Lessons From Ginger Baker - Getting Your First Gig

I recently watch Beware of Mr. Baker on Netflix. Its an interesting look at the drummer from Creme. Why is it called Beware of Mr. Baker? Because the guy is a self centered, egotistical, drunk most of his life. At one point the guy who played drums for Eric Clapton in Creme and later in Traffic with Eric and Steve Winwood had to place and ad in a magazine to try and get a job as a drummer. Why? Because nobody who knew him, or knew people who knew him - wanted him. He brought way too much baggage. We all have egos. That's why I say make sure you get in a band that plays the same type of music that you want to play. I talk about this in my book "Get Your Band Out of the Basement." There will be circumstances that are not fair, and others that you find yourself in front of a giant break. Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% how you react. Getting Your First GigToday we talk about how you need to establish relationships with those in our industry. We need to take time to get the right contacts, and politely remind people you are available. By keeping your name in front of people, they are more likely to call you when they need a band. It takes time, patience, and luck. In some instances my band would take a "free" gig. we once played a benefit for cancer that had influential people in the audience who later hired us for gigs. <img src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00BCMT0AQ&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=marketmusic-20" alt="" border="0" /><img style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=marketmusic-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00BCMT0AQ" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" /><img src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1844549666&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=marketmusic-20" alt="" border="0" /><img style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=marketmusic-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1844549666" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" />