drunk Germans who would just as soon be
vomiting or singing ~Country Roads~ [A huge favorite
in German/French bier/wein fests. Go figure].

Point is, I don't regret a single gig [ok. That's a
lie. I do regret the one where I substituted, ~Smokin
Black Hash~, for ~Jumping Jack Flash~, and Gwen left
me for some BattleoftheBands guy who knew all the
words to every ~Yes~ song. But, hey, I was 16- - -and
I digress]. Every gig makes you better, and you can
find gigs if you want them. You need not be ~ready~.
Most Bakeries and cafes can be talked into you playing
there some Sunday afternoon for whatever you can get
from ~The Door~. Most Bartenders will take your demo
and be proud to have ~discovered~ you [this is mixed
blessing, as they might also want to sing ~Desperado~
every time they drink 4 shots of single malt]. If you
give out X number of demos [to the right places]
you'll get Y number of calls- and Z number of gigs. 

Go get 'em.

Robb


		
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