How to Choose An Accompanist For Your Singing Gig

If you're a singer, choosing an accompanist for your gig is critical to your success. You want a professional, courteous and respectful player who appreciates singers and their challenges. Performing in public can be life-changing, and the musicians around you can make a great difference to how the public perceives you. There are many variables to consider on this journey, but choose wisely and you'll transcend the ordinary. Take advantage of my years as a professional jazz singer and skip some of the mistakes I made as a novice performer.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

How to Choose An Accompanist For Your Singing Gig

1. Determine what kind of gig you'll be doing and what kind of material you're going to perform. If you're a jazz singer, don't look for a classical pianist. If you're looking for a jazz pianist, look for someone who has accompanied other singers, not one who only likes to work with instrumental groups.

2. There are lots of colleges, organizations and websites to go to for recommendations, but my advice is to stay local and do some legwork. Go out and listen to singers and players. Ask for recommendations from other singers. This is a good place to start, but don't stop there. Your style will be different from the singer's on the stage, and your friend's accompanist might not communicate in a way that suits you.

3. Go out and listen to other performers. If you hear someone whose playing you think you like, listen carefully for a few things. Does he have good time, rhythmically speaking? Quietly tap your foot along with him and see if his time wanders, or speeds up and slows down. Is he attentive to the performer, or does he barrel along with his head buried in the keyboard. Is he courteous in between songs? Does he bang on the keys and play too much, as if he needs to be an entire orchestra instead of a sensitive accompanist?

4. Make contact. Once you've narrowed down a piano player you think you'd like to work with, talk to her after a gig if it's possible. Ask for a card and a phone appointment to discuss your needs. When you connect, ask a lot of questions about her experience, her willingness to help you with charts if you need it, how much she charges for a gig or to rehearse.

5. "Know thyself." Have a rehearsal to determine whether you're musically compatible. Know yourself and where you are musically. Are you a novice musically or are you experienced? If you're just starting out and the person you've chosen has worked with well-established performers, this might not be a recipe for success, even if it's tempting to work with a "name." Finally, be honest with yourself and follow your instincts.

Tips & Warnings

• There are many variables to consider; be honest about them.
• Don't bite off more (or less) than you can chew musically; it's important to choose someone with whom you're musically compatible and with whom you can communicate openly and honestly without fear of ridicule or embarrassment.
• Be honest with yourself and follow your instincts.