How to Make It As A Gigging Musician- My Top Tips!

As the world (slowly) begins to re-open, I’m actually beginning to add a few local gigs to my calendar (WHAT IS A GIG?!). Needless to say, I’m very excited and the break has been a nice way to reflect on gigs in the past and re-imagine new show situations in the future. I wanted to write this blog for any of you who are starting to lay the groundwork for future gigs and think about what you want your next season of playing out to look like!

One of the worst and most embarrassing moments of my musical career was a gig I took a bit back. I was called 3 days before the gig and was supposed to learn a little more than 40 songs (all in weird keys!) in that span. For some reason, I took the gig (like an idiot) and spent all my waking hours learning this set for a Broadway gig. It wasn’t very much country music so it wasn’t easy to pick up and I didn’t have a ton of experience playing in that genre. 

So anyway I got there, paid $20 for parking since I was running late (because I was trying to finish learning everything), and it was a total disaster. I forgot my earplugs and my hearing got completely blown out halfway through the gig (and taking recording classes in college I was so mad at myself!) so I could barely hear what I was playing and they didn’t have any breaks between their songs and would just start playing the next song right away. So YEAH. I was awful and to this day I have no idea why I took the gig. 

Even though at the time it completely traumatized me, looking back, I’m glad it happened because 1) nothing will ever be worse than that gig 2) it taught me a lot about being prepared and protecting my love for music but not stepping into opportunities that would make me dislike playing.

Because “making it” can mean a lot of different things to different people, in this blog, I am focusing on making it as meaning having fun, being excited for what you are doing and playing, and being able to make money playing music.

A lot of what I have been learning through the years being a musician in Nashville is how to prepare for gigs, protect myself from potentially bad situations, and be more excited about each opportunity I do take and be able to be my best for the show! Playing guitar is such a beautiful way to connect with people both in your band in the audience, that I always want to be grateful and cherish every moment I get to be playing. In this blog, I wanted to share both little tips and favorite tools I’ve gathered so far from playing out so you can worry less about the little things and enjoy playing more! 

My fav overdrives and distortions these days!

1. Always Ask Questions Before Taking A Gig

I think when I was first starting out it was too easy to just take anything offered to me. In Nashville especially, there is this common thought process that you have to start at the bottom and take any gig out there. Looking back though, I’m not sure I agree with this. There is a time to be less picky while you are learning and to take gigs purely because they give you experience, but I think a lot of musicians get stuck here. For me, I felt like there was always someone with more experience who was a lot better (and there always will be!), so it was more a matter of getting over my imposter syndrome and believing that I actually had something to offer! Playing guitar and learning songs (especially other people’s originals) can be time-consuming and you’ll never get that time back, so I think it’s important to weigh if a gig is worth all the time you’ll spend learning the songs and possibly driving. Just like if you were taking a job in something like graphic design, sales, or coding, you want to get all the deets before committing yourself. My friend told me he always thinks about 1) if he loves the music 2) if the gig pays well 3) if the opportunity is something he especially wants. The gig has to have at least 2 of the three. Also, I always make sure to ask about the length of the set (and make sure I have an idea of if I like the songs) and the number of rehearsals to make sure it’s something I want to spend time on. Overall, how you treat and respect yourself as a guitar player is how other people will treat you!

2. Stay Organized

There is something about staying very organized that just makes me feel more professional and prepared. One of the biggest tools I got was my dad’s friend’s old iPad. I never really wanted an iPad and don’t use it for anything but music, but this thing is amazing! I use the 1Chart app to chart all my songs and can store them in organized folders. You can change your charts from number to chords and change the key easily. I then have to export them to ForScore which is a little annoying, but it’s the best because as you build up songs, you can quickly pull one up if you’re on the spot.

 I also love the Amazing Slow Downer app. You can slow down songs and also transpose them which is nice for songs that someone wants to change to a weird key! I love being able to learn fast solos note for note too!

I also have a gig bag fully packed that I bring no matter what and have a lot of extra things in there (like straps, cables, picks, strings). No matter how well packed I think I am, I am always thankful to have my gig bag because I almost always forget something! You can watch my video here to see what’s in mine! 

Photos by Johnny Giles

3. Invest  In Something To Carry Gear

Like a roadie! JK But my hubby is my next best option ;) haha One thing I couldn’t live without is my MONO case. I didn’t have one forever and everyone was always saying I needed one- I finally did it and it’s life-changing! It’s so padded and has a ton of pockets and makes my guitars feel little (a big bonus if you are shrimpy like me!). I always have had my eye on one of the Rock Rockers but have yet to get one… One day! I also got an HX Stomp and no longer tote my amp around which makes me v happy! :)

4. Figure out the sound situation

I always like to ask about the sound situation because it can vary drastically from place to place! Do they have a P.A.? Do they have a sound person? Do they have access to power? Are they expecting you just to have an acoustic guitar? Keep in mind, a lot of people aren’t quite sure what all musicians need when they hire them, so especially for private events, double-check they have everything you might need! I always come with an extra mic, XLR cable, 1/4 inch cable, guitar stand, etc. just in case! Check out my video here for more on this!

5. Have a good attitude & be someone people want to play with

This is the most important one! I  think of my role as supporting the other members of the band and helping other people be the best version of themselves. When people feel like they are doing a good job and appreciated they will play better and it’s going to be more fun! A lot of musicians definitely feed off the energy the band is giving, so the more you can contribute to the good vibes, the better the gig is going to be!

So I hope that these tips help you prep for your next season of taking on new shows. I think this time of being at home had truly made me more thankful for the people I get to play music with and shows that I do take. It’s always good to remind myself to hold loosely to things I want in my career and music and focus on being thankful for the season I’m in rather than always thinking things could be better! Thanks so much for taking the time to read my blog and I would love to hear your thoughts below!