Okuzeka
Music vocabulary · Performance and Practice

Gig

Meaning in music, with examples

/ɡɪɡ/nounCore term

In music, gig means: An informal word for a live performance by a musician or band, especially a paid one in a bar, club or at an event.

In Turkish: konser, sahne, iş

How it is used

The everyday word among working musicians. You play, do, book, get or land a gig; a 'paid gig', 'wedding gig' or 'corporate gig'. 'Gigging musician' means someone who performs regularly. More formal texts say 'concert' or 'performance'.

Example sentences

  1. We've got a gig at a jazz bar in Kadıköy on Friday night.

  2. Most of his income comes from wedding gigs and session work.

Common collocations

  • play a gig
  • book a gig
  • paid gig
  • wedding gig
  • gigging musician
  • setlistThe list of songs a band or artist plans to play at a show, in order. A 'set' is one continuous block of performance.
  • soundcheckA short session before a show, when the band plays on stage so that the sound engineer can set the levels for the audience and the monitors.
  • tourA series of concerts in different cities or countries, usually planned to promote a new album and to earn live income.
  • headlinerThe main performer at a concert or festival, whose name is shown first or biggest and who usually plays last and longest.
  • rehearsalA session in which musicians practise a piece or a show together before performing it for an audience.

More terms: Performance and Practice

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