The minute you step away from playing the keyboard, and go out front while the backing (in ANY form continues), you open the door to the karaoke label. It's hard enough to persuade today's karaoke crazed kids (of all ages!) that you are playing anything at all even when you DON'T go out front, especially when they hear bass, drums, guitars, strings, horns and everything else from one person, but walk away from a playing arranger, you deserve everything you get..!

I have a sneaky feeling why today, guitarists are very successful at getting the solo jobs. Other than a looper, perhaps, it's still basically them, and their guitar. No gimmicks, no karaoke, no excuses. I believe the audiences are more responsive to something they can believe in.

Back in the 80's, and 90's, when MIDI was in its infancy, when audiences hadn't seen it a million times before, yes, we sort of ruled the roost. But technology caught up with the audience... they can do much of what we did themselves, now. Anyone can press 'Play' on a cheap iPod, and have pro sounding backup. They can open a laptop app and have BIAB or other more user friendly backing apps accompany their singing.

But there is no shortcut to playing a guitar! Put a guitar in the hands of a pro and an audience member, utterly different results. Put an arranger (playing SMF's) in the hands of a beginner, and he will often sound IDENTICAL to the pro, if the pro uses a full sequence (many do). The only difference would be the singing, and just about ANYONE can sing!

We got lazy, we painted ourselves into a corner, and now, the only way we can distinguish ourselves is by gimcrack showmanship, not musical talent! Our audience caught up with us, and left us nowhere to go. But gimmicks... Kind of wish I'd learned guitar better!