The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
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  1. #26

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    musical engagement....that's where the word gig originated from

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  3. #27

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    Quote Originally Posted by cosmic gumbo
    musical engagement....that's where the word gig originated from
    Really? Is that the derivation? I had no idea. Thank you.


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  4. #28

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    Playing out does not imply making money. To me a gig is one that makes money and you might not be playing to many at all. I use the word gig and playing out just does not make sense other than you are playing in some public venue. A gig implies work and getting paid.

    Around these parts of midwest there is little money in playing gigs from what I can see. The best paying things tend to be weddings and possible some corporate show sponsored event. I took up guitar repair way back in the early 1990's although I could do things before then just did not try anything commercial. I can easily say the the repair " gig" is way more profitable and these days I enjoy it much more than playing almost any gig.

    Finally as I always say I had a full time gig 34 years in Human Services. The past 13 years as permenent Deacon.....that is not a gig........at all.......

  5. #29

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    I dont think I've heard the term playing out used much since I was in a garage band in my teens. Like a guy would walk by and say "hey, you guys sound great, do you play out?"Which meant "in public," I guess, paid or not.A gig is a job. It pays money.

  6. #30

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    I have always used the term gig to connote a paid performance, though "playing out," in my opinion, can refer to either paid or unpaid events. My daughter-in-law, who is a classically trained musician, always uses the term performances. Another clasically trained friend uses the same terminology. Does anyone know the origin of the term "gig?"

  7. #31

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    Quote Originally Posted by FredH
    Does anyone know the origin of the term "gig?"
    Wikipedia

    Gig is slang for a live musical performance, recording session, or other (usually paid) engagement of a musician or ensemble. Originally coined in the 1920s by jazz musicians, the term, short for the word "engagement"

  8. #32

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    Thanks. That what I always suspected.

  9. #33

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    I've used the word "show". Rarely do I use the word "gig". Even though I have I always felt uncomfortable about it saying it. Don't know why really.

    I also say something as simple as, "We are 'playing' at so & so club tonight." Or, "We are 'playing' this weekend, you should drop in."

    I agree though, gig seems like it's more of a paid situation that playing out might be.

  10. #34

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    If it's unpaid we call it a giglet.

  11. #35

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    Quote Originally Posted by AlohaJoe
    If it's unpaid we call it a giglet.
    I have done just that every Sunday at a Manhattan coffee shop for about four years now. Occasional tips aside, there’s no money in it. Therefore, I will stop saying “gig”. “Giglet” or “playing” or “playing out” from now on.

  12. #36

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    It's also a term used by fishermen: gigging. It uses a pole with a trident on the end to gig/spear fish, frogs, eels, etc. When I lived in Miami in the late 70's, we bought fresh frog legs from a little stand off the highway on the edge of the Everglades whose owners gigged frogs daily. Nothing better!
    Growing up in Chicago, I always used the term "gig". I never heard the term "playing out" but we did use the term "show" with non-musicians when I played with Jazz/Rock big bands since it described the event more clearly to them. However, among musicians, we always used the term "gig." Good playing . . . Marinero