How to Succeed

Buddy Rich said it well enough: "Be on time, wear a clean shirt and swing your ass off!” Despite Buddy's penchant for homely sweaters, his advice goes a long way toward spelling out the expectations (the basic requirements of the job) of being a pro, or at least desirable. I used to tell my business students something similar: Show up on time, wear the right clothes, and do what you were hired to do to the best of your ability.

Showing Up
Of course, standards vary. Some band leaders are happy if you're reliably in your spot before counting in the first tune. Others may have different expectations. I worked with one fellow who wanted me on-site an hour (unpaid) before our start time. Because I was often teaching or doing studio work at the other end of the city, that didn't work for me. Despite the fact that I was always there in plenty of time to freshen up and dust off my sticks, our relationship was doomed because the expectations were unrealistic and immovable.

“Showing up on time is one of the greatest
liberating act you can give yourself” - Tom Hanks

Dress the Role

My favourite band uniform ritual was with a casual lounge gig. Whenever the leader called me he asked, "Do you have a pair of dark blue pants?" I had black pants, which worked out just fine since I was sitting down all the time. But he never failed to ask about blue pants -- which I ‘forgot’ to buy due to the low pay and sparse gigs. If the job had been more steady, I'd have bought the required pants to go with the band’s Hawaiian shirts.

Band attire can go in any direction, but my advice is to respect the audience, your band members, your employer, and yourself by dressing well. I see a lot of musicians these days sporting a faded T-shirt and well-worn jeans ... boring, and somewhat disrespectful. So why not spice it up a bit and wear some colour? For years Paul Shaffer wore a new shirt for every gig, and in addition to adding a bit of visual interest, it was good marketing.

Keep Swinging 
After playing the same tunes with the same people for weeks, months or even years, it's easy to get complacent. Do you look bored? Uninterested? Tired of the routine? It shows, and it affects the music, the other performers and the audience. And it’s less fun.

So there it is. Show up on time, which means be there early enough to look after all pre-gig prep. Wear clean, interesting shirt, pants, dress, whatever ... and shine your shoes occasionally. And then swing your ass off.

Photo Credit: Sebastian Czapnik