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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
First paid gig
First paid gig
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Max-T
16 posts
Jun 07, 2009
10:43 AM
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Disclaimer:
Now I've only been learning about a month and would definitely place myself in the advanced beginner-intermediate catagory.
Anyway I was asked to help provide some entertainment at a party and although nervous I agreed as the event organiser was a family friend.
So I hopped along with some jam tracks and a couple of harps, I was to play after a jazz band (tough act to follow). I ended up mainly Improving over the 12bar blues cords.
The first thing I noticed was now nervous I was, My mouth kept on drying out which didnt help but luckily I had a brought a bottle of water with me.
I was really suprised by how well the audience reacted. I'm extremely self critical and judging by the cheers and whooping they really liked it.
I was talking to a guy afterwards who used to live in chicago and used to go see junior wells play live, I've asked if I can borrow some of his LP's from him.
What I found more fun though was afterwards the guitarist from the jazzband asked if he could play with me and I was delighted, it was an awsome expereince and I really feel like it was worth it. I would have paid to do it xD, Whats more, I got paid a modest fee for the night which was incredible!
Thanks to Mr Gussow here, without your lessons, tabs and wealth of experience this wouldn't have been possible, and now I can't wait to get back in touch with the guitarist from the night and organise another jam.
So What about you guys, when did you start doing your first gigs/jam sessions? How did they go for you?
ps. to finish I played them Adam's very own power harp groove which got them all clapping and thumping along to the beat.
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"imagination is more important then knowledge" - Albert Einstien
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eharp
260 posts
Jun 07, 2009
10:48 AM
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way to go on your new career!
on your behalf i have contacted the IRS and they will be in touch shortly.
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jbone
84 posts
Jun 08, 2009
3:56 AM
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way back in the mists of memory..... at a bar called "wet goods" in western new york state....a ragtag bunch of more or less musicians got together and played an eclectic mess of music and.....non-music....after which the hat was passed and a few dollars handed me. it was actually about 2 decades after that before i had another paid gig of any kind.
the mid 90's found me at a lot of jams, slowly learning what to do with a harmonica that would sound pleasing and not irritate my fellows on stage. eventually i was invited to sit in with some folks, and not long after got invited into a band. small but loud, blues rock, that adventure lasted maybe 2 months and then, no calls, and no calls returned. which i had to wonder what i had done. likely i had turned up too loud.
after a time i was recruited into another loud band. we never actually played a paid gig. that also lasted just a month or two. in the aftermkath of that, i hooked up with a friend and we worked out some material and began a duo, soon it was a trio, then a full 5 piece blues band. again too too loud! i think my ears remember it well. that band in several incarnations lasted nearly 2 years. i was getting paid actual money for gigs in that band, then turning around and replacing harps with my pay. finally that band evolved to the point where all the original members save one had left it, and they slowly faded away.
and again, i was asked to co-found a new band with new folks. and we did, and that one lasted about 2 years also. and thankfully, these guys were very volume-aware. at that time i was also getting some sub work around town. guest harpman and singer.
there have been other later adventures also, and currently i find myself in a blues/roots duo with my wife. for the past nearly 3 years we've played mostly near home here with a few forays across this state. about a year ago we locked a gig in blues mecca, clarksdale mississippi. we go there when something is going on, like the juke joint fest etc etc. it's really cool.
as a harp player and singer, i have really come a long way in the past 12 years or so. not that i'm satisfied, there is always more to learn!
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kudzurunner
496 posts
Jun 08, 2009
4:54 AM
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Max-T:
When I saw that you were describing yourself--after one month!--as ANY kind of player deserving of the word "intermediate" or "advanced" in there, my jaw dropped.
But when you went on to point out that you'd been using my materials, I had an Aha! moment. Gussow-power in effect, y'all. :)
It's a long, long road to mastery, but a paying gig early on doesn't hurt, and can provide lots of fuel for the journey. Congratulations.
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