Stamina for solo gig

[saxeT]

It looks like I might be performing some solo (Jazz) gigs in the future where I use background tracks. Normally around here musicians play 4 sets of 45 mins. each with 15 minute breaks. My question is:............Is anybody on this forum doing this type of gig? It seems like playing all the heads and all the solos continually for so many hours would be tough on the chops. I am trying to build my endurance for it right now and am playing two 45 minute sets in practice daily but I have a blood blister on my bottom lip already.

Thanks in advance for any advice from those that have experience in this matter.

[sax_appeal]

Is the blood blister from all the practicing? If it is, you are doing too much. You might need a break to recover from the blister. In order to build up your chop endurance you need to start by doing the amount of playing you would usually do and gradually increase the amount. If you start by playing for too long your chops are going to suffer because you have not built your chops up to that level.

As a performer you need to know what your limits are and you shouldn't exceed them.

[saxeT]

I really think the blood blister is from several nights ago when I played extensively in the altissimo range trying to develop some "licks". Although I feel fairly comfortable playing in that range, I don't think my embouchure technique is quite right (for the altissimo). I think I still have a tendency to put un-necessary pressure on my bottow lip out of habit. That is something I am working on but old habits are hard to break.

I guess I need a break to let the lip heal but I think I'm getting addicted to practicing like a weight-lifter that just doesn't feel right if they miss their day in the gym.

Do you think that it would not be an unreasonable expectation to be able to play a solid four hours of playing for a gig? This type of gig would be constant playing because there would be no one else to share the leads with. I do notice if I play for a couple of hours, I get a tightness in my lungs also. Right now, 2 hours is about all I can handle but I am hoping to work up my endurance.

I just don't want to book this gig and give out after 2 sets and play like mush the rest of the night.

Thank for your help

[sax_appeal]

I think that it is unreasonable to expect somebody to ply solidly for four hours straight. There are a couple of ways you can give yourself a break from playing though. If you are an entertainer, and have the attention of the audience tell a few stories, share anecdotes etc. Do you play piano?

If they really do expect you to play for four hours straight then tell them they either need to give you a few breaks or you won't do the gig (make sure you aren't breaching any contracts however).

[maceorules]

Suck it up saxeT! You should be able to play at 100% for at least 6 hours with out a break. :oops: 6 mos.. you'll have chops of steel.

[larry]

Hopefully you're not screamin' and screechin' all 4 hours?! :shock:

I could see doing 4 hours of quiet stuff at a restaurant (or whatever), but 4 hours of blasting Coltranesque "Favorite Things" arpeggios would shred you, no doubt!

My $0.02 (now marked down to $0.005) is treat it like running a marathon - pace yourself!

[gary]

I would negotiate for four hours inclusive but not four 45 minute sets but rather, say, 20-25 minutes on and ten off. Obviously less playing time, and maybe a little less money, but you should be able to handle that. If you play flute, use it to rest your sax chops. Depending on your flute chops, maybe even do a flute set.

What kind of gig, exactly is this? Playing for a reception, an actual concert-type situation, what? It can make a big difference. If it's a club where the listeners are sitting right in front of you listening, you've got to go full-bore the entire time. If it's a convention, you can program your music to give you more rests just by your choice of music.

A word of caution. I don't know the setting, but if you're planning on using 4X45 sets of Aebersold play-alongs, that'a lot of blowing, and IMO boring from the listeners' standpoint.

Having said that, saxeT, from the way you are asking your questions and the answers you're giving yourself, I think you already know the answer if you have no other choice but to go 4X45 balls-to-the-wall blowing. My motto -never do a gig in such a way that you won't be asked back again.

Also, an old adage, every performance is an audition. Go up there and blow it and there may be many potential clients in attendance who will not be calling you for a gig. Good luck!

Are you playing in Denton, where the crowds know jazz, or at "Bob's Country Bunker" in Waxahachie?

[sax_appeal]

It is all a matter of individual style and taste but I always bring an accompanist to a gig. When there's two of you you can give each other breaks by playing solo or with recorded backing.

[saxeT]

Well folks...sorry for just getting back to you, I just got in from playing a solo gig but it was only about an hour and a half of playing for a June Teenth Banquet. While I was there, an excellent piano player from the audience started playing along with me on several tunes. He played great and said he wanted to get with me and maybe start working together. It looks like my prayers might be answered.

This is North Texas but almost in West Texas. It's well over a hundred miles to the Denton area and jazz is unheard of here. Everybody plays Country & Western. I also played keyboards in those bands until about 9 months ago when I got tired of it and went back to playing jazz on my sax. I figured that I would play solo if I have to but maybe this piano player will work out. : )

Thanks for your responses. I still might try the 4 hour gig at a steak house that stays open late and doubles as a club in the evenings on weekends but hopefully I will have the accompanist to help me.

[Bootman]

I would often play solo Jazz gigs without backing tracks or midi backing. I would runteh sets as usual and often chat or joke with the audience, ask for requests, etc... Bring the show out to the audience. Usually these gigs were so queit that I would play them on clarinet, drop in the ocassional sax number.

The benefit of playing the gig like this is stamina, it makes you really know your tunes, the changes and the way to interact with a single part contrapuntal line to imitate Bass parts and melody. It is hard work, but you will grow as a player by doing them this way rather than undertaking the music minus 1 approach. You can also take along a tune book with you, work on new tunes, play requests and have a great time.

Think about how to do these gigs and then go and do them. Remember to have fun and to smile. Interact with the audience and develop a stage banter or routine. The benefits to you as a player will become apparent very shortly if you do this.

[saxboy]

I still do them when asked but don't really pursue them because they are a LOT OF WORK.
When I do a solo gig I ask for WAY TOO MUCH MONEY and then I'm not kicking myself after the gig is done.
I have tracks from midi files I have fixed up and recorded, Kareoke CDs, live gigs that I tracked the Keyboards (Key Bass and Drum Machine) to a DAT for later use, and many of my CDs have background tracks we made for radio station interviews or TV spots.
Playing most the time is pretty crazy and it is the hardest gig I ever do. I agree with using the Flute to break up the chops and save the face. You can also do a few and slip in a CD track of someone else playing to get the next few songs ready and rest the lip for a minute. I put in CDs for a song about 1 tune per set.
I also would mention the Aebersolds can be edited to remove a few choruses for time issues.
Other than that.
Dont practice too much before doing a gig that will wear you out. Save your lip for the gig.
They can be pretty cool and you can practice all kinds of tunes without the band messing up the chart.