Christmas Gigs

[saxman124578]

I already have some, do your combos have any? I am playing the weekend before christmas for 30 per person per :45 set....3 sets probably...I have a couple others and it's only october! Am I the only one who is getting early bussiness?

[jean]

Yup....big band is playing a Christmas/post-wedding celebration dinner that same weekend for 50 each. I made the mistake of allowing the mother of the bride her choice of songs off the BIG list. We're going to have to hustle after this weekend's gig to be ready in time. Almost time to start begging for the summer concerts....and so it goes...

[Chris S]

Me too, got one at least lined up for my big band back home (I'm at college right now) and maybe a private party or two with my small group (I like these better cause it pays more). The small group has been playing private parties for this VERY wealthy guy for the last few years. He pays us very well, $75 per person per hour, and we usually play for three or four hours. Plus we get free drinks (no cheap liquor either) and free food (fantastic food). I've also got about 6 gigs booked for next summer already also. Ahh... I love Christmas, everyone wants musicians... and they tend to be in the giving spirit.

Chris S

[saxman124578]

Just got a christmas gig playing all flute.....I really need to practice that crappy piece of S#%$, I don't hate the flute....honest.

Any similar experiences?

[OnyxSax]

I already have 9 on the books with my own band. I'll probably decline picking up any other side work...December from the management end is the craziest month of the year. Being directly responsible for 9 bands, and indirectly responsible for another dozen more, not to mention DJs, combos, piano players and specialty acts of every shape and size takes a lot out of you...oh and somewhere in there I need to be a good husband and father.

The only upside is December is also the most financially rewarding month of the year. I make 1/7th of my entire annual income in December.

[martysax]

I had my usual paying gigs this December: four club dates; two company parties; and New Years Eve coming up at the Sheraton Springfield. I also played Christmas, as I do every year, at a free Christmas dinner which my Temple hosts for homeless and elderly people in a local church hall. My Temple has a handful of Berklee profs and instructors and we turn it into a real event with nice, sweet, un-amplified, jazzified Christmas music. All the old-timers especially like it.

[kasax63]

Just one x-mas party Jan,15 for a local credit union, in an old opera house, sounds like a good time, pays well, is close to home and fits the personal calander.
Guess it's the up side of having music as a hobby, rather than a career.

Happy New Year!

Kevin S

[Kareeser]

Don't know if this counts, but my community church band played one non-paying gig (we're not pro, ;))... The Christmas Song (Chestnuts...), etc, :)