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The perfect gig!

I find an oddness playing gigs with a accordion, probably because the audience still see it as a oddity and therefore I feel like an ambassador promoting the past...
If I play a gig where I am the show I feel I either have to intersperse the tunes with history lessons of either the accordion or the music...this works well with a seated audience..I didn't feel comfortable just being watched and rattling out numbers... thankfully people find my style, speech and mannerisms amusing ..
Sometimes I'll take these gigs for lower reward just to get the accordion "out there"
Other than that I like the background music gig best, can noodle away toying with melodies and so long as I don't go too far out no one notices or pays much attention...it's an art entertaining without dominating the room...I keep my beady eye on the till and if plenty cash changing hand I make sure I get a fair bite
As to 'pay to play'...'open mics'...forget it....you only get exposure to friends and families of other wannabee musicians playing the same shit gig where only the bar owner wins...
One guy suggested I play for him on two consecutive Thursdays and if well received would give me a Saturday gig....I said sure sounds fair and ordered a beer, I drank it and went to leave, he asked for the money and I said " oh... don't worry about that, I'll pop in for another free one tomorrow and if I like it I'll come in on Friday and buy one...."
He let me off the beer for my cheek...I didn't give him a free gig for his 😉
 
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I find an oddness playing gigs with a accordion, probably because the audience still see it as a oddity and therefore I feel like an ambassador promoting the past...
If I play a gig where I am the show I feel I either have to intersperse the tunes with history lessons of either the accordion or the music...this works well with a seated audience..I didn't feel comfortable just being watched and rattling out numbers... thankfully people find my style, speech and mannerisms amusing ..
Sometimes I'll take these gigs for lower reward just to get the accordion "out there"
Other than that I like the background music gig best, can noodle away toying with melodies and so long as I don't go too far out no one notices or pays much attention...it's an art entertaining without dominating the room...I keep my beady eye on the till and if plenty cash changing hand I make sure I get a fair bite
As to 'pay to play'...'open mics'...forget it....you only get exposure to friends and families of other wannabee musicians playing the same shit gig where only the bar owner wins...
One guy suggested I play for him on two consecutive Thursdays and if well received would give me a Saturday gig....I said sure sounds fair and ordered a beer, I drank it and went to leave, he asked for the money and I said " oh... don't worry about that, I'll pop in for another free one tomorrow and if I like it I'll come in on Friday and buy one...."
He let me off the beer for my cheek...I didn't give him a free gig for his 😉
I like your attitude Terry! I’ve never really sought out gigs, just playing what comes my way, which has been enough. If I do 15 - 20 farmer’s markets, I’m good for 2024. I’m sure I’ll do a few more things too, already have one other lined up. I have never seen or heard of a solo accordion gig at a bar/restaurant/coffee shop in my location, but I imagine I will be asked to at some point (a couple have been suggested but I haven’t bothered to pursue them). Fortunately I don’t need to play for money and don’t like to anyway, although I am paid at the markets, but the organizer is chill and I can play however I want. I was stiffed at one event in 2023 which will remain nameless. Never again. Background is where it’s at. Although in my old location I played a lot of senior, Alzheimer’s, etc. where I did a lot of background explaining, totally different than a paid bar gig. Rock on!
 
After becoming "redundant" in the corporate world earlier this year, I actually have the time to perform in public 4-5 times a week in various capacities. However, I had no outlet for some of the European folk music I really like to play so I approached a local Parisian marketplace/restaurant /bar about playing some French, Belgian and Scandinavian tunes during their dinner / happy hours. They were very enthused and gave me carte blanche to come in anytime I want and they will give me free food / drinks and can play for tips.

It is 5 minutes from my house, making it essentially climate-controlled busking in a gorgeous space where:

1) I get paid to essentially practice (what I would be doing anyway) at a place that isn't home.
2) I can polish up 2-3 hours of previously memorized (but otherwise unused) niche repertoire in front of an appreciative live audience
3) There is no PA / gear to haul or set up
4) I don't have to create setlists, schedule practices, do promotion, coordinate bandmates, announce tunes, call out chord charts or do any kind of stage banter. I can just show up, sit down and zone out in my own happy place playing tunes that come into my head (or make up new ones).
5) Great French wine or local beer
6) At the end of the evening, I take home doggie bags of pricey French cuisine that provides multiple lunches and dinners for me and my wife.

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I don't think I could have envisioned a more perfect situation.
Great hope you many years of enjoyment on this gig. I was doing corporate gigs,lots of running around, setup. Congrats…
 
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