Compaq Big Band
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Compaq Big Band
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Currently there are no open regular member positions. See 'Substitute Instrumentalists' below.
The band holds weekly rehearsals on Wednesdays from 7:30 PM to 9:45 PM in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Occasional exceptions are made due to holidays, conflicting with or adjacent to weeknight gigs, etc.
Our library contains thousands of charts, many of them unpublished or out of print. With that vast collection plus charts crafted by a few arrangers in the band, we have have an incredible 'book' - unrivaled by regional competitors. Regular group practice allows us to play these challenging arrangements that very few big bands play live, with high quality.
Gig frequency varies according to customer demand, with the summer concert and Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday seasons frequently averaging 3-4 gigs per month, and the remainder of the year averaging 1-2 gigs per month. The overwhelming percentage of gigs are scheduled on weekend nights. However, weeknight performances do occur, with most of these scheduled during the summer months. Gig venues generally fall within a 2-hour drive of Boston, MA, including the following areas: Eastern, Central, Cape Cod and Nantucket, Massachusetts; Southern, Lakes, and Seacoast regions of New Hampshire; Southern Maine coast; Rhode Island. Refer to the archive of gigs for historical data on gig frequency and venue locations: www.compaqbigband.com/gig_archive.php.
Musicians applying for a full-time opening, or to be considered for a substitute role, must have experience performing advanced big band literature. A very small, representative subset of the arrangers we love includes the following: Gordon Goodwin, Chris Walden, Bill Holman, John Clayton, Frank Foster, Tom Kubis, Nelson Riddle, and Billy May.
All applicants must possess very good to excellent sight reading skills. Unless otherwise noted for a specific chair, proficiency in soloing over changes is not mandatory, but is a big plus.
The band is a nonprofit organization that strives to maintain/increase market share in the very competitive New England big band entertainment market, with a graduated fee schedule that helps us keep our cherished music alive while upholding our exceptional level of technical production quality affordable for a diverse range of private/corporate clients, as well as charitable, civic, and educational institutions. Within that framework, regular member compensation in the form of travel stipends is available, as are gig-related expenses such as parking fees. Occasionally the band may perform at a location that is a greater driving distance away from Boston, and in those cases overnight accommodations are provided by the client at their expense.
Attendance at a high percentage of rehearsals and gigs is required for regular membership in the band, with consideration given for business conflicts, family events/vacations, personal and family medical reasons, and for occasional conflicts due to participation in other musical ensembles.
Regular members are generally required to assist in stage teardown and load-out after all gigs, and to periodically participate in load-in and stage setup before performances.
All instrumentalist positions require above-average sight-reading skills, an emphasis on dynamics, a priority on preparation, and a team-player approach to rehearsals and performances.
When emailing, begin the Subject line or your email with the following: "Interest in Subbing with Compaq Big Band on", then follow that phrase by the instrumental position(s) you're interested in.
Applicants with an appropriate level of experience may be invited to rehearse with us as openings at weekly Wednesday practice sessions occur - although sometimes this happens on short notice. Those on the sub list that are available to rehearse with us are more likely to be called on for gig opportunities, and to be contacted for any future regular member instrumentalist open positions before they are advertised to the general public.
Requirements for certain Substitute Instrumental Positions:
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