The gig is really ground zero for community in the industry. The following chapters will go into far more detail on the different components of the community, but the gig is where it starts. Additionally, playing live allows you to start building a community of fans. There are few things more impressive to A&R people than an artist with a large and active fan base. However, there really aren't any shortcuts for getting gigs, in the beginning. Being undeniably great will speed this process, as it does all others, but you simply must be willing to do the work yourself, at the beginning. Prepare yourself for the indignities associated with meekly handing some jaded club owner your CD. Prepare yourself for playing in front of your brother and his latest idiotic girlfriend who talks through your whole set and then tells you how great you are. Prepare yourself for driving seven hours to play for twenty people, having your guitar stolen, the club stiffing you on your $50 guarantee, and the van/car breaking down in the rain at three in the morning. You think I’m exaggerating? Go ahead, and ask anyone who has played more than twenty or thirty gigs if they’ve had any horrible experiences playing live. And then, grab a soft chair, an ottoman, your slippers, perhaps some tea. You’re going to be there for a while. This isn't meant to discourage you. As I said, I don’t know any way around this. I’m telling you this so that you don’t get discouraged when some or all of these things happen to you along the way. It's just part of beginning a career in this business. Remember that the gigs are just one part of the pie when it comes to career development. You must get out and do them, because they provide you opportunity to get the word of your music and talent out via other media. For instance, even if a gig doesn't go well, if you made contact with the local paper, and the paper reviews your CD, many more people than those at the gig itself will become at least passingly familiar with your music. This often leads to good things. Chances are that local paper never would have reviewed your demo CD had you not been playing the gig.