What counts as a gig?

[arthurhenry]

If you have an impromptu jam with your friends in front of the guests at a party in your home, is that a gig?
What about if you play bass for a few songs at the local primary school's Christmas service?
Playing in the band for a pantomime matinee and then again in the evening. Is that two gigs?
Turning up and doing a couple of songs at a jam night. Is that a gig?

[T-Bay]

Does it matter? But I would count it as something organised where you are 'on the bill' as it were.

[arthurhenry]

[quote name='T-Bay' timestamp='1508605370' post='3393296']
Does it matter? But I would count it as something organised where you are 'on the bill' as it were.
[/quote]
It doesn't matter in the slightest, but it will be interesting/a bit of fun to read people's opinions.

[Dad3353]

[quote name='arthurhenry' timestamp='1508605125' post='3393294']
If you have an impromptu jam with your friends in front of the guests at a party in your home, is that a gig?
What about if you play bass for a few songs at the local primary school's Christmas service?
Playing in the band for a pantomime matinee and then again in the evening. Is that two gigs?
Turning up and doing a couple of songs at a jam night. Is that a gig?
[/quote]

From the OED ...

[color=#800080]NOUN, informal...[/color]
[color=#800080]A live performance by a musician or group playing popular or jazz music.[/color]

...so, yes, all the examples given are gigs; two gigs for the panto...

[Wylie]

My trio plays farmers' markets summer and winter. Great gigs: you get paid, and farmers give you food.

[SpondonBassed]

Personally I see a gig as a commitment to play whether money is offered or otherwise.

I wouldn't count open mics so much. I prefer to think of them as enrichment as you don't always know what's going to happen. It's interesting to read Dad's definition.

Edited October 21, 2017 by SpondonBassed

[discreet]

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1508607129' post='3393317']I wouldn't count open mics so much. I prefer to think of them as enrichment ... [/quote]

Must be a new definition of 'enrichment' I'm not familiar with.

[Len_derby]

A Jewish pal of mine tells me that the word gig is Yiddish and basically means 'a job' or a 'piece of work'.
Not sure if that helps this discussion, but if true, the word has a wider meaning than just music.

[discreet]

[quote name='Len_derby' timestamp='1508607589' post='3393323']
...the word has a wider meaning than just music.
[/quote]

It does, hence the 'gig economy'. Not trying to shoehorn in a Brexit discussion, by the way.

[FinnDave]

A gig is something you are booked to do in advance, whether paid or not. An impromptu jam is not a gig, in my opinion (but they are often more fun than a gig!)

[SpondonBassed]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1508607298' post='3393318']
Must be a new definition of 'enrichment' I'm not familiar with.
[/quote]

Please bear in mind that as a musician, I have led an overly sheltered life.

I stand by my definition because life has been a bit difficult until recently and I hadn't been getting out much at all.

What do you say about OM?

[discreet]

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1508611849' post='3393368']
I stand by my definition because life has been a bit difficult until recently and I hadn't been getting out much at all.
[/quote]

I was joking, hence the grin. OMs can be a lot of fun. Please ignore me, I'm having a weird day.

[FinnDave]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1508612078' post='3393370']
I was joking, hence the grin. OMs can be a lot of fun. Please ignore me, I'm having a weird day.
[/quote]

Weird days are the best sort of day to have

[SpondonBassed]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1508612078' post='3393370']
I was joking, hence the grin. OMs can be a lot of fun. Please ignore me, I'm having a weird day.
[/quote]

It's okay my friend. The only thing I will ever ignore is the smilies because I find them hard to understand. Then that's just me having a weird life compared to the "normals".

Keep the quips coming mate. They can't do yer for it.

[Mykesbass]

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1508605921' post='3393304']
From the OED ...

[color=#800080]popular or jazz music.[/color]
[/quote]

Mutually exclusive of course...

[stingrayPete1977]

I'd only say "I've got a gig" if the show couldn't happen without me or a dep arranged to cover for me. A jam night or jam session at someones house even in front of friends isn't a gig however a gig in front of friends at a friends house is imo a gig.

[Norris]

I think to count as a gig it should be pre-arranged. A jam is ... well a jam. Having said that I suppose you can still jam at a gig. Certainly I don't think an OM counts, but then if you want to tell your mates you gigged, I'm not going to stop you.

Time for a drop of JD methinks

[discreet]

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1508612656' post='3393377']
Mutually exclusive of course...
[/quote]

He heu he.

[Deedee]

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1508605921' post='3393304']


From the OED ...

[color=#800080]NOUN, informal...[/color]
[color=#800080]A live performance by a musician or group playing popular or jazz music.[/color]

[/quote]

😂. Love that

[SpondonBassed]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKJQd65aFvo

[Yank]

To me a "gig" is a job, which means you get paid. You could participate in a "jam" at a club or friend's house. You could go to a "hootenanny" around a campfire. You can "woodshed" at home, or "play" a benefit. A gig is special. You're expected to set that date aside in your calender, show up and put on a professional musical entertainment, for hours specified, and expect payment in return. If anouther musician tells me that "we've" got a gig and wants me to participate, that's what I expect. If you want to call any of these examples a "gig", feel free, just don't change your terminology to your musical mates at the end of the evening in question. "Oh, when I said a "gig" I meant......."

[Skybone]

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1508605921' post='3393304']
From the OED ...

[color=#800080]NOUN, informal...[/color]
[color=#800080]A live performance by a musician or group playing popular or jazz music.[/color]

...so, yes, all the examples given are gigs; [b]two gigs for the panto...[/b]
[/quote]

Oh no it isn't!

[lowdown]

[quote name='arthurhenry' timestamp='1508605125' post='3393294']

Playing in the band for a pantomime matinee and then again in the evening. Is that two [b]shows[/b]?
[/quote]

Yes, correct, two shows.

[stingrayPete1977]

[quote name='Yank' timestamp='1508662153' post='3393560']
To me a "gig" is a job, which means you get paid. You could participate in a "jam" at a club or friend's house. You could go to a "hootenanny" around a campfire. You can "woodshed" at home, or "play" a benefit. A gig is special. You're expected to set that date aside in your calender, show up and put on a professional musical entertainment, for hours specified, and expect payment in return. If anouther musician tells me that "we've" got a gig and wants me to participate, that's what I expect. If you want to call any of these examples a "gig", feel free, just don't change your terminology to your musical mates at the end of the evening in question. "Oh, when I said a "gig" I meant......."
[/quote]

So it turns out there is no such thing as "a charity gig" then even after all the pages about playing for free.

[bassace]

[quote name='Len_derby' timestamp='1508607589' post='3393323']
A Jewish pal of mine tells me that the word gig is Yiddish and basically means 'a job' or a 'piece of work'.
Not sure if that helps this discussion, but if true, the word has a wider meaning than just music.
[/quote]

My understanding is that on receiving payment the Jewish musician would silently intone ‘ God is good’, spelling gig. And although it’s mainly used for musical work the term applies to a freelancer in any field.