For those who are freelancers

[Jon Moody]

As an added example, the Music Director was talking with myself, the guitarist and keyboardist (all close friends) last night. Apparently the flute player texted him and said she'd be late, arriving 10 minutes prior to the show opening. She cited it was because of a class she had. She texted him at 5:30pm that day; class or no, his beef was that you knew about the conflict well before the day of. His last comment to us was that she's a good player when she plays, but misses entrances left and right and because of that, may need to let her go, opting to cover the cues in other instruments.

 

[Marty Forrer]

I'm a partial freelancer, and I find this gives me great variety.
By partial, I'm in four bands that work sporadically, and another band that works more often, and a couple of duos. Plus the occasional sub gig. This covers many, many musical genres and gives me enough work in a small town.
These are some things I thing contribute to my situation....
I double on upright and electric.
I can sing lead and harmony vocals.
I have my own small PA and lights.
I know literally hundreds and hundreds of songs.
All the advice in this thread is sound.... good luck with it.