The Gigging Musician: How to Get, Play and Keep the Gig

By Billy Mitchell

Packed with proven solutions developed from real-life experiences, this book by Gig columnist Billy Mitchell analyzes both the business and creative challenges of successful gigging. Articles on specific issues with landing, planning and playing gigs are backed by firsthand interviews with musicians, agents, producers and others who have handled these problems on the road and in the studio. This well-rounded reference offers practical advice and inspiring insight on everything from curbing stage fright to controlling finances.

"This book is a must for young musicians ... it's a great experience."

- Maurice White, Founder/Leader/Producer, Earth, Wind & Fire

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0879306343
• ISBN13: 9780879306342
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Backbeat Books
• Length: 158 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Good book, but for someone who hasn't had a gig

This book has some good tips and common sense stuff, but it's geared to someone who has never, ever played a show. If you have already played a couple of gigs, then you should already know most of the info in here.

Wide range of helpful and inspiring ideas

One might expect this book by jazz pianist Billy Mitchell to be strictly a "how to," but it is so much more than that. While it certainly has a list of items to remember when gigging, the heart of "The Gigging Musician" are it's interviews with musicians in the trenches and insightful and inspiring words from Mitchell himself. There's a lot to glean from chapters featuring interviews with musicians extraordinaire Joe Sample and Karen Briggs. Seeing what they've learned from being on the road and playing numerous gigs is invaluable. But it's the chapters on the dangers of drug use during gigs, women on the road and the different types of band leaders that are unexpectedly helpful. This little book -- "The Gigging Musician" is less than 150 pages -- is hard to put down. It's extremely interesting and inspirational.

Some useful tips.

This book has been written in a very friendly manner; very helpful and informative, but also very personal. Helped me out in my days of gigging and touring! -Dr. Kenneth