I agree with the notion that we can become crutch dependent. Whether its equipment, effects, sheet music, whatever...Almost anything can be defined as a crutch. Mostly, I think its a matter of degree. Too much of almost anything can take away from a performance. If it doesn't get in the way, then its probably not an issue.

I use a Music Pad Pro...I do not memorize anything. Not once did anyone come up and say, "(Damn Bill, you're pretty good but if just got rid of the MPP, then you'd be really great.")

My main group of clients are Retirement Communities. I'm usually entertaining an older audience. My job isn't to give a concert but to stimulate the attendees. I've found a very effective way to really reach them is to provide some contrast within my program. Performing a few upbeat tunes with varying beats then dialing it down, dropping the auto accmp. and playing a nice old love song or a hymn is a great switch. Then coming out of that going into to something with a bigger sound is effective. Variety, even within the context of a single musical style, is almost always good for the performing musician.

On the other hand, the idea that you have to pull out all the stops to survive I think is hyperbole. Can you? Sure....Do you have to utilize everything that available? IMO, No, you do not.

There are members of this forum who can really interact with a smf and sound terrific. There are also plenty of guys who don't touch smf's (yours truly, to name one) and are none the worse for not using them.

I think as time passes, I will have to get more cozy with midi files. The audiences in RC's are getting younger and there's more & more of a demand for songs from the 70's and 80's. Given the construction of the pop music of that era, alot of tunes don't fit a traditional chordal structure. Tunes that use a lot of "lines" if you will just don't transfer well to an arranger as we know them today. That leaves us few choices.

Its going to be a challenge for us arranger based entertainers to keep churning out new stuff as the tastes in music follow the progressions of the 80's...

I think all performers should always be looking for ways to add creativity to their music. Some crutches tend to transport us right to our comfort zone, while others just don't matter...


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Bill in Dayton

[This message has been edited by Bill in Dayton (edited 05-22-2009).]