My point exactly ! It's slang ... It's INformal....it's too casual. I've heard people refer to many other jobs as "gig" but always in an informal manner ....almost jokingly. Those old jazz cats were too cool for their own careers, and I guess a "gig" had more romance and pizazz than real job.

I'll work my "jobs" and collect my pay, and occasionally .... I'll even play a "gig" but not with the same attitude as I take to work with me !

BTW - for those of you who may not know ....
"Music IS my real job"
(says so right on my business card !)

Here's what Merriam-Webster Online has to say:

Main Entry: gig
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Form(s): gigged; gig·ging
Date: 1939
: to work as a musician

8 different meanings for the word gig...Had to go to number 7 to find the one that deals with music.

I like the "pronged spear for catching fish" one myself.

mike

Dictionary Definition of 'gig': http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=gig

10 most popular internet sites with the word 'gig': http://dictionary.directhit.com/dictionary/search.php?qry=gig

Franky, I don't care what people want to call it as long as I'm getting paid. If/when people give me the line: "Work?, you call THAT work?!", I don't let it bother me at all, because I realize they're probably just saying it out of 'envy' because they hate their boring 9-5 routine so much.

Scott

Maybe you guys work... for me, work is what I do to prepare for the gig - but once the gig starts, I just play...

I read some interesting research concerning hobby/work: People who normally totally enjoyed their hobby and would dabble every chance they had. They would stop enjoying their hobby once they wore paid to do it.
Does that apply to you working musicians? Do you play music, just for the fun of it, when you're not being paid?
Starkeer

Obviously you guys have much too much time on your hands not gigging to open up a conversation on gigging or the art of working on gigs. If you are not having any fun with your music, then it is work, if it is fun then it's a gig.

Al

..... a LOT ... I love to have other musicians come over to my house and just jam .... in fact we were doing that on a weekly basis for over a year, when our different careers and interests got in the way (we'll have to get back to that) ... during the week, I'll sit at the kb, headset on or off depending on the time and situation and just play for a couple of hours (or longer) ... and, unlike some musicians, I have no problem if I'm invited to a party and am asked if I would mind bringing the kb ... to me that's not a problem, it's a compliment ....
t.

I don't know many performers who DON'T have trouble separating the two. Very difficult to not have those two worlds collide (fun/work)...

Angelo



[This message has been edited by cam8neel (edited 11-22-2002).]

GIG

G is for Gigantic

I is for Incoming

G is for Girls ?

D is for duck ! dan

I always thought "Gig" gave celebtity status to playing music and entertaining with music in general. Bricklayers don't do gigs they have a real bad invironment to slave (work) in...

I thought gigs separated the celebrity entertainter from the common lay person. Gigs are also performed by vocalist that do not know an "F" from a "Bb" ( so I call them entertainer vocalist not musicians).

Take my word for it playing music is much more glamorous and fun than working from 8 to 5 in 97 degrees with 97 percent humidity on any construction site doing any part of construction.

Thus the word "Gig" is cool and is special lingo for musicians and vocalist alike and I want it to stick. Hope Dave still likes me and will continue to help me. I need him.

We don't have to agree on everything do we Dave. I like Brunettes!! Ha! Ha!