3 min. read
In the freelance circuit, you're going to meet a lot of different people.
You're going to meet different musicians with personalities that are the good, the bad, and the ugly.
As a violinist, sometimes I don't have to luxury to choose the people I play with. If you're in a contracted gig, and you're there with a person you know has a reputation of showing up late and shows a lack of effort, you have to try and make the most of it.
Unfortunately, there is no easy solution to making it work.
Each problem is unique and each situation has its good and bad. So as a violinist, what do you do?
For starters, you can approach the person in charge or a person you know you can trust that's not in your current situation or in that group of people like a manager, colleague, mentor, etc. They can always give you an unbias overview of your situation and they can give you some advice. It's important to get advice from someone who's been in the business for a long time and may have had a similar experience.
If option 1 doesn't work, then you go to option two: you go with it.
You're going to be in a situation where you won't get along with our stand partner, or your contractor. If you have a temporary contract, then stick to it. Be patient, and play well. You never know if that person you sat next to has the power to give you a gig in the future. The people around you are going to see how you portray yourself and you always want to present yourself in the best possible light.
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