This Sage Advice Completely Changed How I Approach Gigs
End of high school / beginning of college was when I first had the opportunity to start playing with professional musicians. This was an exciting leap for me, and I just knew I was going to meet someone who would connect me with such-and-such producer who would hook me up with so-and-so artist’s fall tour and I’d make it big. It’s cool to think back on that time, when it seemed like the future could hold ANYTHING. Well, here I am years later and I’ve never landed a major tour. What I’m doing now wasn’t my dream then, but I am “doing music” for a living now - even though it doesn’t look the way I thought it would.
Most of my work fits the bill for “non glamorous” drumming, which has allowed me to really live out something big that one of those pros told me early on…
We had just finished playing a set on this particular gig, and I was eager to ask the bass player for some advice and hopefully get a feel for how my playing was holding up. At this point, I really had no idea what professional musicians thought of my playing, and I wasn’t sure what I needed to work on or improve upon. I was just hoping for an inkling of input on what I was doing right…or not doing right. This bass player had actually been very helpful throughout rehearsal, giving me tips on kick pattern and groove. I felt like we’d been working pretty well together. So I told him what I wanted to do in music. I probably mentioned wanting to play full time and eventually land a tour. I asked him something along the lines of, “What should I be doing to get there and reach my goals? What can I fix in my playing? What part of my playing sounds good…or doesn’t sound good?”
I was hoping for a detailed, analytical response providing me with all the answers of how to be a great drummer. But the bassist looked at me and said, “Man, you just have to play EVERY gig like it’s the gig of your life.”
That was it?? His short answer frustrated me. I wanted concrete advice…not some abstract line that I wouldn’t understand until years later! Either way, I did my best to keep that in mind throughout the coming college years.
Since that day I’ve played a LOT of non glamorous gigs. I’ve played at festivals nobody showed up to, charity events with 8 people in attendance, empty restaurants, you name it. I’ve set my drums up in the middle of the woods, in the middle of a field on the grass, or even tucked into the corner of a tiny restaurant where the crowd there couldn’t have cared less that there was a band playing, let alone me playing drums. Now granted, some gigs are less glamorous than others. Some pay great money while others might have paid $50 (or nothing at all). But it’s all safe to say that there were a lot of gigs that I could have given minimal effort…and no one would have noticed or cared.
The more of these type gigs I found myself playing, the more I began to realize the importance of that sage piece of wisdom the bass player gave me years before. Play EVERY gig like it’s the gig of your life. Even if you’re playing to an audience consisting of the singer’s parents and sister, play the gig like it’s Madison Square Garden. Even if you’re playing to a noisy crowd at a bar who doesn’t even notice that “oh there’s a band in the corner!”…play the gig like it’s a sold out arena. Find the joy in music, that inspiration that drives you to keep making the best music possible. Even if it’s just for your own satisfaction, play your absolute best. Give even the smallest gigs your very best. At least treat them like safe learning environments where you can gain real-world experience without the pressure of a high profile gig. You never know which tiny gigs are preparing you for the bigger ones coming. I’ve realized that my experience playing small venues has proven to be invaluable. Learning to “feel the room” and play well quietly has been an asset that I’ve used in so many other gigs and recording situations. Learning to listen well in difficult listening situations has taught me to be flexible and always pay attention to what’s going on around me while playing. And talk about flexibility… All the times I’ve had to lug my gear to a wobbly, not-level stage has taught me to maintain a positive attitude even when there’s barely space to set my whole kit up.
Always remember that whatever gig you play is a valuable learning experience even if that turns out to be all you gain from it. Play every gig like it’s the gig of your life, and you’ll find yourself growing rapidly as a player.
God Bless,
Stephen
