GUITAR
READY FOR THE GIG ? | James Duke
One of the biggest mysteries in the life of a musician is how to land a gig . I have had hundreds of conversations about that very subject with aspiring professional musicians all over the world . It ’ s a very frustrating place to be in , feeling like you have the skill , gear , and time to jump on the road at a moment ’ s notice , but no idea how to find the opportunities that would make the dream a reality .
There are quite a few different factors to consider in regard to getting hired for a gig . Location is a huge part of it . Do you live in a city where there is opportunity for what you want to do ? You can be as ready as anyone has ever been , but if you live in a city with no music scene , it ’ s going to be difficult to get plugged into the community . Location is a big deal .
Skill is a giant part of the equation . Being proficient on your instrument is probably the biggest requirement , and being able to properly and honestly assess your musical ability will keep you in check with how realistic your aspirations are . We ’ ve all heard the comment about how you can be the best musician in the room , but if you aren ’ t the kind of person anyone else wants to be around , they will hire a musician with less skill but a better attitude . Don ’ t let that fool you . The guy with less skill and a better attitude is still a monster player . You have to be a great musician to land those gigs .
I ’ ve had a handful of conversations with musician friends lately about how they stepped into their biggest jobs . I ’ m not sure why it has been a popular topic of conversation all of a sudden . Maybe it ’ s the fact that everyone is more than ready to get back on the road and they are feeling nostalgic . It ’ s always fun to trade old road stories and they are never in short supply when musicians are hanging out together . Whatever the reason , there was definitely a common denominator . They started preparing at the first whispers of an audition .
Years ago , I had a friend tell me that he never wants to be in the position where he gets an opportunity for a gig but loses it because he wasn ’ t prepared . He said that ’ s why he practices now , while he has the time , so that when that opportunity comes he is ready for it . I think about that all the time . It ’ s been a huge inspiration my whole career . There have been occasions where I heard that an artist might be calling me and I started charting their songs that same day . Sometimes they called and sometimes they didn ’ t , but I never regretted taking the time to get ready , just in case .
A friend of mine , who plays guitar for one of today ’ s top CCM artists , told me a similar story . He heard about the audition and before he even had a spot scheduled , he went to work learning the artists entire catalog . He eventually had a phone call , then a video audition , then showed up to the live audition and nailed it . He knew every song they called for , then they asked him what songs he ’ d like to play . He called out the songs and nailed those too . He got the gig on the spot . He didn ’ t just learn the four songs they asked him to learn . He learned all of them . He ’ s had a great gig for several years now .
If you find yourself in limbo or waiting for an opportunity , just keep working towards your goals by making sure you are preparing yourself in every way possible . Keep your chops up , your gear in good shape , and your attitude in check . Be as ready as you can be , so when the phone rings , you can get to work .
James Duke James is a musician , songwriter , and producer from Jacksonville Beach , Florida . Most known for playing guitar alongside artists like John Mark McMillan , Matt Redman , Johnnyswim , and Steven Curtis Chapman , James also records his own music under the name All The Bright Lights . He currently lives in Nashville , Tennessee with his wife and 3 kids ..