The word “gig” originated from the 1920s jazz scene in which jazz musicians had their own slang and referred to performances as gigs. The word gig was used as a noun where it was considered a live performance by a musician or group playing popular or jazz music. The word is also used as a verb such as perform a gig. Although no one knows the true origin of the word “gig” it is possible the origin was from the word gigue which is a lively dance form of Italian origin commonly used as the last movement of a suite from the Old French word giguer. According to jazz musician Eubie Blake and bandleader James Reese, Europe used the word “gig” in the jazz world as early as 1905 and most commonly used in the 1920s.

Today, the term “gig” is associated with the gig economy which is a free market system in which individuals or businesses hire independent contractors, freelancers and short-term workers for specialized tasks, assignments or jobs. In the “gig economy” or “freelance economy,” gig workers earn all or part of their incomes from short-term contracts under which they are paid for individual tasks, assignments, or jobs.

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