The Gigs Handbook: A Beginner's Guide to Playing Professionally [Paperback]

Sharon Black (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 2000

The Gigs Handbook teaches amateurs, student and working musicians alike how to begin playing music jobs. The reader takes a music class called "Gigs 101" along with four cartoon characters and learns how to make contacts and bookings, communicate with managers, charge and bill customers, consult and perform for weddings and special events and begin playing by ear. The book is especially recommended to pianists.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Welcome to Gigs 101. Black"pianist, educator, and seasoned gigger "has written the textbook. Most vocational guides available are of the So You Want To Be a Rock Star variety or focus on the ins and outs of making a record. This reference manual, however, covers the basics of practicing, establishing and maintaining contacts, arranging payment, auditions, programming, accompanying, goal setting, and other odds and ends. Addressed to amateurs, up-and-coming musicians, and working musicians alike, the information is accurate and authoritative, but the overall presentation is somewhat contrived. While illustrations can make all the difference in getting a point across, the cartoons here are excessive and distract from the professional focus of the book. With additional editing of the cartoons, this book would be a good addition to academic music business collections. As is, it is recommended for public libraries."Janet Brewer, Murray State Univ., KY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"...accurate and informative...it is recommended for public libraries." -- Library Journal - July 2000

"Entertaining throughout, well-organized and specific, it offers comprehensive advice and much more." -- Dr. Jeffrey Jacob, professor, St. Mary's of Notre Dame

"Gigs Handbook" is bible, talmud, atlas, and just about everything else for the freelance musician." -- Michael Steinberg-program annotator, New York Philharmonic: author of The Symphony: A Listener's Guide and The Concerto: A Listener's Guide.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Benny Pub (June 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967481309
• ISBN-13: 978-0967481302
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,263,228 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for all independent consultants, August 20, 2001

By 

Douglas E. Welch "New Media Consultant" (Van Nuys, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gigs Handbook: A Beginner's Guide to Playing Professionally (Paperback)

While it might seem an odd choice to recommend for some, "The Gigs Handbook" contains some excellent advice for anyone acting as an independent contractor, both in the music industry or high-tech.

As both an amateur musician and high-tech worker, this book works on all levels. I have learned a lot about how to arrange bookings and set up my repertoire, but I also see many parallels between life as a gigging musician and working as an independent high-tech contractor. The rules about building your business, how to follow-up and how to use contracts will benefit everyone.

Black uses 4 different prototype musicians so that she can offer suggestions depending on your current level of skills and what goals you are trying to accomplish. One musician is just beginning their music career while others are more established. Black then works through some of the more common problems and how to avoid them, or, at least, reduce their impact.