That’s me these days. Keeping it casual. I’m playing quite a bit but only on a casual basis. What does that mean, a discerning reader might ask? My answer is I don’t really know. All I do know is that I’m playing out a bit with some different players and (this is a big and) I’m not in a working band. How does this happen you discerning readers may further question, how am I getting to play these casual gigs. Well, I’ll tell you how, I get calls. Continuing this line of questioning, you might ask what do you mean you get calls? Let me explain, as best as I know, what this call phenomenon is. It seems that someone gets a gig and the bass player they usually play with is not available for whatever reason and their back up bass player is also not able to play the date, this is when I sometimes get the call. Sometimes being the operative word in the last sentence. This scenario that leads to the call seems to be happening somewhat more frequently for me and I’m certainly enjoying it.
So that is what a “call” is but what is a casual gig (you sure ask a lot of questions)? I tried to do some research on this and for me that means go to Wikipedia. Wiki knew what a gig was but what a casual gig is didn’t make the grade. Not to worry or despair though, I’m pretty certain I know what a casual gig is from my formative years on the garden party jazz circuit. In my definition, a casual gig is a one off gig that is not in a venue that typically has live music. Examples of this are, (ready for this) gigs at garden parties and other private party affairs and that it is not a band that is playing these gigs but rather a loose collection of somewhat competent musicians, giving a lot of latitude to the word competent in this case. There you go. We have all the terms defined and now on to the story. Please hold all further questions until the end.
One type of casual gig I’m getting calls for are church suppers, you heard me! The kind of church supper that Andy of Mayberry would get the call to go play, potluck and all. Sometimes these are not suppers but afternoon socials like the kind where Barney would dance with Thelma Lou. You’ll get no complaining from me though. Getting out to play with other musicians is very good for me. I have two booked in the next couple of months.
Another benefit to the casuals I’m playing is that I’m a callee instead of a caller and that means I just have to show up and play and not worry about calling 4 or 5 other players to make the gig. Been there, done that, you know the whole minding mice deal. No more of that for me.
Just so we’re clear on this any instrument can get called to play a casual. It’s not just basses but they’re they only calls I care about. I may, if asked recommend some other players to the caller but I leave the calling to them.
As for other casual gigs, I’m not getting very many calls for garden parties these days. It’d probably because the polite society crowd at garden parties isn’t looking for bluegrass music. They would rather have jazz but I’m not getting any jazz calls presently.
I have another set of gigs coming up that may not technically be classified as casuals, from my perspective they are awfully close. I’m hooked up to the Java Jam in Los Gatos and need to check my email for the call. The jam is invitational and I’m on the bass rotation. I’m looking forward to playing these jams and I have 4 scheduled beginning March 18 and going through April. These jams are at the Los Gatos Roasting Company every Wednesday with plenty of good players. Check it out if you have time or are in the area.
It is hard for me to believe I got this far and didn’t mention Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday. I made it through another year. No more driving to jams in the dark. Also no mention of tequila but I’m headed to the woodshed this morning to work on my new original composition titled Reposado Before Breakfast.
I’ll take more of your questions now…
See you in April.
