“A gig is worth ten rehearsals” (music adage)

“A gig is worth 5/10/12/100/1,000 rehearsals” is a music adage. It’s valuable to play one’s music before a live audience.
 
It’s not known who said it first. “One gig’s worth two weeks’ rehearsal” was said by Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones in July 1994. “Each gig is worth ten rehearsals” was printed in Guitar Player (New York, NY) in November 1995. “They say one gig is worth 1,000 rehearsals” was printed in the Sydney (New South Wales) Morning Herald on April 15, 1999. ” One gig is worth a dozen rehearsals” was posted on the newsgroup uk.culture.arts.writing on August 19, 1999.
 
   
21 July 1994, Detroit (MI) Free Press, “Stones fans get unexpected satisfaction” by Gary Graff, pg. 1F, col. 5:
“One gig’s worth two weeks’ rehearsal,” guitarist Keith Richards said after Tuesday’s show—a scorching 90-minute performance whose 16 songs showed the Stones to be in fine and feisty fettle as they prepare for their first tour in more than four years.
   
November 1995, Guitar Player (New York, NY), “Gov’t Mule” by Andy Ellis, pg. 33:
For Warren Haynes, who still shares guitar duties with Dickey Betts in the sprawling Allman Brothers Band, fronting his new power trio is an exciting challenge. (...) “Each gig is worth ten rehearsals. For an improv band, a live performance is the only thing that can tell you what you need to know “
 
16 April 1999, Sydney (New South Wales) Morning Herald, “Urban somebodies,” Metro sec., pg. 5, col. 1:
“They say one gig is worth 1,000 rehearsals,” (Rachel—ed.) Holmshaw says.
 
Google Groups: uk.culture.arts.writing
Questions on Grammar. (I think)   
Kevin McGee
8/19/99
(...)
But I wouldn’t underestimate the adrenaline you get from publication, and how much that can improve you. One gig is worth a dozen rehearsals.
     
Google Groups: alt.guitar
Practice Priorities?
mo fo
1/9/05
(...)
As for band practicing, one gig is worth 30 rehearsals.
 
Mother Jones
APRIL 21, 2008
Dave Wakeling: An Englishman in SoCal
The politically outspoken English Beat front man is playing 140 shows a year and getting more radio play than he did in the 80s.
GARY MOSKOWITZ
(...)
DW: We haven’t ever had a rehearsal. One gig is worth a thousand rehearsals.
         
Twitter
Seven Tang
@SevenTang
thinks you should woodshed, but play out as soon as you possibly can.  One live gig is worth five rehearsals.
2:25 AM - 26 Sep 2009
   
Twitter
Lav Nandlall
@LavNandlall
Band management 101: one gig is worth ten rehearsals! So get jamming! #music #band
8:44 AM - 16 Sep 2011
 
Music Feeds
ELLA HOOPER’S 10 TIPS FOR BREAKING YOUR BAND
Written by Ella Hooper on August 19, 2014
(...)
They say a gig is worth a thousand rehearsals and I tend to agree. But it’s not just how much you play, it’s how you play. I believe in playing as though every gig, busking session, rehearsal and even soundcheck is THE ONE. Bands have been discovered by managers and A&R people in all sorts of odd ways. You never know who will be where, popping in to check out the headliner you’re supporting.
 
Twitter
Chris (T.P.R)
@LightningChris1
Replying to @therealMickeyT
As an old Rocker mate of mine said “1 gig is worth 10 rehearsals” ..
4:59 PM - 27 May 2016
   
BBC
Everything Everything will headline a gig to stop music venues closing
By Steve Holden
Newsbeat music reporter
FROM THE TOPIC MUSIC 29 Sep 2016
(...)
Jeremy Pritchard from the band told Newsbeat: “So many of the places we played at the beginning were such invaluable experience for us. They’re now gone.
 
“We always say that a gig is worth 10 rehearsals. You’re going to get to know the songs and get to know each other as players much better.
 
News Letter (Belfast, Northern Ireland)
Ward Park 3: Bangor boys back on Patrol on home patch
By GRAEME COUSINS
Published: 08:00 Updated: 17:41
Friday 24 May 2019
(...)
“There’s an old adage in music – a gig is worth 10 rehearsals.”
(Spoken by singer Gary Lightbody.—ed.)