lupin62

I was wondering how anyone here who plays jazz ended up landing a job. I have no idea how I would go about doing this, I know I could probably look online or in papers but I haven't found anything yet, just booking listing. I know it's not like in the olden days where you could just walk out to some random club and just jam, hopefully having someone with a band listen and hire you or calling bands all like, I wanna work for you. I'm just a boy from the Sticks, Elkhorn, WI to be precise with Milwaukee as the closest city.

ozboy

I have always tried to play my best no matter what the setting. At the time you least expect it, someone will hear you and the doors will open.
I got my 'big break' when I was playing to a room of about 5 people. It was one of those situations where the band could have easily decided to take it easy but we didn't.
At the end of the night, a quietly spoken gentleman who seemed to be paying no attention walked up and booked me for some really good work. He said he liked my playing and my work ethic. I have been busy ever since.
You might also seek lessons for a teaching player who might be able to head you towards a rehearsal band or sling you the odd bit of work if they think you are good enough. A Big Band often gives you exposure to like minded people.
Look for workshops or clinics where you get a chance to build experience and perform. There are often people at these that can lead to contacts.
Whatever you do, do not play for crap money. It is better not to be paid than to get a reputation for working cheaply. I played for nothing for a fair while. When I did get paid it was a fair figure. Friends of mine who worked cheaply found it impossible to get out of the rut. Obviously, you must have the goods to back it up.
Say yes to anything you can handle and say no to anything you know you can't. One bad gig takes a long time for some people to forget.
THIS IS ONLY MY OPINION SO THINK THROUGH YOUR CHOICES.

commakozzi

Good advice. You know what you can and can't play. Don't work on the things you can play and work like a dog on the things you can't. Then, when you think you're ready for something just go out and network. ozboy mentioned a couple of things like getting a teacher that you know must be well plugged in, and then just go watch some people. Hang around after the gigs and see if you can talk to some people. If you like the groups then go see their shows a lot and try to talk to them as much as you can, and just get them on the subject of playing. Tell them you're an aspiring musician, and just see where it leads. I landed several gigs that way before.

commakozzi

By the way, I'm no pro, so I'm just giving you my opinion. I wanted to go pro before, but didn't want it bad enough. I would take several of the right steps in that direction and would get some promising results from this advice that I'm giving you, but I didn't follow through to the end result of playing full time. You can't give up though! If you want it bad enough, you won't give up I don't think. And as an example of what ozboy warned you about, I had been asked in the past to attend a pre-recording rehearsal once with a group that I knew nothing about and they needed someone to come in and play trumpet for the recordings. I got to the rehearsal on a recommendation from a friend. Dude, these guys were playing some mean charts... all original. Most of the guys were Berklee grads, and they gave me a chart to transpose and play! There were a lot of 32nd note unison runs written that were to be played by sax and trumpet. I couldn't hang, I was way over my head. I didn't get that gig, and it kind of put me in a downer that lasted a long time. Anyway, just a little nightmare story to get you going!!! Just kidding, but that really did happen.

Siegtrmpt

A few tips that have made some connections for me that otherwise wouldn't have happened. Always carry your gig bag around with you wherever you go. It's a great conversation starter when other musicians see it. Carry it into restaurants, stores, airports, everywhere. Rather than calling around with your hand out why not go hear the bands that do what you do or want to do. Carry your gig bag. You were just at a rehearsal/gig nearby and heard about their band and wanted to check them out because you're into this kind of music. Get it?

misty.sj

I'm not speaking from specific experience here. :) But doing 'open mic' nights, participating in local non-pay events, and that kind of thing might really help to get your name and face out there.

ozboy

I should have mentioned (I guess it goes without saying) that you should get a couple of Jazz standards down so that you are really fluid with the changes. If you don't have them and you don't play guitar or piano, there are some play along CD's you can. If you get to sit in at a gig, it can be a nightmare if you don't know the changes. It is better to play a couple of tunes well than to fluff your way through a set of unknowns. If you do get a gig out of it, you can get them to send you a song list so that you can get the tunes down.

lupin62

Thank you for the advice. I'll start doing this this summer after I get better at improv. with a semester more of music theory as well as a few more jazz standards under my belt. Look out Milwaukee, here I come ... if I don't get lost in the streets and end up as just a statistic.

Smithi20

My advice regarding standards is to refuse to play tunes you don´t know in any situation... If you are asked to sit in, the musicians should be generous enough to play the two or three tunes that you call. The band will appreciate your confidence and you feel much more in control, and will give yourself the opportunity to play your best.

Find like minded people you can start a band with, compose, and try to delevop the band so that it brings out the best of all the individual parts, then find a place to gig....