ABSTRACT
Despite the popular perception that musicians are aggressive and unpleasant, in reality, musicians that have a long career tend to have a very long fuse and get on with people. Being a good hang is part and parcel of being a good live musician. Effective bandleaders are invariably respectful and open-minded. Every musician in a band brings their own experience and talent. Bandleaders need to value and encourage that. A sideperson is to the live music industry as a session musician is to the recording industry. They may perform at gigs or on tour with star performers. There are three kinds of trust it takes to be a live musician: Professional trust, social trust, and musical trust. Professional trust is the trust that each different person in the ensemble is an experienced and skilful musician.
