GUITAR
KEEPING THE GIG | Jeffrey B. Scott
SET THE TONE
Last month we talked about how to approach may have gotten you in, your ability to mesh auditioning for a new opportunity. But what with a group is of equal importance. And it about once you have the job? How do you hold could be argued that your personality and Especially in a worship context, but even true
on to it? connection can potentially keep you employed in a secular one, the willingness to establish
in a situation longer than your abilities! A stellar the tone for yourself will set you apart. The
player who isn't easy to be around is likely way you enter a room to the way you greet
CONTINUE TO STRIVE
the last person I want to call on, especially in someone all help chart a course for the day.
Whether it is your part-time job at the mall a long-term scenario. Have you ever watched It can be challenging, but sometimes we must
or the best gig you ever landed, if you want a band onstage and felt like they were having learn to set aside problems and concerns for
to keep a job, you have to act like you want fun? That's connectedness. You could see it the greater good of the environment. This is not
the job. Spoiler Alert: most bands do not play in their leadership and in their performance. It about skill, but about the ability to control your
difficult music. While a night-after-night tour reads from the audience as authenticity, and mind, heart, and attitude. I don't mean live in
might have its challenges, for an accomplished helps the listener feel connected to the band. denial; if you had a flat tire that made you late,
musician, the playing of the music isn't typically that's reality! But it doesn't have to derail your
the hardest part. You have to work hard to day or your relationship with others. Your ability
keep yourself engaged and striving to be to roll with changes might help someone else
better. Set goals to hit notes more confidently, do the same in the process.
or to sing background vocal parts more in tune.
Whatever will keep you captivated will keep
you motivated.
When I started my current job, I had a particular
song that was a challenge for me. Not each
part individually, but both vocal harmonies and
the guitar part together would take a little effort.
So I set a goal: by the end of the tour, I would
be singing the chorus all the way through.
And it worked! Each night we played, I would
systematically try for the next line or phrase and
kept pushing myself to sing along until I had the
whole thing.
WHAT GOT YOU HERE
Remember how we talked about being a
person, not just a player? In many ways,
keeping a gig is about allowing yourself to be
...keeping a
gig is about
I think it should always be our goal as believers
allowing yourself
tangible way. While this simple article can't offer
a guarantee that you'll keep a gig, I can assure
you that doing these things will honor God and
show respect to the people around you. As you
and growing
look toward this Sunday (or your next gig), my
in relationship
with the people
with the people around you. While your playing
October 2018
best, choosing to build relationships, and being
you can all be part of living out your faith in a
transparent,
around you.
to represent Christ well. Striving to do your
a steady source of calm for people around
to be open,
open, transparent, and growing in relationship
96
LAST WORD
challenge to you is to prepare yourself to do
your best and show up ready to not only invest
your time, effort, and talent, but also invest
yourself in the people with whom you play.
It will pay off, I promise!
Jeffrey B. Scott
Jeffrey lives in Nashville, TN, with his amazing
wife and 3 awesome kids (and 1 dog child). He
is the guitarist/keyboardist and sings BGVs for
American Idol winner David Cook.
WorshipMusician.com