Bar Gig Habits: JP Castillo on Touring With J.Lo and The Jacksons (Episode 113)

Everything you do is an audition.

JP Castillo is a Latin urban pop artist, singer, songwriter, producer and percussionist. He has toured with The Jacksons, sung as a featured vocalist with the Dancing with the Stars band for several seasons, and went out on J.Lo's It's My Party Tour, where he started as her percussionist and ended up as the opening act.

In Episode 113 of The Career Musician, Nomad and co-host Eric G talk with JP about how a kid from Costa Rica raised in LA moved from church gigs to arena stages. If you are wondering how to get hired by major artists, his answer is refreshingly simple.

Raised in two musical worlds

JP comes from a family of musicians. As he tells it, his grandfather played violin in the Costa Rican national symphony and his uncle became its concertmaster. His dad is a drummer with a jazz and church background, and his mom is a singer who performed in LA's salsa scene with legends like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente. The family moved to the US when JP was about five.

Then urban LA introduced him to R&B, hip-hop and American pop. Today, when he writes and produces, both worlds come through. Nomad and Eric pointed out how rare it is to find players who are masters of both Latin music and Black American music, and JP noted that both are rooted in Africa.

Take the seat that's open

JP started on drums, but at church his dad already had the drum chair. When the band needed percussion, JP got moved over. He calls it one of the best things that ever happened to him. He fell in love with being the person who brings the color and builds the pocket.

Singing came almost by accident: a Mother's Day song at church, school choir, talent shows. At one choir competition the other boys didn't show up, so the men's section became his solo, and he won an award for it without realizing he had sung one. Small affirmations like that told him he was on the right track.

The habits you build at the bar gig

JP got the Jacksons gig by word of mouth. The music director wanted to hear him sing, so they met in a parking lot on the way to rehearsal. JP sang a little "Blame It on the Boogie," and was brought straight in to meet the brothers. On that first tour he was out front, singing some of Michael's lead parts.

So how do you get to that level? JP's answer:

"Whatever habits you develop at the bar gig, you're going to bring them into the big gig, into the big session."

JP Castillo, 24:48

Develop punctuality. Develop respect. Fill your role, and don't overplay out of insecurity, because that steps on someone's toes. When JP found himself producing vocals for Janet Jackson in the studio, the pressure fell away because he had practiced treating people right and communicating well for years. It was muscle memory. He compared it to Kobe Bryant's countless jump shots.

That is Reliability beats virtuosity, and it is Low maintenance / no drama. Nomad added his own line: there is a fine line between arrogance and confidence. Be great, but don't be a jerk about it. JP's version: it is all in the intention.

From percussionist to opening act

On the J.Lo tour, JP joined the camp strictly as a percussionist. Her team didn't even know he sang. Halfway through, they started looking for artists to open the show. Through reputation and word of mouth, the door opened, and JP ended up performing his own music in front of thousands of people around the world. He credits a friend from his church days with first plugging him into that camp.

"Treating people right... you kind of ingratiate yourself with the right people, and doors open up for you."

JP Castillo, 28:27

That is Work begets work. The gig you are doing well is the audition for the one you want.

Be intentional with your days

JP doesn't take each day as it comes. He plans what he will do today and how it moves him toward the end of the week, with calendar reminders on his phone. He runs a production company and develops a young group while pushing his own releases, writing, practicing, keeping up with current sounds and staying on top of social media. His lead single on an independent label, a collaboration with a well-known Puerto Rican artist, got the wheels turning, and he has kept releasing independently since. He was honest that putting out music independently is expensive, and that the pandemic halted a headline show he was building. So he pivoted to production.

Nomad and Eric's verdict: if you have free time, you're doing something wrong. Make Music Your Business.

Success, and three rules

JP defines success as being happy with who you are in any given moment, while still trying to be better than yesterday. A single that flops does not make you a failure. Did you work hard, were you passionate, did you learn, are you still productive? That is success.

"Don't take shortcuts, work really hard, and believe it."

JP Castillo, 44:10

Nobody is going to get your car moving for you. Once it is rolling, people will jump in.

The takeaway

Take the seat that's open and master it. Build pro habits at the small gigs. Fill your role, treat people right, and let your reputation open the next door. If you are getting ready for your next call, start with the free Audition Secrets guide, and follow JP at @jpcastillomusic.

Get the gig. Keep the gig. Build the career.

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