Scott L:
After all that has been said, let me throw my five cents in. After 35 years in this profession, one thing stands clear for me. Once you are established in a community it is very important to charge uniform prices for your services.
Regardless of their decision, people will respect you for it and value your self worth in a professional manner. All those gigs that you lose because people are not willing to pay your price, are more than
offset by those that do. Because the moment the word gets out that you are willing to bargain for your services people will expect you to do better for them every time; and ultimately you will end up working for "peanuts"; they will be under the impression that you are in dire need of the work. You may not work as often as you'd like, but then again, is time you could use for other things that are important in your life.
At 60 years old I am picky about my gigs and I refuse to work for less than what I think I am worth. I could be working twice as much as I do now but I don't want to if it is unpleasant work for me and don't pay me what I feel am worth. I also understand that many folks in this business don't have that luxury, but if you want to be happy at what you do and make a living at it, then this is what I recommend to anyone.
Once you prove your worth, let the community know it and they will gladly pay for it, almost always.
Good giggin!
Mario

You never answered my question. Are you happy as a printer? As for that idiotic comment above ..... you are sooooo wrong. Better just quit now.

Hey !!! Chill Out johnnie.c ......

Nothing more to say

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Uncle Dave:
As for that idiotic comment above .....
____________________________________

I'm sorry I must be mistaken but I was always under the impression that you worked alone

To both Tony W. and Uncle Dave: it's real simple... you guys are not the Synth Zone BBS police or even the official critics. It's not your-way-or-the-highway. Why would I want to take a shot at UD? WHY NOT? There are more ways to enjoy a discussion than to sit by and be warm, fuzzy and dull. Your posts are full of advice on personal relationships and sipping gin when the fact is I don't play that way, in life or here. Does that mean I have less to contribute? Not at all. As to why I don't share my identity Uncle Dave, it's not a prerequisite and therefore simply none of your business in my humble "icy" opinion. This isn't some kind of "guard" or whatever other frame of reference you need to understand me... you are talking to the very real me, and since we are having a conversation (unless you choose to stop reading, which is your perogative), I need not join your brotherhood. I'm hear to talk about business rather than worry about mannerisms and fraternal bonding.

And that brings me back to this topic and a subject near and dear to me: how to entertain an audience as a side-effect. Last night in addition to my regular wages I made $50 in tips, all in singles and fives. What's surprising is this: I don't put out a tip jar and I very rarely even play requests. The money came from people laying the money on my keyboard as I played, half of it from children sent up by their parents.

My approach to entertaining is my own. Some time ago, I laid aside all the crappy songs that I'd played for too long and gave up on entertaining anyone but myself. This is a very negative professional attitude (in the minds of some) and likely won't work for Tony and his gin bottle or anyone else with a successful stage show already in place that relies on audience endearment. My voice was dying and never was very good, but I had enough of singing partners who contributed little more than the honor of the presence to the gig, so I decided to try things my way for once. I chunked my songlist and started over with instrumental cover versions of popular songs that I REALLY LIKED vs. the stuff/junk/burnt covers I usually get requests for. Most people ask for songs they have heard in the past in live music environments, forcing a sort of hive mentality on musicians: they all play the same thing within their genres. To make a long story short: I now play my favorite songs from all eras... the music that I always wished I could hear played live by someone. To maintain marketability, I try to choose things that are recognizable but chosen according to my taste, like "Kiss From A Rose" by Seal, "Dessert Rose" by Sting, or my own ultra-contemporary version of Seals & Crofts "Summer Breeze", and an acid-jazz version of "Pure Imagination" from the movie Willie Wonka and The Chocolate Factory. I also do some twisted beautiful versions of "Misty" and "Moon River" that are totally unique. The entire idea was to take a chance on pleasing myself first and foremost and hoping audiences would share in that pleasure.

It worked. At least it has so far. People are secretly craving a real change of pace. I am often asked why I have no tip jar: that's because I am already well-paid and I say so. It also goes with my state of mind: I came to play my music, my way, and if you didn't leave when I didn't play "Brown-Eyed Girl" then that's all the gratuity I need. Many of my counterparts are surprised this works at all but really, by offering a real alternative to what they do, it's not that surprising.

Just for thought...

That was very well spoken. Best of luck in your approach, but around here - it just wouldn't fly. I'm glad it works for you.

Thank you Uncle Dave. My concept didn't fly in my area either, until somebody tried it.

Hi Pro,

Interesting statement......... Mmmmmmh.

I don't play out very much, but I too decided recently to play mostly what I like.

Kiss from a Rose and Desert Rose are a couple of my favorite songs. Do you have any recordings you wouldn't mind sharing with us?
I would love to hear your interpretations.

Thanks

Eric

Pro!
Is your style "I play what I love in a way I love and the people who like it ...ask me back. And it works!

I think UD's and some of the others have the approach of finding out what the Audience Loves and catering to that ...and finding that very profitable.

Both approaches work... right? You mentioned money from tips as an example... same as UD gave examples...

I think there are SHOWMEN, proformers, musicians, ect... and I would probably classify you as a musician since you don't sing and you don't give a DAMN about whether people like you HERE(forum) or on the job... at least I get that from your writing... If I'm misunderstanding you...please explain ...so I can understand.

The really good showmen seem to project a personality and chrisma ...and give the sense that "they like people" or "treat the audience as friends or insiders" ... I think UD seems to have those qualities here... and you don't. Now I don't agree with UD or others here all the time... But I respect their opinions. I made the mistake a few days ago of taking something someone said personally ... and I was wrong...and admitted that to the person.
We all make mistakes.

Eric: I will work on a way to share some of my music, perhaps through private email.

rgtaa: I don't fully understand your question, so let me explain a little more about how I think and see if that helps.

I have no doubt as to Uncle Dave's ability (and it's unfair to him to use him as an example but he'll have to do for the sake of discussion) and I'm assuming he is a terrific performer: probably nice looking, a multi-talented keyboardist and singer with an established fan base, a nice family, a really swell guy. There are several swell guys like this in my area today and they enjoy their many blessings quite openly. Now I have to compete with lots of swell guys in their own market, and I don't sing and I'm not the best looking type either, so I'm at a disadvantage right away. It would be suicide to go head to head against swell guys playing what they do to their crowds, not like I want to anyway. All I got is bone-deep keyboard ability and unmitigated gall.

So yeah, I decided to take the attitude that I have a better idea: I could outperform and outclass my competition, not by playing what they played but by playing what they didn't or couldn't. And do it right. Some of the swell-guy employers liked the idea of something different and took a chance on me. Then the reviews came in, and people really liked my music... especially people who wanted an alternative to the swell-guy crowd. A press review in my city's paper that called me "the Jimi Hendrix of keyboards", not because I played rock but because I was doing something innovative and unique (their words).

Life is easy for people who are multi-talented, and it shows in their demeanor and acceptance of the way life is at times. I'm not one of the lucky ones, so if I upset their serenity with a few unexpected challenges, it's completely intentional. Call it not giving a damn or whatever, I call it making a living with the few tools I was given.