Came across this on another forum...

Six months of hard work, one gig, and it starts, or actually ends! Well, I said a few days ago that one monkey don't stop a show, but several of them sure can! It took six months of hard work to get the big group I wanted together enough to play our first gig, and it went over extremely well... But the honeymoon, and I guess the marriage too, is over now, because the lead singer decided he wants to take the next month off, and then only meet once a month whether we are playing or just rehearsing, because his life is just too busy with his job, kids, grandkids, other hobbies, etc. And, as soon as he said that the keyboard, drummer, and other guitarist bailed, all headed in different directions, or so it seems.
One wants a different set list, the other wants more money, and the other one just got an offer with an established group...
The biggest paradox of trying to get a decent group together seems to be that when I find the talent they have no free time, and when I find the ones with free time they do not have the talent!
Will it never end? I think I'm getting too old for this!
And, my wife wants to kill him!

I've said it before and I'll say it again and again - 26 yrs with the same guys, never had any problems ... what a RARE relationship ... and I MISS it !!! ...

One year with a 'classic rock' band in RI - 8 pieces - played a few gigs and then after our biggest and most successful gig at the Providence Waterfront Festival, the group broke up ...

Get the gig FIRST, then you'll have no problems finding good players.

I'm looking at the possibility of recording backing tracks

on my BK7 for use with my accordion for restaurant work.

I will need at least 30 tracks/pieces. My aim is to cut down

on Midi cables etc and leave my BK7 at home.

I'm looking for advice as to what type of media player I would

use on the gig and could it be controlled by a footswitch.

The recordings I've done so far are Wav files on my BK7 USB

memory. Do I need to convert them to another format or are Wav

files universal?

I'm thinking laptop computer or maybe an Ipod.

Any thoughts, anyone ?

Frank

Bill,

Been there, done that, got the tee shirt! Had a great band for about 5 years, most were mediocre when it came to talent, but toward the end the lead guitarist would sometimes show and sometimes not. The bass player got stoned before the job ever started and stayed that way. The lead singer, who also played an acoustic guitar, decided he sounded better after several boiler makers and the drummer always seemed to be playing somewhere else. No one wanted to rehearse, and they all wanted more money. Best thing I ever did was to go solo, at first with a guitar, then with the keyboard. Out of all of them, I'm the only one that continues to play. The lead guitar player plays a fair number of freebees at nursing homes, but every song he performs is something by Marty Robbins and after about 15 minutes the residents are falling asleep.

Finding a group of GOOD players who are willing to put in the time and do what is necessary to be successful is next to impossible.

Good Luck,

Gary

Bill,
Yeah, the best and most reliable person is yourself, so look at your talents and go get gigs. If along the way you find a partner to play the gig with, then ok. Try to relax and let others find you, then you decide who stays and who goes, IMO.

Bill. I'd work with you in a heartbeat. Of course, I'll be tied up until after Christmas. Then, I can't work any week-ends. And, I'd like 50 cents a mile travel time between Kentucky and Louisiana.

Plus, I'd like the leaders fee. And, if there's a rehearsal, I get $75.00 an hour overtime fee...plus YOU buy the drinks and dinner.

Other than these few requests, IT'S ON BUDDY (LOL)!


Russ

Actually, having a group is a "Love-hate" deal. When things work, there's nothing like it. But, when they don't it's the most frustrating thing imaginable.

I'm lucky. My son and grandson are in my trio, so I'm the undisputed "king" of that group. Then, I have an association as guest artist with the local philharmonic, which is nice. If I need players, I get them from the local University music programs...all great, talented kids eager to learn. What they'll be like in a few years...who knows?

Just send the jet down to get me (no yellow M&M's, please) and we'll get going!

Russ (disillusioned "star") Lay

The solution to this is a 3 letter word, OMB.

Bill doesn't have a band. His post referred to someone else's post on another site.
He sometimes uses a couple of guys to back him up, but they are plentiful around here!
DonM

band = laptop..

... and for musicians that's a damn shame !!!

Yes it is but that's why there is no need to try to do a "start up" band with lame musicians. First get your act together. Sound good enough on your own that you don't need to depend on anybody else. Get some gigs. If the client has a budget for a band then call the best musicians in town (the kind of guys that don't have rehearse) This method saves me the headache and drama that the OP is feeling.

Times have changed I had a 7 pc band 25 years with two lead vocalists,......been solo 18 yrs now OMB.....back then only competition was other bands if you were an "A" band you had nothing to worry about gigs were plentiful,....today it's DJ's & Bands, Karaoke, and whatever, all wanting the almighty dollar,..........now computers have changed the game, economy life has everyone working like crazy 2 or 3 jobs no time for rehearsals, no time for anything anymore......you wanna play music as a hobby fine, ....to make it as a "good full time" living to support your family you better be fantastic way above the competition at 110% every single performance & then find a niche to fit in-between the mainstream competition or you will sadly fail, ...people are picky today, music is so diversified you really have to suit everyone in a very broad musical spectrum becoming a musical chameleon of sorts doing this with just an arranger keyboard ain't gonna cut in today's world,....I know no one wants to hear all this but the truth is the truth,......have fun...although it can be done, I can attest to that..... but certain criteria MUST be followed and mastered.

Good points Donny but I'm not sure why you say that an arranger keyboard won't cut it. I know a OMB arranger keyboard guy is exactly the standard at most events that use live music but I don't see why a good looking guy or girl with killer keyboard chops, an exceptional singing voice, and a great stage presence couldn't do well. If you are great at what you do, I don't think it matters if you got a full band, sing to backing tracks or whatever. Use the method that works best for you

I agree, Paul. With the possible exception of superior backing, it's no different than Liberace, Billy Joel, Elton John and a host of other top entertainers on stage with just a piano and singing. Add an attractive, female vocalist and there are lots of duo acts out there that make a good living without the aid of a PC and other gadgetry. I, personally, have made hundreds of dollars as an OMB entertainer.

Cheers,

Gary

Paul I don't know how it is where your from but around here in the NY/NJ area you are not JUST gonna play an arranger KB anymore at Big Weddings, Dances, Venues with 200-500pp without mixing it up with some DJ'ing period..I am talking on a nightly full-time basis,....not some NH gig environment, or restaurant background music small gigs etc, ...I'm talking being a Power Single act...full bore singing, playing, tracks, styles, MP3's etc,...etc,...no arranger player is gonna contend with the stuff people hear on the radio no way, no how, for big power dance gigs....Arrangers KB's have their place but not in today's dance music.......but night after night at big gigs you have no chance alone against the competition of a pro Dj in clubs styles get very boring and repetitious...and such....if there is anyone as you mentioned please send me a link to a video of them I for one would love to experience the wizardry....Thanx

Can't disagree with anything you say there, Donny. The odd thing is, "styles" on club DJ gigs seem to consist of very little but a thumping, thundering four to the bar all night long. Yet here we sit with bazillions of styles, tempos, etc. at our fingertips and we wouldn't get a look-in on club DJ-type gigs. Go figure, eh? :-)

I guess things are different up there in the Big Apple and NJ, where all those big buck jobs are available. Of course, I really can't find a good reason to book a DJ club job--too many adolescent drunks to deal with.

Whatever floats your boat,

Gary

Paul, I do just what you're suggesting (you probably do, too).

I only use arrangers on about 10% of my jobs. When i do, I try to get the "host" to spring for at least one additional player. I am lucky to have 10 or so associates who can walk in without rehearsal and handle a gig. The format is, Verse-bridge (me); solo on verse (guest musician, if he/she is comfortable); me back on the bridge and out.

Of course, Donny is right; my jobs are all straight jazz or dinner jobs...big wedding receptions and the like are the ones dominated by DJ's or big, expensive show bands.

I generally get called to play for rehearsal dinners or
"quieter" events...lot's of Philharmonic guest spots, Government jobs, jobs affiliated with the University; city sponsored events...lots of horse farm and horse sales events (read that BIG MONEY), etc.

Man, it sure is fun to play with other players. My biggest enjoyment is backing great players/soloists. I'll even take a small cut out of my leaders share to add a superior player.

Of course, as I said before, I am NOT an entertainer. I have a niche here and I'm always grateful to be asked (and paid) to play for people.

I'll be 68 in the fall and have been playing at least 4 gigs a week for 57 years...in excess of 16,000 gigs (nine total weeks off), with no plans to slow down or stop for the near future. Of course, I've played a wide variety of venues and types of music, but that's a story for a different time.


Music is GREAT!


R.

I never considered big weddings & such with mostly adults and mixed ages adolescent drunks to deal with...big buck jobs are everywhere if you go about finding them and have the tools to accommodate them...... eg:...Last Monday I got requests for the "Burger Song"....now try that on a Arranger KB lol.....punched that baby into my laptop and had 300 pp dancing and screaming their heads off to the music..,carry on.

I do the same thing LIVE using the keyboard's Zouk style, playing and singing Hot Hot Hot! Had a conga line snaking out of the ballroom and into the hall. There's a great keyboard style for every song out there--EVERY SONG! And, the beauty of the keyboard is you can keep that song going, spice it up with YOUR rendition, and put a lot more of YOU into the performance. Sure, it takes a bit more work and planning to put things together, but the audiences love it. I just wish I were 20 years younger. Then, maybe I would think about doing some DJ and KJ jobs--NAH!

Cheers,

Gary

Gary point I'm trying to make is today's audiences want to hear what they hear on the Radio & TV & Ipods, etc.........
not some weird arranger version.. Why not be prepared for anything and have ALL the tools to build a house......use them all, or some, or a few at a time mixed or what ever the plan calls for is what I'm saying depending on the gig. But heck what do I know?....I'm just a guy who's been gigging full time for a living since I was 14 yrs old right.. ?..

Carry On