how to Give other Musicians a Positive Impression

Certain truths are not as self-evident as they may seem. Over more than three decades as a professional guitarist, I have come across many musicians, both amateur and professional, who have been ignorant of how unprofessional an impression they left on myself and other band members. In most situations, musicians will not illuminate such faults for the band leader; however, they will invariably share the experience with other musicians they know. As much as singers and vocalists often receive the most criticism among musicians, plenty of other instrumentalists commit the same faux pas.

Here are some simple elements to consider if you do not want to look incompetent or unprofessional in front of musicians:

Details Concerning the Gig or Job: When you call another musician for a gig, detail your expectations. For example, if you are a singer, make it clear if you expect a rehearsal or do not have arrangements for all the songs in your repertoire. Telling a musician about such essential details only after agreeing to the gig is intensely unnerving.

Rehearsals - Paid or Not?: If you require or may be thinking of requesting a rehearsal, consider that most professional musicians expect compensation for rehearsals. To think that the musician is obligated to attend a free rehearsal is about as unprofessional as it gets. (If you require a rehearsal but cannot pay anything, have the decency to be upfront about it before the musician agrees to the gig.)

Arrangements and Legible Charts

Though singers and vocalists most often violate this aspect, other instrumentalists may just as easily make the same mistake. You will come off more professionally when presenting musicians with accurate, clearly written (or printed) music charts; a pianist's short-hand chicken scratch scribbled onto some staff paper does not pass muster. If you need proper charts, invest in a notation program or pay a copyist to create them.

A Little Humility Goes a Long Way: Apart from sycophants, no one enjoys an arrogant or conceited personality. Therefore, you will receive more respect and help if you admit that you do not know something or don't have all the necessary materials (e.g., charts) for the gig.

As a band leader or music director, you want the musicians to play as well as they can. Achieving this is easier if the musicians have respect for you. All of the four points mentioned above are relatively easy to practice. Doing so will avoid common pitfalls that quickly lead to a less-than-flattering reputation amongst professional musicians.