keikkas

Keikkas is a term that may be encountered in informal Finnish writing to refer to performing engagements or gigs, though the standard plural form is keikat. In Finnish, a keikka denotes a short-term performance or assignment, commonly in entertainment contexts such as concerts, DJ sets, stand-up, or other live appearances, but it can also refer to temporary work in various fields.

In practice, keikat are planned engagements with a specific date, time, and venue and are typically paid, either by a fixed fee or per performance. The concept is closely tied to the gig economy, where artists, performers, and freelancers arrange multiple performances over weeks or months, sometimes through online booking platforms or networks within music scenes, clubs, festivals, and event spaces.

Etymology of keikka is not entirely clear, but it is generally understood as a Finnish adaptation of the English word gig, integrated into Finnish usage and inflected according to Finnish grammar. The phrase keikkailla means to perform gigs, and keikka voidaan järjestää is a common way to describe arranging a single engagement.

Note that keikkas as a plural form is not standard Finnish; most speakers would use keikat when referring to multiple engagements. Keikkas may appear in casual writing, branding, or stylistic contexts, but it has no separate, widely recognized definition beyond the conventional concept of a gig (keikka).

See also: keikka, keikat, keikkailla, gig economy.