How to start gigging as a young musician

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:40 Bryce Rabideau - Build relationships
01:47 Working for exposure is good?
03:48 Bryce's first paid gig
06:00 Jacob Pleakis - Play with friends/be a bass player
07:45 Jacob's first paid gig
08:38 Olivia Van Goor - Worry about the music, gigs will come
09:26 How to book your own band
11:05 Olivia's first paid gig gone wrong...
13:53 Brandon Lehman - Think like a producer
16:17 You won't be the first call initially
18:06 Matt Ryan - It's not all about the licks
20:04 My advice - Jam sessions, live music venues, sit in on gigs
21:38 How to start playing with a wedding band
22:17 My first paid gig...
I've been getting comments for years about how to start gigging as a freelance musician so I finally made this video! I asked a bunch of my working musician friends for their advice on how to start gigging, what they did, as well as hear their first gig story. I give my 2 cents at the end and tell the story of one of my first paid gigs which involved me putting on a wig and playing Careless Whisper in a cemetery (WITH PICTURES😂) Hope this is helpful for some of you!
Please show these incredible musicians some love!
Bryce Rabideau: bryce.rab
Jacob Pleakis: bigpleak
Olivia Van Goor: oliviavangoormusic
Brandon Lehman: itsbrandonlehman
Matt Ryan: matt.b.ryan
#musician #musicianlife
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[@danj8038]

I'm so glad I'm a bassist 😄

[@FoolishFrankie]

Lol😂

[@savedplayer]

Omg yes I have so many bands asking me to play because there are not many bassist. Its so helpful.

[@Pookieluv831]

I’m so glad I’m a multi instrumentalist

[@imsonny1635]

as a young musician myself, thank you for sharing this advice!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thanks for watching:)

[@anthonyweaver3579]

I'd love to hear the jam session dos and don'ts. I have never been but as a young musician it is something I am loking forward to. I love the videos :)

[@FoolishFrankie]

Maybe I’ll make a video on it! Thanks so much for watching🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@MatthewSmith-sz1yq]

Honestly jam session "rules" vary massively. Some have pre-made lists, and its expected that you show up with them memorized. Others, you just show up, and somebody goes "hey can we try this song?" Then everyone listens to it, and wings it from there. I'm a bassist, and nearly all of my experience is in the second type, the "just wing it" jam sessions. I prefer them to the ones that expect you to show up ready to go, because there is a lot less of a time commitment, and a lot less frustration if a song completely falls apart (imagine spending an hour getting a solo down, only to show up and the band can't even make it to the solo part). They are also a lot more fun, because there is a lot more wacky improv hijinks. If a song falls apart, it is usually because different band members are laughing uncontrollably over something, like the guitarist throwing "baby shark" into a solo. For do's and don'ts, the main thing to focus on is your songs. Unless you are picking an extremely famous song that 90% of the people there will know, like Sweet Home Alabama, stick with simple, repetitive songs, like Simple Man or Come Together. Ideally you should be able to look at a chord chart, listen to 20 seconds of the song, and be able to play it from there. Also, have a mental list of songs prepared, and make sure you actually know them. Odds are, you will be the only person who has heard the song, so you need to be able to "guide" the band. Make sure they aren't super reliant on the vocals, either, unless you are the vocalist, because the vocalists will be winging it like craaazy, and the vocal "timing" will probably be different from the song.

[@JameySterrett]

Thanks for posting! I know this is an older video, but I truly appreciate its value. I'm a rural Jazz Band Director in East Texas. My students often ask me these types of questions, and it helps them to hear it from someone other than me. lol Keep up the good work! Also, I HAVE to know who is buried there. It was obviously someone rich who loved the saxophone...

[@FoolishFrankie]

Ahh this is awesome to hear!! Glad it’s a useful resource for you. I wish I knew who was buried there but I haven’t been able to figure it out!!

[@T-Vivid-T]

Honestly Frankie, your a big inspiration for me, ive been play tenor for a year and a half and im a junior currently, Ive recently gotten crazy into music and actually wanting to go to music school, your postive attitude and great playing in a serious, potentially stressful, scene as well as your educational and informational videos always put me in a good mood and keep bringing me back.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Ahh thank you I really appreciate this🥺🙏🏻

[@Serendipideemusic]

This was really helpful! Thanks for making it, I can really see myself doing gigs as a potential career down the line.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Glad it was helpful!🙌🏻

[@mynameismusic11]

Thankyou! It’s great to know your take on it since seeing your shorts 😁

[@FoolishFrankie]

Of course! Thanks so much for watching!

[@ruby_gleyzes]

Great video! A video about the dos and don'ts in jam sessions would be awesome!

[@doerdons]

Incredible video indeed!! You and your friends are wonderful and incredibly knowledgeable, you really know what significant questions to ask and the tips are invaluable!! I love the overall format of the interviewing, good one!!!! ❤️😺

[@FoolishFrankie]

Ahh thank you so much this means a lot! I’m still trying to figure this style of video out so I really appreciate it!🙏🏻

[@sashas.4938]

Thank you for this! I really enjoy the content you make & as a young, aspiring musician, seeing you play gigs makes me excited for the future. Also, I’d definitely watch a jam session etiquette video. Have a good day!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Hey thanks I’m glad it’s useful!! Thanks so much for watching🙏🏻

[@thepr007monk]

This really helped Frankie Thanks. I just got my first gig to do a high school musical they needed a reed 2 so I went and played and It was very fun! This helps me build of that thank you.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Ahh that’s awesome congrats!! I’m glad it was helpful!😎🔥

[@Marco-jftsj]

Chuuuu been waiting for this one!

[@FoolishFrankie]

I hope it’s helpful!

[@Neydayofficial]

Awesome video! I need to learn careless whisper, who knows when it'll come in handy 😂

[@Marco-jftsj]

Uh oh now I gotta wait for a jam session video😂😭🤪

[@deepeshchinta1217]

I’m a little far from starting to gig, but I think it’s something cool I can do later to keep in touch with my instrument. Great video!

[@FoolishFrankie]

You definitely can!! Thanks for watching🙏🏻

[@gracelikesbacon566]

thanks Frankie, this was super helpful!

[@FoolishFrankie]

I’m glad!! Thanks for watching🙏🏻

[@Crookedmoth]

This is so helpful!! I’m a flautist and learning saxophone and wanna get out there and do more music and gigs

[@FoolishFrankie]

That’s awesome I’m glad you found it useful!

[@nicholassmithjr6527]

Yes please please make a jam session etiquette video I went to my first jam session last week and I want to know if you have any tips for the next time. Love your videos man.

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thanks for the interest and for watching!!🙏🏻

[@nanikore111]

Only 100 out of 1000 viewers liked the video, please (!) leave a like! It's a small gesture, well deserved. Some of us been waiting a looong time for this guide😳

[@FoolishFrankie]

Ahh I appreciate it!🙏🏻

[@jacksmith8758]

Thank you so much!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thanks for watching!

[@unholymemes988]

Great video idea!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thank you!

[@NbNgMOD]

Thanks for this! Whe I turn to age I now know how, and how not to!

[@todddafrog2694]

am i the only one who read it as, "how to start giggling as a young musician"?? Awesome video!

[@MrTobiscuit]

ngl, I'm here because I thought the thumbnail said "How to start giggling (for musicians)" 😅

[@FoolishFrankie]

LOL well I guess I need a different font (or maybe different thumbnail)

[@jackporath2434]

Eyy @Matt Ryan. Detroit loves you

[@FoolishFrankie]

Pittsburgh does too!!

[@kintorey1195]

Nice video ^_^

[@FoolishFrankie]

Thanks 😁

[@chelseyolson6460]

What if you don’t live near many (if any) places to meet people and build those relationships? I live in a suburban area with only like, chains restaurants and stores around. I’m still looking to gig in the future, but everything seems so daunting…

[@bobsmith12345]

great video! now i just need to find anybody my age who plays music at all lmao nobody at my school rly played, so its hard in a small town

[@FoolishFrankie]

I’m sure there’s someone! If not it could be worth moving!

[@bobsmith12345]

@@FoolishFrankie thanks for the advice! I’ll definitely keep trying In the meantime, I appreciate the inspiration from your videos :)

[@phoenixprater2600]

i read it giggling

[@garycaptol7219]

I tell my son to go out and play with people who are better than him. Where does one go to jam ? He plays the Sax. Thanks.

[@joelkrebs3577]

My question is not really how to start but “I’m I good enough and if not on what should I work?” I play in a classical Philharmonic but I never put that much work because I see it more like an hobby, I was good enough to pass band school but not the one who would play the solo in a concert.

[@FoolishFrankie]

If you enjoy it and just want to do it as a hobby that’s totally cool too!!

[@ianbot]

Great production quality foolish frankie

[@FoolishFrankie]

I appreciate it!!

[@Zach-xe8lx]

Hello Frankie! I play tenor and my teacher says I play like a brass player which I also play. Do you know how I could stop doing that?

[@FoolishFrankie]

I don’t know tbh I don’t know what that means

[@ornettebreaker]

How do you positively criticize those you gig with? Assuming you are open to it yourself. Love your vids man!

[@FoolishFrankie]

I don’t. I’m lucky to almost always be playing with people who are better than me and I also don’t like to give out u solicited criticism. Thanks for watching!!

[@FishingForLife28]

You dont. People dont want to hear it and will most likely think you're jerk that they dont want to work with again. Never give unsolicited criticism. No matter if you phrase it positivly or not

[@gab4386]

I thought that thumbnail said giggling at first lol

[@sugarplum5750]

I miss read the tittle as "how to start giggling" and got hella confused 🤣🤣🤣

[@FoolishFrankie]

LOL😂

[@user-eb3tq9zl6t]

PLZ PLAY BARI

[@FishingForLife28]

"Be that person that there aren't that many of" Not if there isn't any demand for that instrument ma dude 😭

[@FoolishFrankie]

There is always demand for every instrument. You just have to be the only person worth calling

[@FishingForLife28]

@@FoolishFrankie Of course there is demand. And I do get called. Just not nearly as often as musicians playing more regular instruments

[@NotFine]

What do you play?

[@FishingForLife28]

@@NotFine The trumpet, but where Im from people like to cheap out. If they want a band they will get the minimum (drummer, guitarist, bassist and singer, maybe a pianist), but mostly they only get a single guy singing with an acoustic guitar. I know pretty much every serious musician in my town, and its the same 10 people getting most of the gigs, and they all play the exact same songs. My band gets around 2-3 gigs a year when people want to splurge and get the band will a full brass section

[@karlrovey]

​@@FishingForLife28That's when it's helpful to be proficient in multiple instruments.

[@wildhorsemusic1111]

I need a lighter keyboard!

[@D.Orlando]

club penguin music goes so hard

[@rogersalles200]

want gigs? move to Europe

[@FoolishFrankie]

There’s plenty of work where I live

[@Bimhermodrsenblom]

These are some very much needed inputs, @FoolishFrankie!

[@FoolishFrankie]

Glad they were useful!🙏🏻