Glossary

A

Advance

An advance is the part of an artist's fee paid before the event, with the balance paid on or after the day.

An advance confirms the date for both sides. Agree the amount, when it is due and what happens to it if the event is cancelled, in writing, before anything is paid.

Anchor (emcee)

An anchor, or emcee, is the person who hosts an event: introducing each part, keeping it on time and holding the audience's attention between acts.

Anchors work at weddings, sangeets, corporate events and award nights. A good one knows the running order and can cover for delays.

Apply

On Gig'le, to apply is to tell an organiser you want a gig they have posted, by pressing Apply on the gig while signed in.

The organiser is notified straight away and can accept or decline. They can look through the work on your profile before deciding. See how it works.

B

Backline

Backline is the stage equipment a venue or organiser provides for bands, typically amplifiers, a drum kit and sometimes keyboards.

If backline is provided, musicians bring only their own instruments. Always confirm what is included before the gig, because "backline provided" means different things at different venues.

C

Collaboration

A collaboration is a project two or more artists make together, usually sharing the credit, as opposed to a gig, where an organiser pays an artist for a defined piece of work.

A singer and a producer writing a song together is a collaboration; the same singer performing at a venue for a fee is a gig. Collaborations may be unpaid or split whatever they earn, so agree that at the start.

Commission

A commission is a piece of work made to order for a specific person or organisation, such as a mural, a portrait, a poem or a piece of music.

The person commissioning it sets the brief and pays an agreed fee. Agree the size, deadline, number of revisions and who owns the finished work before starting. Art commissions appear under visual arts.

Cover

A cover is a performance of a song written and first recorded by someone else.

Many bar, restaurant and wedding gigs ask for covers the audience already knows. A night for "originals" asks for your own songs instead.

Craft

On Gig'le, a craft is the creative field a gig, an event or an artist belongs to. There are ten: music, dance, comedy, theatre, literature, visual arts, photography, videography, fashion and culinary.

Each craft has its own page listing its open gigs and upcoming events. Browse all crafts.

E

Exposure

"Exposure" is what an organiser offers when a gig is unpaid: the chance to be seen by an audience, in place of a fee.

It can be worth it early on, for a stage you would not otherwise get or an audience that matters to you. It is not payment, and it does not cover your costs. Ask what the audience is, whether travel or a meal is covered, and whether paid work is likely to follow, then decide.

G

Gig

A gig is a single piece of paid work for an artist: a performance, a shoot, a set, a workshop or a commission, for one event or one organiser.

The word started with musicians and is now used across the creative fields. On Gig'le, organisers post gigs with the craft, location, experience level and pay, and artists apply. See open gigs.

Green room

A green room is the backstage space where performers wait and get ready before going on stage.

It does not have to be green or even a room. For an event at a home or a hall, a quiet corner with a mirror, water and somewhere to leave instrument cases does the job.

H

Headliner

The headliner is the main act of a show, usually the last to perform and the name the event is promoted with.

Acts that perform before the headliner are opening or supporting acts.

J

Jam session

A jam session is an informal gathering where musicians play together without a fixed line-up or a rehearsed set.

Unlike an open mic, where each person performs alone for a few minutes, a jam is played together, often around well-known songs or a simple chord progression. Jams are a common way to meet people to form a band with.

L

Line-up

A line-up is the list of acts performing at an event, in the order they appear.

A "line-up show" in comedy is one where several comedians each do a short set, as opposed to one comedian's solo show.

O

Open mic

An open mic is a live event where anyone can sign up to perform a short slot, such as a song, a stand-up set or a poem, in front of an audience.

There is no fixed line-up; the performers are whoever puts their name down. Open mics are usually unpaid and are where many artists first perform. Find upcoming ones on the Events board.

Opening act

An opening act performs before the main act of a show, usually for a shorter time.

Opening for a better-known act is a common way to reach a new audience.

Organiser

An organiser is the person or business that puts on an event or needs an artist for a piece of work. On Gig'le, organisers post gigs and host events.

Posting gigs and hosting events are part of Gig'le's Organizer plan. See the For organisers page.

Organizer plan

The Organizer plan is the Gig'le plan that lets a member post gigs and host events.

Creating an account and browsing gigs and events are free. You can choose the Organizer plan after signing up, under Settings, Subscription. See For organisers.

Original

An original is a song or piece written by the artist performing it, as opposed to a cover.

Some nights and venues are for originals only. If you are applying for a gig, say whether your set is originals, covers or a mix.

P

PA system

A PA (public address) system is the equipment that makes a performance loud enough for the audience: microphones, a mixer, amplifiers and speakers.

Before a gig, find out whether the venue has a PA, who operates it and whether it suits the size of the room.

Portfolio

A portfolio is a collection of an artist's work that shows what they can do: photos, videos, recordings, designs or writing.

On Gig'le, the photos and videos you post collect on your profile, and an organiser can look through them when you apply for a gig. Recent work that matches the gig helps most.

S

Sangeet

A sangeet is a pre-wedding celebration in Indian weddings built around music and dance, with performances by family, friends and often hired artists.

Sangeets commonly involve a choreographer to prepare family performances, an anchor to host, and singers, a band or a DJ. Dance gigs are listed under dance.

Set

A set is one continuous stretch of performance by an act, from when they start to when they stop or take a break.

A gig is often described by its sets, for example "two 45-minute sets". In comedy, a set is the block of material a comedian performs in their slot.

Set list

A set list is the ordered list of songs or pieces an act plans to perform in a set.

Organisers sometimes ask to see it in advance, especially for weddings, where families have requests and songs to avoid.

Showreel

A showreel is a short video that brings together the best moments of an artist's work, used to show organisers what they do.

Dancers, actors, filmmakers and anchors use showreels. For performers, organisers often ask for an unedited live clip as well, because it shows how the act looks and sounds in a real room.

Sound check

A sound check is the test run before a performance, when the act plays briefly so that microphone and instrument levels can be set for the room.

Agree the sound check time when you agree the gig. Skipping it is a common reason a good act sounds bad.

Spoken word

Spoken word is poetry or storytelling written to be performed aloud, where delivery, rhythm and voice are part of the piece.

It is performed at poetry open mics, slams and literary events. Poetry and storytelling are listed under literature.

T

Technical rider

A technical rider is a document an act sends an organiser listing what it needs to perform: stage size, power, microphones, monitors, lighting and backline.

Sharing it early lets the organiser and the venue confirm what they can provide and avoids surprises on the day.

V

Venue

A venue is the place where an event or a performance happens, such as a café, a bar, a hall, a studio or an outdoor space.

On Gig'le, venues list their events and post gigs when they need artists. See what is on in Hyderabad.

W

Workshop

A workshop is a hands-on session where an artist teaches a skill to a small group, such as a dance style, songwriting, photography or improv.

Running workshops is paid work for many artists, and attending them is a way to learn and to meet others in your craft. Workshops appear on the Events board.