Gig (musical performance)

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For other uses, see Gig.

Gig is a term commonly used by musicians with reference to their performances.

The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians describes the term as meaning "A term commonly applied to a musical engagement of one night’s duration only; to undertake such an engagement."^[1] The first documented use of this term in this way appears in 1926: Melody Maker 7 September, 1926, with the story byline stating, "One Popular Gig Band Makes Use of a Nicely Printed Booklet.^[2]

A gig is any type of performance with audience. A musician has a gig when he or she has a show to play. Likewise, when a musician or a musical band playing multiple shows in one location or touring, the term used is gigging.

According to Richard Digance on UK TV Channel 4's Countdown, this definition derives from a small carriage in New Orleans, Louisiana known as a gig, where black musicians could perform, so they would not be arrested for playing on the street.

[edit] Sources

^ 'Gig', Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed 6 Oct 2007), <http://www.grovemusic.com> - Included in R. S. Gold: A Jazz Lexicon: an A-Z Dictionary of Jazz Terms (New York, 1964, rev. 2/1975 as Jazz Talk)
^ gig, pg.6 The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed. 1989. OED Online. Oxford University Press. 6 Oct 2007<ref></li></ol></ref>