Gig???

Subject: Gig???
From: The PA
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 03:49 AM

Ok perhaps I'm a bit dim and a bit slow, and this may have been asked before, but where did the word 'gig' originate from? Someone asked yesterday and I must admit I'd hadn't a clue, except to say that its the word used to describe a performance, etc.

Subject: RE: Gig???
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 03:54 AM

There was some discussion of that here: Origins of the word 'Gig'. I can't remember if any answer was decided or not.

Mick

Subject: RE: Gig???
From: GUEST,Alan Surtees
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 04:37 AM

The explanation I heard, was that some music hall acts used to appear at several venues on the same night, and used a horse and gig (the equivalent of a sports car in its day) to rush them from one theatre to another.

Subject: RE: Gig???
From: rabbitlegs
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 04:40 AM

Maybe it started as GYG (your on!) and was the positive of GYGAFO!

Subject: RE: Gig???
From: JedMarum
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 03:24 PM

I've heard modern day musicians use it interchangably with engagement ... it makes sense it just got shortened from that word.

Subject: RE: Gig???
From: JedMarum
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 06:28 PM

... not to change the subject, but rabbitlegs is a very unusual name. What's behind it?

Subject: RE: Gig???
From: GUEST,Chicken Charlie
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 08:54 PM

And please don't say, "The tail ...."

Subject: RE: Gig???
From: Effsee
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 09:30 PM

..."And please don't say, "The tail ...." ...Oh no! It's the Fud!

Subject: RE: Gig???
From: GUEST,Dave (Bridge)
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 02:49 AM

I was told, years ago, that the black americans were not allowed to perform their music jaz/blues in public for fear of arrest and prison. The answer to this was to perform on the back of a cart (gig) in the streets. They could then move swiftly if the authorities came along and perform somewhere else. Hence the term doing a 'gig'

Subject: RE: Gig???
From: rabbitlegs
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 04:42 AM

Ayup, Jed, only my oldest mates remember it, so use it for forums. Comes from my younger days, playing rugby, fast down the wing, skinny legs, in the days before the 16 stone winger of course, so thats it, nothing wascally!