Who gigs with their Arranger?

It would interesting to know just how many SZ forumites presently utilize their ARRANGER for gigging...and, conversely, how many use it in a fixed location, simply for your own entertainment, or possibly as a studio tool.

I'm sure there will be combinations of the above.

Ian the Inquisitive

Well that'd be me.

Professional, gigging with my trusty PA1-X Pro Elite.


(Do I get a prize for replying first?)

Is this a trick question?

Of course I gig with my G70..

Nope...just wondering who actually takes an arranger on a gig as opposed to only home (or studio) use.

Most of us know the "usual suspects" but there may be a few lurkers who might want to contribute.

Ian

Gig daily with my PA800 and Mackie 450v2s.

On average, 6-days a week, sometimes twice a day. Interesting post/poll.

Good Luck,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

... still giggin' with my technics kn6000 ...
t.

Wow! An oldie but a goodie!

Gig each week (church service) with the PA1x Pro and DGX 500 Yammie. We also do other conferences and additional gigs for ministry. We just finished this last weekend (Sunday and Monday) with a conference of over 1200 people in attendance in Wichita.

I also do little things around town with my new Yammie 625, and play with the local junior college pep band using the old Korg N264.

Jeff

I gig three times a week, plus NH's. My G-70 is used in the band only until I get my styles matched to my songs. My KN7000 is used as an arranger.

Me..with my trusty PSR 3000 & Bose L1.
Never leave home without 'em
Eddie

Using the PA2xPro as an arranger a few times each month.

6 and 7 times per week using the Tyros 1 and the Ketron MidJay.

Joe

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Songman55
Joe Ayala

I also use the G 1000 in my studio. And in certain situations, I'll haul an arranger into church for something.

Joe

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Songman55
Joe Ayala

Actually, I think "an oldie, but a GREATIE" JMHO ...
t.

A 'blessing' once in a while can't hurt ...

t.

Giggin every week with my Pa2XPro in church and in Nursing Homes.

Graham

Yes sir, about once a week with old SD1, Roland XP60 and a female singer and a guitarist, I do have PA1X Pro Elite in the wing, but couldn't part with SD1.

I used a KN7000 and now a S900 to play out. The call for Weddings, condo parties jobs has diminished. I have not tried to develop the nursing circuit yet.

John C.

I'm gigging full time with my Tyros2 and s900 backup.

We perform our show www.mikeymaestro.com and www.myspace.com/kidconcert
www.capecodderresort.com is our biggest client right now!

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God Bless,
Mikey

www.mikeymaestro.com
www.myspace.com/kidconcert
www.balloonanimal.com
www.1000colorcards.com

i play at church once per week all day and then mostly at home the rest.

For the last two years I've always had my arranger with me; it eliminates the need for the laptop. Even though most of my music is SMF based, the arranger serves as storage, player and keyboard. I'll usually use another keyboard, my XK-1, but the arranger is numero uno unless I take my LT.

I average at least 20 nursing home gigs a month with the S900, and several dance gigs each month as part of a duo with a trumpet player. I do have other keyboards I use for various other gigs here and there, mostly jazz....Hammond XK3, Roland A37, Korg SGProX,, and my new favorite piano module, the GEM RP-X.

I like to gig with the G70 ...but other arrangers are more fun to gig with...

Oh no! Fran's into the Viagra again!

It must be hard living like that.

Ian

Hi Ian, Tyros2 Home Use only

John

Use arrangers for about 15-20% of my gigs.
Try to use it (them, actually) only when necessary. Booking my trio with my son and grandson now. What a blast!

Really don't like to do singles. Enjoy singles with just a nylon string doing instrumentals more than using arrangers. Good tools when needed, though.


R.

[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 04-09-2008).]

I'm 'out of the house' a couple of times a month with my old SD1. Also out at least weekly with an Irish group & my Ovation Guitar.

Home player, PSR3000, love that KB it has everything I want, mic, great sound, nice light key action, plenty of styles to choose.

Fran, I'm going to have to come up there and meet you and have you introduce me to some of these babes.

Joe

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Songman55
Joe Ayala

C'mon Joe, I don't think you need anyone's help ... besides .. Fran is dreaming to meet them too !!! .....
t.

If you want to meet Fran's real babes, I suggest you bring an air pump .

chas

Joe,

It's difficult to meet a figment of someone's imagination!

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

Home player...still have my GEM WK8.

Every summer I get together with the neighbors for our annual Garage Party so the WK gets hauled out of the basement then.

-mike

Gigging solo, duo and full live band with my G70. Plus studio work.

One of the few arrangers you CAN do this with, with little or no compromise.

As with the PA800.......and......and......

Got to compromise on the number of keys, zuki. (And the piano sound and the organ sound, too, IMHO )

Of course, you CAN gig live with anything you got, but how many of us DO gig 'full live band' with an arranger? Quite a few take WSs out on band gigs, and keep the arranger for solo gigs.

And sadly, many don't gig live band at all...

So far it looks like there are more giggers than home players...

Hi Guys, I'm out almost every day doing NHs, but i'm looking forward to the water front venues this spring. I have one booked for Wednesdays 5-9 starting May 7th @ the Hart yacht cafe and another starting memorial weekend Thursdays & Sundays & the Sue Island Dock Bar. I never leave home without my T2!

Jim

Might account for the exaggerated 76 statistics

Another home user, Tyros 2 and KN7000.
The Motif XS7 is used at home as a very expensive midi controller to play cathedral organ samples plus on board orchestra and organ voices,(workstation of course, not arranger).
Keith

Can't quite get around that "gig" thing. It sounds like a hobby. But I do use my arranger at least 5 nights a week. Often I play my other arranger during the day for small jobs such as Nursing Homes and parties.
It is a real help to have two complete systems.
DonM

Ahhhh, Diki...who knows?

Facts are inflexible things, but statistics are infinitely more malleable.

Statistics can be made to prove anything - even the truth.

AND...I don't like averages...for example, there was the man who drowned crossing a stream with an average depth of six inches.

After what I've been through this past year, I'm just grateful to be gigging again.

Ian

3 Days a week now, busier in the summer. For the regular restaurant gig, I mostly use midi accordion and Midjay. Other gigs with the PA800. About 2X per month I work with sax/clarinet/flute man for oldies, cocktail jazz and wedding jobs. Frequently, I’ll midi the accordion to the PA800.
Ciao,
Jerry

Have the S900 that never leaves the house. Use it for fun and backing tracks. Play live 3 nights a week on guitar with Band In A Box and laptop. But have owned a ton of arrangers in the past.

Gigger. 75% of my work is weddings, 25% Bar Mitzvahs, private parties, etc.

Also a home player - clearly the minority here Currently own a Korg Pa800 and a Roland SonicCell.

Kind regards,
Tommy

Yeah, that's the way I always felt !

I think it sounds cool...but to each his own.

The dictionary describes "gig" as: "The slang word used by professional performers to mean a paying engagement they have agreed to do...it need not be associated with music or performance, but it does preclude permanent full-time employment."

Works for me.

Ian

Seems to be that way, Tommy...I thought there would be more home players, but SZ seems to be frequented by mostly pros.

Ian

Or those who like to THINK we are
t.

Are you considered a Pro if you get paid only? No matter how good or bad the act is....because I have seen some really bad entertainers in restaurants & bars & left scratching my head.

This is my opinion...I would say if you're getting paid for a gig...you're a "pro".

In other words, you are earning your living by your "profession", which in this case, happens to be a musician/entertainer.

Ian

Getting paid is what defines the pro--good or bad. Of course, the same holds true for all professions. Over the years I have made hundreds dollars in the entainment business.

Cheers,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

Not to me. Being a 'pro' also implies a level of competence. Airlines only hire 'professional' pilots......for good reason. Getting paid to perform at an amateur level only means that the guy that hired you is either a relative or an idiot...most likely, both. The same applies to those who would pay to see you.

chas

Chas, there is a difference between being a "professional", and being a "competent professional"(or "incompetent professional", if you prefer), wouldn't you agree?

They all get paid.

Ian



[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 04-10-2008).]

Perhaps there are not so many 'home' players here because, instead of interminable posting, they are actually PLAYING their arrangers!

NOT making MP3's of their tracks, not filling out their MFDs, not slicing loops up to sync with the tracks, not arguing about key numbers, or PA types...

Just PLAYING. For fun, not to impress anyone, not to make some money, just for the joy of it.

Who knows...? I'd like to think so.

Maybe we're in the wrong business Diki...they seem to be having more FUN.

Then again...don't you have fun on SZ?

I know I do...always a hoot!

Ian


[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 04-10-2008).]

I would say that playing music & making yourself happy comes first. Then if you are talented enough to share that with an audience who appreciates you is second, plus if you can get paid to do it would even make it sweeter.

It could be that only players in certain fields call their jobs "gigs". I've never heard anyone in the jazz or hard-line blues fields call their jobs anything else...even jobs unrelated to music.

I get a little irritated at those who refer to their work as "shows".

Just my preference and history, I guess.

Russ "giggin fool" Lay

Same here. Seems as natural as a flatted fifth to me.

chas

I've flattened a few fifths in my time.

In my case they are JOBS--NOT GIGS. And, when I bill those corporations it is listed as a Musical Performance on the invoice. The last time I gigged anything it was a bullfrog in a pond and I was 15 years old. (the frog wasn't too happy about it, but the legs tasted pretty good.)

Cheers,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

I do about 10 - 11 gigs a week .. I mean musical performances ... um engagements.

Beakybird

1 gig = 1000 megabytes

It might sound more impressive to say how many megabytes you do a week.

Eddie

Hi

I am one of the minority: Only playing my PSR 3000 at home.

Jørgen

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The Unofficial YAMAHA Keyboard Resource Site

Maybe, but your softwares has been out in the trenches for years !

Very funny and TRUE, Ian. I "flatted" many of the same kind of fifths I believe you're talking about...years ago, thankfully!

"Burp" Lay

are there any players working the columbus ohio area? love to hear ya

Russ who ever heard anyone say the"gig must go on".......

Doesnt Zuki play in your area?

Never "gig", play shows, or perform with an arranger. Strictly a fan. I can "trigger" 3 or 4 note chords with my left hand and play one or two note melodies. I can play the hell out of them midi files, but turn off the arranger functions and I would not call myself a keyboard player, even though I have played with bands.
I am a member of a band, guitar and bass, DJ and karaoke host.
Also involved in other music related business.

[This message has been edited by mikeathome1 (edited 04-11-2008).]

Hi folks - I am probably the last one to comment on this thread. I have a music degree and taught music before "gigging" in the AF band for 6 years. And what a wonderful gig that was! I eventually got coerced into computer programming and have been a geek since. My "day gig" at present is as a test engineer for the Air Force. So my "fun meter" isn't pegged as often as I like w/music due to my commitments to the government, which will change some day in the not too distant future.

So at present, I am gigging maybe 4-6 times a month. I take the Tyros on most of my jobs unless they are 1 hour or less, in which case I just play my sax. On the longer jobs, I alternate playing the arranger and my sax.

May the "gigs" be with you!

Randy

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"My computer beats me regularly at chess, but is no match for me at kick boxing"

Wrinkles,

I've played a few jobs up there this past year - a bit far from Cincy, but I might be doing more this year.

How's your health these days??

zuki