Well, Diki, I agree pretty much with everything you just posted, with one exception - "just about ANYONE can sing!" Or maybe you should have clarified that statement to say "Just about ANYONE thinks they can sing!" Everyone that ever interviewed for American Idol, America's Got Talent, Briton's Got Talent, etc..., all sincerely believed they could sing. Most couldn't carry a tune in a 5-gallon bucket. I've met a lot of have guitar will travel entertainers that are in that category as well. They can sing a couple songs well, while the remainder of their vocal repertoire just plain sucks. The only reason most get hired, at least anywhere I've been, is mainly because they work cheap. And, from what I've seen during the past few years, the number of OMB arranger keyboard players working the restaurant, nite-club/bar circuit is dwindling, probably because there are just not many of us left - anywhere. I'd venture a guess there are at least 200 bars, restaurants and nite-clubs in the Baltimore metropolitan area that have some sort of musical entertainment most nights of the week. And most, not all, are either KJ or DJ, or a single with a guitar. Duos and trios are almost non-existent now, and there may be a half-dozen arranger keyboard players working as OMBs - that's it. I remember when there are two dozen guys in Little Italy alone that were piano-bar player/singers. Now, there may be two and they only perform weekends at best. Many years ago, I was one of those have guitar will travel guys - and I'm damned glad I no longer am. Diki, you're still pretty young, so you should have no trouble picking up a good 12-string and playing the bar/nite-club/restaurant circuit.

Cheers,

Gary