I attended a Harry Belefonte concert in Baltimore several years ago, one where there was a keyboard player with 4 arranger keyboards surrounding him. He played and Harry sang. The keyboard player was absolutely amazing. After about 4 songs, the other band members came on stage and performed while Harry sang. It was an incredible 2 hour show that I will never forget.

I've known lots of OMB entertainers that play an arranger keyboard in full mode, and the vast majority never thought about performing the NH circuit. They performed at casinos throughout Maryland, and southern New Jersey, 5-star restaurants in Baltimore's Inner Harbor and Little Italy, NYC, and just about every resort city you can think of. And, many of them also performed with various bands throughout the country.

I have a friend in Southeast Asia that puts on incredible shows with a trio of incredibly talented ladies. He plays an arranger keyboard, usually in full mode, while they play fiddle, guitar and drums. He is booked solid, performs throughout Southeast Asia and his 2-hour concerts are sold out well in advance.

There are several reasons that many arranger keyboard performers have transitioned to the NH circuit from the club scene, the primary reason being the pay rate. Anyone that has performed in their local nite clubs and restaurants knows that $200 for a 4 hour night is the top rate, at least at most locales. That works out to $50 an hour at best, while in my part of the world, the NH circuit pays $125 to $150 per hour, or $500 to $600 for a four hour job.

For the most part, I would be bored to tears if I were a patron in any club that had some one on stage that played just a jazz guitar for 4 hours and didn't sing. Same goes for a piano bar or high end restaurant. Lets be realistic, it's the venue that makes the difference, and (sorry Chas)THE ENTERTAINER! Without the entertainment value, no musician, no matter how talented he or she is, can hold an audience for very long. Liberace was one Hell of an entertainer, and an incredible musician.

Gary