A gig is a ritualistic happening organized among human beings centered around experiencing various approaches to performing music with their corporeal presence. Music is another form of humanistic organization - essentially it involves selecting and generating particular sonic vibrations in particular novel combinations and arrangements. Performance is more complex of a topic, but for our purposes here we can simply understand that performance is a formal version of "pretend play." Essentially, humans hold a true identity - comprised of facts such as their biographical data, their preferences, their class, their aesthetic tendencies, their desires, etc. - and a shifting, cascading stack of outwardly expressed identities that often project or help manifest who they yearn to truly be or how they yearn to be perceived by others. Performance is a component of all human interactions, but in this setting at a gig, it more accurately describes when a discrete unit of attention is being paid to particular acts by particular people, such as strumming chords on a guitar. Gigs are also commonly referred to as shows or concerts and, if all goes well, there will be a gathering of people observing the performance.

There are many different types of gigs featuring many different approaches to arranging and organizing sound, each with their own distinct aesthetics and code of conduct. A noise music show, for instance, tends to feature very truncated performances - it is not unusual to see a noise artist perform for less than five minutes whereas a person DJing at an electronic music club may perform for eight hours straight. For now, however, let us focus on gigs that feature bands.

Though there is a tremendous amount of variation among them, generally bands feature some combination of people utilizing guitars, drums, and often singing, though this is more of a tendency and less of a rule. You may see other instruments contained within bands such as saxophones, keyboards, or even occasionally a DJ. Often bands are centered around the realization of songs, which can be understood as a grouped set of words and coordinated movements through agreed-upon rhythms and tones often with an emphasis on repetition. Just so we're clear, singing is a method of verbal communication that involves elongating words beyond their typical spoken length and expressing them at particular tones that fit nicely (or interestingly) into an arrangement of sound. Essentially, bands are a group of people making noise together, and just as there are an infinite variety of individual personalities, the quality and general "vibe" of each band is unique - bands can be sloppy or tight, they can be goofy or serious, they can be inviting or intimidating, they can suck or they can rock, etc. And because they are essentially self-selected groups of people, bands inherently contain an element of social organization - by default, a band is an in-group (this is important to note).

So, focusing on gigs that feature bands. We can now understand that we are generally discussing the corporeal realization of organized sounds done by groupings of people (aka musicians, humans who organize sound). But where does such an activity take place?

The venue holds the gig, though just as there is every possible imaginable variety of band there exists an endless array of concert venues. Often venues are bars, a form of business where people pay to consume alcohol, a mind-altering substance that famously "borrows tomorrow's happiness for tonight." There are much grander, more formal venues, as well, such as theaters, stadiums, and opera houses. Very few bands get to play anything more illustrious than bars. And there are many less formal venues, as well, often referred to as DIY ("do it yourself") - basements, art studios, public libraries, the dining rooms of buildings owned by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars organization, etc. More often than not, a venue provides the necessary tools to bands in order to executive a successful and appealing realization of their music such as loudspeakers, microphones, intriguing lighting, and a stage, a platform that quite literally elevates the social group of the band above their peers (although it should be stated clearly that many venues provide to fail some or any of these crucial components). In exchange for permitting a gig to happen and providing some of the necessary tools, a venue typically requests money of the non-performers in attendance, often in the form of a cover charge - essentially, you have to pay someone money in order to enter the space. Both bars and DIY spaces often supplement or generate their primary income through the sale of beverages and other substances. Sometimes the cover charge money goes to the bands performing, sometimes they will receive a cut of the bar, and sometimes they will be brutally taken advantage of and no money will be shared. Typically the performance of music - which is a sublime experience for some - does not mix well with the objective, financial realities of the world.

Which leads us to examine the motivations of a gig. Since a band is very unlikely to be adequately compensated for their labor and their expertise as performers, why would the notion of a gig appeal to them? Gig, after all, is also a term we use to describe short-term employment, but can something really be considered a gig if it's not adequately paid? Additionally, what about those that attend the gig? They purchase the privilege of watching the show, what of value do they receive in exchange for their cash at the door? This is hard to say precisely. Participation in society is certainly valuable and the aesthetic in-grouping of bands allows people to project and refine their own social strata. And though it might not be obvious from the lack of reaction in many crowds, it is clear that gigs can be at least somewhat fun and/or enjoyable. Sometimes music is stirring emotionally and can provide us comfort, camaraderie, excitement. Is it something we are inherently drawn to do? Is it simply a compelling practice to listen to others? Do we all deep down wish that we ourselves were on the stage, elevated?