 At this time, there wasn't too much competition in Los Angeles because women jazz musicians were still finding their place in the business.Gilbert's first job in the city was with the vaudeville performers Irene Franklin and Juanita Connors.In 1928, Gilbert auditioned for the vaudeville producers Fanchon "Fanny" Wolff Simon and Marco "Mike" Wolff, first touring with Rudy Wiedoeft and a sextet of saxophone players in a show titled "Saxophobia Idea."