Found myself with a few moments of down time and decided to catch up with the SZ scene. SZ continues to be a wonderful resource that rarely fails to help provide the info I'm seeking. Thanks to Nigel and all the members that make it what it is.

2015 looks to be a year of new challenges for me. Aside from the perpetual weight loss goals, I've decided to add an acoustic guitar and possibly a looper to my act for certain clients. I've thought about it for years, but it feels like now is the right time. Audiences are getting younger, slightly hipper and I think doing part of my show with the acoustic will be a nice enhancement to my traditional act. I know a learning curve approaches, but I think it'll work out nicely. Additionally, after speaking with half a dozen or so of my longer term clients, I'm surprised that there seems to be a lack of musicians willing and able to do "room visits." One after another AD said they'd tried several different folks but for various reasons it didn't work out. There was a general excitement that I would be looking to try my hands at it. My ability to relate to these type patients will serve me well as I add this element as well.


I also want to give a special shout out to Bob Hendershot, with whom I have traded many emails regarding the purchase of a tablet to replace the MusicPad Pro system I used the last ten years or so. Bob was a fountain of knowledge, answered all of my many questions on both the tablet and the Mobilesheets software. I haven't yet used the tablet (a 13.3# Archos) on a job yet, I'm still setting up my database which is a one time thing. From working with it at my desk, it seems to beat the MPP on all metrics. Price, screen size, utility, clarity of music, loading new music, etc. The processor, as you might expect, is so much faster than the MPP was, that happily, my days of waiting and waiting for a chart to load may just be gone.

Its lighter, the battery in the tablet actually works (unlike the damn MPPs), and I'll actually downsize my rig by switching to it. I add the original Tyros music stand to the set up, but I delete a mic stand. I won't need to have an AC connection for most of my shows, which is another thing I that'll save time. I'll carry the AC plug with me, just in case, of course.

I also now have a suitable mp3 player to use on breaks without carrying something special just for that...

Here's wishing everyone a happy and healthy new years!

Happy, Healthy New Year to you, Bill, and best of luck with your new venture ...

Good luck Bill. Around here there are a hundred guys playing a "guitar single". Only one or two doing arranger. Hope it's different where you are. These guys here are cutting each others' throats.
I used to always take an acoustic guitar with me to the nursing homes, so I could visit the rooms of residents who could not attend the show.

Thanks guys,

Don- The "big 3" as some AD's put it are:

* a duo of guitar playing twins

* a husband/wife duo who sing over backing tracks

* me

All are considered very good in their own rights, but I'm not abandoning the arranger at all. I'll still use it on 99% of my gigs. On certain ones, I'll do 45 minutes of kb and 15 minutes of guitar...at least to start. The room visits will be an addition to my current work.

Any suggestions on what the going rate for :30 minutes of room visits is?

Bill, if you're going to get a louper, an acoustic/electric is great. You can loup backgrounds and play solo guitar over the changes.

I have carried a nylon string on all jobs for years. I play what you're going to...15 min or about three tunes an hour on guitar.

It's a nice change up and shows an extra degree of talent which the guy (or gal) paying the bill appreciates.

Many of my jobs are guitar only. They're 1-2 hours before a meeting or dinner. No competition at all from the three chord strummers.


Good luck. Call if you need help with the guitar. Go to RCL solo guitar (Youtube) to see if I know anythinh that can help.

I'm just down the road and would be glad to share anything I know.


R.

Thanks for the kind words, Bill.

Bill, there was a guy down here a few years back that placed his keyboard on top of a pair or 12 inch speakers and the entire rig sat on his R-10 rock and roller cart. He powered the rig with a 12-volt deep cycle marine battery connected through a 3000-watt inverter. His wife sang with him, as they slowly walked through the NH corridors, she kept the cart in motion, while he played the keyboard. He also had a Yamaha 12-string acoustic guitar with a spring loaded pickup that mounted in the guitar's opening. He had a powered mixer that everything plugged into, and on a single battery charge, he was able to get about 3 hours playing time. He charged 150 an hour and everyone seemed love it. Unfortunately, he had a fatal heart attack and passed away a few years later while on the job. So this may be another avenue of approach for you to explore.

Good luck on whatever you decide upon,

Gary

So Gary, maybe at our age we should all pack a portable defibrillator as a standard part of our gig rig.

chas

Probably not a bad idea, Chas. Of course, the cost of the defibrillator is about the same price as a T5. But the defibrillator comes with a hot looking nurse to shoot the juice to you Bruce.

Cheers,

Gary

Jesus, lol...

Could we write one of those babies off as a business expense?