Gigs are like buses.......

........ They're big, red, full of nutters and smell of stale piss. Okay that's not what I meant, well some gigs.... never mind lets get back on track here.

Bad jokes aside I've had a real shortage of gigs since I've returned to being a professional musician, luckily for me most of my work comes from teaching anyway but getting the odd gig now and again is important for several reasons. Most of all cash, it's a necessary boost to the income when a half decent gig comes along. Just getting out there and playing is really important too just you keep your hand in as it's very easy to become complacent or even lazy if you're not performing. The other reason has to be self esteem, if you're not getting any gigs at all you really start to wonder why you're bothering.

What makes it harder for me is the fact that I'm completely freelance, I'm bandless so to speak and therefore have to rely on people needing a percussionist. When they do it's usually a last minute kind of job where I'm just filling in so it's high pressure but that's what makes it all worthwhile. 
I really enjoyed being in my last band but while bands and artists tend to get the odd well paid gig, or medium to high profile bit of TV work today's music scene is a pay-to-play culture and I can't afford to do that as music is my job and I have to make it pay or I'll starve. (For those aware that my partner is a food blogger replace starve with bitch a lot and cry)

I've already mentioned that this year I got orchestral work playing timps in a requiem and that I'm depping (the muso lingo for filling in) for a very good band at the end of May. It looks like I'm also going to get some dep work with a covers band containing members of the very good band and some work which will essentially be up-market busking. There have also be some noises made about doing some percussion at festivals too, it may not be glastonbury but it's high-profile enough and it's work. Of course as musicians we tend to live on the promise of work, 50% materialises and the other 50% doesn't but so far it's teetering on the more positive of the two.

The big news is that I've been offered a cruise gig at the end of the year. It's very early days at the moment and it may not happen as I haven't decided if I'm going to accept the offer yet. I have established that I can get the time off school and a friend who is also a music teacher has said she's able to take on my private students if I go. There's so much to consider with this one and while 10 weeks in the Mediterranean playing cheesy pop does sound cool It's not a decision I can rush into. Not least because it would mean being away all over Christmas and New Year.

The main thing is that I'm getting offers again and that's going to help fill the gap between now and reapplying to spend the rest of my career in the classroom.

One step forward two steps back

My frequent reader(s) may remember all the talk about going back to University to do my PGCE and become a secondary school teacher. Well here's the update, and it's not great news.

I got a letter from the teacher training people the other day telling me that basically I'm not going to Uni this year. It's not even that I've been turned down, the letter said they were unable to forward my application to the university due to the course being full. There were only a few places left after I first spoke to the university in February, which is why my part of the application was completed three days later. Unfortunately my boss took two bloody months to write my reference and upload it to the website and now my chances of going back to uni this academic year are over.

I'm pissed off about this of course but I'm remaining positive and I'll be the first to have my application in for next year. Between now and then I will be working my arse off on the whole maths thing and doing whatever else it takes to jump through all the hoops the uni want me to and more.

Luckily the work front is looking a little better at the moment. After a run of bad luck and a dry spell of gigs things may be starting to turn around. Last month I was hired to play timpani for a Requiem being sung by a choir and this month I'm going to be depping for a band as their drummer can't make a gig. This is a really good opportunity with a really good established band and it looks like it could lead to more work. On top of the potentially good I get more teaching hours in school from next month too and hopefully the September term will bring a few more hours too.

One step forward and two steps back maybe but at least I'm remaining positive for now.

Happy Star Wars Day

That's right it's May the 4th and to help it be with you I thought I'd share some Star Wars related photos I've taken. So whether you're Jedi, Sith, or just normal rebel scum enjoy.