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Gig (musical performance)
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Gig is a term commonly used by bands with reference to their live shows.
The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians describes the term as meaning "A term commonly applied to a musical engagement of one night’s duration only; to undertake such an engagement."[1] The first documented use of this term in this way appears in 1926: :1926 Melody Maker Sept. 7 One popular ‘gig’ band makes use of a nicely printed booklet.[2]
According to Richard Digance on UK TV Channel 4's Countdown, this definition derives from a small carriage in New Orleans, Louisiana known as a gig, where black musicians could perform, so they would not be arrested for playing on the street.
Sources
- ^ 'Gig', Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed 6 Oct 2007), <http://www.grovemusic.com> - Included in R. S. Gold: A Jazz Lexicon: an A-Z Dictionary of Jazz Terms (New York, 1964, rev. 2/1975 as Jazz Talk)
- ^ "gig, n.6" The Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. 1989. OED Online. Oxford University Press. 6 Oct 2007 <http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50094462>
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