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Just try to keep it simple. I don't know what arrangements you plan to play, but with my school faculty brass quintet, when we do involved or jazz arrangements, the audience (teachers and elem. kids) tends to lose interest. Although, it's more fun to play the non-traditional arrangements, the audience would probably appreciate traditional arrangements that they can recognize, especially at a party. Good luck and have fun!

Be on time. Play well. Keep conversation with the guy writing the check if you are the point man for the group. Know exactly what they want to happen and then do it.

Since this is your first gig, it'd be good if you could arrange to have a friend serve as a "plant' to read the reaction of the audience. Your group may think a particular chart is pretty neat, but the audience may not share your enthusiasm. The key to running a successful business is knowing what your customers want and providing it.

But in the meantime, relax, have fun and remember to look at the audience.

Fortissimosca wrote: Bill Troiano reminded of how my quintet went around the school to play Let it Snow for everyone.

Quintet's fun isn't it?

Which version did you use--the Frackenpohl?

A couple of people have hit upon an important point - having fun. There have been some times when I was so preoccupied with the details of making the job go off well (as Sean mentioned - be on time or early, playing well, being the point man for the quintet), that it took me by surprise when people would come up after the performance and tell us how obvious it was that we were having a great time. They then told us that our enjoyment was infectious, and that they had had a great time, too.

Enjoyment of what you're doing is genuine and cannot be faked - the audience can tell the difference. This may sound like an oversimplification, but play well, enjoy yourself while doing it, and you and the audience will both have a great time!

Your gig's probably over by now, but here are a couple of things you can do on future engagements...

1.)Be pleasant, play well and look nice.

2.) Make sure you'll have enough music stands and chairs for everyone in the group. Have more music ready to play than you really need. It's always better to have too much music than too little.

3.) Print up a few simple-looking business cards on your computer to have with you, in case someone asks for one. Make sure your name and phone number (or the easiest way to reach you) is on the card.

4.) It's never a bad idea to send a "thank-you" card to the person who hired you for the gig.