In Hawai`i we call it "kokua."
Oct 26 '01
The Bottom Line You will get out of your community what you put into it.
Aloha!
Hawai`i is world-renowned for its music. When I was growing up, the weird kids were the ones who DIDN'T play an instrument. So competition is pretty stiff is you want to get your band known.
The way we do it here is by playing what we sometimes call "kokua gigs." "Kokua" (koh KOOH ah) means "help, assistance, aid." And that's what these are, gigs that help out some local worthy cause. They can be small, maybe playing for twenty people in a day care center. They can be big, maybe an audience of 20,000 at a major charity event.
Playing kokua gigs is part of how our local musicians pay their dues. Even the big "name" musicians usually do one or two favorite kokua gigs each year.
Assuming you are reasonably good and have a polished act:
To get kokua gigs, we get to know the folks who run organizations such as the Cancer Society, the Red Cross, local schools, the local woman's shelter, the Humane society, etc. We let them know that we have a certain number of days we can play for free, and to please call us if they would like our type of music.
Often, they already have a reasonably well-known band headlining. Maybe the first year, you won't get to play at all. If that is the case, buy tickets to the events you want to play and show up. Even though you've paid to be there, offer to help backstage, to set up tents, to serve juice or food, and - VERY important - stay afterward and help clean up.
Develop a reputation for being easy to work with and giving more than expected.
Doing these kinds of things will get you known in the music community as a person to call when help is needed. It also will let you rub elbows with the bigger "names." As they see you are serious and a hard worker, they'll start giving you advice and introducing you around. You could never buy that kind of value. It will set you a solid foundation that will last your entire career (as long as you keep BUILDING on your rep and not messing it up!)
Carry LOTS of business cards to these things and pass them out freely. Eventually you'll start getting more and more gigs from these early contacts. Work with them, maintain the integrity of your reputation, and it will snowball.
As you find yourself playing more and more gigs and the pay starts happening, decide how many gigs you can afford to kokua each year, and be sure to play them. Like all else, you get out what you put in.
"Play on, play on, play on!"
Hula Rider
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hularider
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Member: Leilehua Yuen
Location: Hilo, Hawaii, USA
Reviews written: 70
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About Me:
HulaRider is an author, artist, and educator who specializes in Hawaiian culture and arts.
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