HI Scott
Replying to your questions in your post.
The G800 used in the casino was used as a free standing one man band for instrumentals but only for pads behind the piano and vocalist. The guy knew his stuff and was good but the venue was not conducive to his music. More like playing background in a hotel dining room (which I learned to hate).
Late at night when the hi-rollers were ready to party things changed and then he got the crowd moving, dancing, drinking, and funning.
The lead sheets for the drummer was probably so he wouldn't play the wrong chords
Just kidding. He controlled the band very well and emphasized every thing in the shows with his traps. He was as good as they get. They backed full broadway type shows. I think that "sez" it all.
The guy that was failing in the Brocacia plush lounge had a fair amount of talent but wasn't using his gear. His voice was good but weak and no PA. The Yamaha Grand is loud and was drowning his vocals. He did not use the keyboard setting on the piano. The people wanted to party, not sit, drink and listen to melancholy songs. They either moved over to another lounge or started talking over the music. There was opportunity here but not taken advantage of, I think due to inability to "read" the room and respond to it. I noticed this room ended up with the "blue heads" while the young crowd ended up in the Bengal lounge with the 3 piece rock band. Nothing new about that is there? The Bengal Lounge played all night while the other lounge was done by 11 pm
Dick Gold, working another the same lounge on other nights had standing room only. He is a fine piano player when he plays straight but basically does a Victor Borge act and he wows them. I researched him on line last night and found out that he is a Princess Line Employee of long standing and hs worked on every ship over many years. NO wonder he knows what he is there for. I will play you his cd one day. That concluded my comparative analysis. OH, One more thing. One night, maybe even two, that lounge had Karaoke and it was wall to wall. Our new friend Charlie brought his guitar and did both Karaoke and also played in the passenger's talent contest in the show room. He lives in Mariposa and we will be seeing more of him.
Bebop