Russ, I usually respond in a general way if the tune is missing some chords or could be polished up a bit.

If I feel the person posting is really interested in helpful criticism or suggestions on how the music can be made better, I most always Private Message them first and give them a heads up on what I might be posting in regards to their tune.

I ask is it okay for me to post what I've planned on posting.

If it is, then I go ahead and post in the forum...if it isn't, I'll more than likely not post anything.

Not everyone handles criticism well, no matter how constructive or diplomatically worded, and that goes for pros and amateurs alike.

If it is something minor, like a volume/balance issue (voice or lead sound too loud or too soft), I will usually go ahead and post without the above procedure.

For some players here on SZ, this may be their first time posting music on a public forum, so I try not to post in such a way that may discourage them from even trying again and perhaps take away any opportunity for them to get more comfortable with future suggestions and/or criticisms.

If the poster is a seasoned performer or someone who has been playing a long time, I usually PM them first.

I was a Yamaha teacher for quite a few years, and, I learned how poorly worded criticism, especially in front of others (especially their peers), can cause far more harm than good.

Criticism is like castor oil...easy to give, but hard to take, so I feel I best deliver it in the right amount, at the right time, and perhaps with a bit of sweetener to take off the bad taste.

On the other hand, I have a friend who can take several castor oil capsules and chew them up before swallowing.

People like that are rare, probably as rare as those who can handle point-blank criticism.

How am I doing so far?

Ian

Russ ... allowing a poor performance to go with no criticism may not be the right thing to do, but I don't think any of us here wants to be the one to say or HEAR "That was not good" ... hopefully we can give/take some constructive criticism without it being too harsh, yet helpful ...

As far as YOUR music is concerned, I would LOVE it if at one of your gigs with your son and grandson you could just set up a digital recorder and turn it on while you are performing ...

yea Russ that seems easy enough,.... would love to hear it also or one of the b3 gigs you do.....just sayin'

I'll try, Tony. My grandson is really shy about recording, now, because he thinks he hasn't learned all the material perfectly. And, while I think he's coming along, when I have a really high profile job, I bring in a fellow from Cincinnati. I actually have lots of jobs recorded of the "Lay's", but little guy made me promise not to post it anywhere.

I do have a 1/2 hour of just me on a grand piano, recorded at a benefit on an old Panasonic digital grand, just into a Zoom H2. It was last September. My son taped it without me knowing.

I'll try to find that, although, again, it's not arranger work. I don't have anything worth sharing recorded on arranger.

Let me restate my conundrum: I don't have a problem with anyone who posts in good faith, just to share.

I have a real problem with bad postings where it's really obvious that the person thinks he/she is much better than he/she is, and brags about it.

I'm talking about the folks who would never dare to even think of getting on a bandstand with someone who obviously had their act together.

In the real world, they, would be laughed off the stage in a heartbeat.

It's rough out there in the real world.

Russ

R.

Russ ... chas has made it quite evident over the years that he is not afraid of controversy, and yes, many times he is right in what he says ... and while he may not be 'trying' to hurt anyone's feelings, I think that one more than one occasion he has talked down about arranger players to the point of being insulting ...
As I said in my response to his post, I am not looking to win any awards, and I know my limitations as a musician, but I am proud of what I do and how I entertain the audiences I play for, and while they may not be as astute and critical as some jazz aficionados, they are not all NH patients who aren't aware of what's going on ...
And my kb isn't "self-playing" ... it accompanies me as I play ...
And I think it is unfortunate if someone puts him/herself in a position to be banned from this forum ...
Hopefully he has not been and will be posting soon ...

Russ, if I posted something on this, or any other forum, that sounded like crap, I would want to know it. However, I would also want to know, from professionals, such as a number of folks here, how to improve it. I want to know what I did right and what I did wrong, and what steps to take in order to bring about perfection to that submission, or bring it as close to perfection as I am capable of doing. IMO, this is a very important aspect of this type of forum.

That said, I've heard some really bad song posted, here and elsewhere. In each and every instance, where I have made a comment, it has been a constructive comment that I feel would be beneficial to that individual. I'm not going to tell someone that has taken the time and trouble to post a song that that song sounds like crap. Instead, I'm going to provide information that will assist that person in achieving his or her goal with that particular song, different style, different balance ratio, tempo, etc..., things I sincerely believe will be helpful. And, when I came to this forum many years ago, that's why I came - to get help from pros such as yourself, Uncle Dave, Donny, Fran, DomM, Eddie Shoemaker, and many others that I have also taken the time to meet personally. Now, if I had known you prior to the job I did in Lexington several years ago, I would have made it a point to meet with you in person as well.

During the past few weeks, the forum has really taken made a comeback, IMO. It has returned to a member friendly organization of individuals who willingly share not only their songs, but additionally other helpful information that will help the membership be more successful in the business aspects of music as well as improving their playing skills. And, we seem to be having more fun in that quest for knowledge.

Cheers,

Gary

Russ ... I would never ask a grandfather to betray a trust, so ONLY if your grandson agrees ...
Would love to hear your piano work or as Donny suggested, your B3 work ...
This may be primarily an arranger forum, but I don't think anyone is going to complain if you post music that wasn't played on an arranger ...

And as for letting your thoughts about a performance be known, as Ian said, there is always the PM method ...

Probably should have kept my mouth shut. All involved are friends...even the ones who posted the material I was referring to.

I'm probably way to serious about music...almost to the point where it's not always fun.

I'd really have to think hard about posting an extemporaneous live performance, in light of the way I finesse my work in the studio.

I'd find too much wrong wit it, and if I'm not proud of something I'm not going to make anyone else listen to it.


But, that's just me!


Russ

C'mon, Russ ... lighten up ! ... ... you're playing for family here, man ...

Bottom line guys, is that this is a General Arranger Keyboard Forum, which appears to mean that members here use arranger keyboards to accomplish their goals in music. That can be from playing all instrumentals, playing and singing over a midi file or a style, but the primary operative words are ARRANGER KEYBOARD.

Nothing wrong with off topic threads, but I was always under the impression that the main reason we were banded here is because the instruments we have chosen to use to make and/produce our music are "Arrangers".

So, at least in my case, I prefer to listen to music played on the instrument this forum is named after...there are lots of "Vocalist" forums, and "Piano" forums...even some Hammond B-3 sites.

By all means, post whatever you think is relevant, including off topic material, but, the more arranger generated (and related) material we post, the more we learn about this very special "Swiss Army Knife" of keyboard instruments.

What I find hard to understand, is that if a person doesn't enjoy using an arranger, feels it's somehow beneath them to be caught or heard playing one, and fails to see the value and the wonder many of us here do see in this instrument, what would such a person find valuable or interesting about an arranger forum?

Ian