It's that time of year again- the time when solo guitarists have a month or less to dust off those Christmas carol arrangements, revise them and recommit them to memory in order to perform them. Whether for fun or for profit, or as instrumental solos, accompaniment to carolers, or part of an ensemble- the guitar's versatility and popularity shine forth perhaps more than ever during this season of the year.

As a solo guitarist with several years of holiday performance experience, I am delighted to write an article about performing during the holidays. For the past fifteen holiday seasons I've been booked pretty solidly with gigs and special performance opportunities- including live radio interviews, private events and public concerts. The options for venues open up considerably during the Christmas season. They go from doing full-blown recitals in rented halls or churches, to providing background seasonal music for shows, gift fairs, gift shops, malls, holiday dinners, and parties. If you are offering your own CD recording of Christmas music, it becomes a marketing necessity to play out at every opportunity. After all, it's a seasonal product! But even if you don't have a CD to sell, the opportunities to share holiday music on solo guitar are abundant and rewarding.

People especially love to hear Christmas music on classical guitar. Perhaps it is because of its harp like qualities. But also, the guitar has historically possessed a unique role in its simplicity for accompanying singers. For example, "Silent Night" was first performed in 1818 on guitar (because the organ was broken) for a Christmas Eve service in Austria. The simple chord progression with the gentle verses fit like hand and glove, so the guitar is often the instrument of choice to accompany caroling.

Performing during the holidays can also have its downside. Gigs often get cancelled when it snows and "when the weather outside is frightful" things can turn a bit bleak, particularly for those of us who play fingerstyle. Last year, for example I was hired by my hometown of Bloomfield, New Jersey to perform a few tunes during the annual Township Tree Lighting. It was a wintry blustery evening with dropping temperatures. The beauty of the falling snow was overshadowed by the pain in my fingertips. Taking off my gloves I began playing my arrangement of "Feliz Navidad" to impress the crowd only to find my red fingers gradually losing all sense of mobility. In spite of my determination to hit the right notes, the fingers of both right and left hands grew numb. Simple chord progressions became physically impossible. After five minutes my performance resembled that of a beginner trying to execute a G chord. Tip: In the bleak mid-winter, take only indoor gigs!

For the most part, however, my holiday performance memories have been rewarding They range from performing in subways for tips to playing in bookstores, for elegant corporate dinners, children's hospitals, libraries, churches, supermarkets, house concerts, civic clubs, and of course- holiday parties. I have been hired to perform for decorated mansion tours, brunches in plush New York skyscrapers, coffee shops and four-star restaurants. At times I have rented a church or hall and done my own advertising. Unfortunately, this usually requires more work than it's worth. I don't recommend it. One thing positive about producing your own show, however, is that you are free to include friends as part of the show, especially other vocalists and musicians. This makes the performance more interesting and fun for everyone. Occasionally I've made prior arrangements with a local restaurant for a discount on an after-concert dinner for those who attended or participated in the concert. The resulting ripple effect is good for all local merchants.

Currently, most of my gigs occur in local libraries and churches where I put on a program entitled "A Holiday Guitar Concert: Carols & Songs of the Season" with the subtitle, "Holiday classics performed on acoustic and classical guitar." During this program I perform and tell stories of the origins of famous carols and classic holiday songs including Hanukkah songs. From the player's perspective, these types of performances are distinguished by the facts that others do the promotional work for you, and the audiences tend to be made up of appreciative listeners; then too, many will decide to purchase a CD.

Some of my most gratifying performance experiences have taken place in supermarkets when people are surprised to see a live musician playing the music that they thought was being piped in. It's a very relaxed atmosphere and the comments you get from shoppers tend to be very encouraging. I also offer to do free, live in-store performances at book and record stores that carry my recordings. These are advantageous because I do much of my holiday shopping in the stores where I perform and the store owners often give me a discount. In-store performances are also an ideal way to advertise upcoming gigs, add to your mailing list, and provide a live sample of your recordings.

1. If you plan to set up gigs for the holidays it's best to send out your promo materials beginning in September.

2. Depending on whether you live in a brutally cold climate or a mild climate, the weather can affect your schedule. I find it helpful to book as many gigs in early December rather than near Christmas when the weather is more likely to be inclement; I'm also careful about over-committing to gigs that involve driving long distances.

3. Finally, it's wise to videotape some of your concerts. Reviewing the video allows you to quickly relearn your repertoire for the following year.

I hope some of these ideas will be of help as you embark on performing during the holidays.

Phillip Lester is the author of American Treasures: Early American Ballads, Hymns, & Songs of Patriotism for Solo Guitar (20045BCD). He has recorded several solo guitar CDs including three holiday collections: Seasons, Carols of the Nativity, and Holiday Treasures. Lester has over twenty years of experience performing in colleges, churches, bookstores, libraries, museums, private homes, civic clubs, historical societies, cafes, subway stations and concert stages around the country. Over the past fifteen years he has field tested and refined his arrangements of holiday tunes, and his instrumental recordings have been aired on radio stations from Boston Massachusetts to Portland, Oregon.

Last year two of Lester's arrangements were selected for performance by virtuoso classic guitarist Christopher Parkening and included in his holiday concert tour. Parkening describes Phillip Lester as"…a very fine solo guitarist. His approach to the guitar is both sensitive and intelligent. He is a talented arranger with a gift for musicianship."

To learn more about Phillip Lester's arranging and performance activities, please visit his website at: www.guitarartistry.com . His CD's can be ordered online via www.cdbaby.com/lestermusic1