Had a guitar playing friend, in his 60's, sit in on one of my assisted living gigs today...40 folks or so.

We've been talking about doing some of the tourist gigs together that are plentiful here in the lakes country of MN.

HIs comment after the gig...

"I'm not sure I could add much. It's like you, your keyboard and the audience were all a part of one thing that was happening...you really relate to these folks."

Though it was nice to hear that...solo gigs are a lot of work and I'm hoping to do more duo gigs.

I know this forum is about arrangers, and arrangers lend themselves to solo, which I can do....but what about bigger venues that can use duo? Trio?

I do combinations up to 12 pieces. With an arranger, I add guitar, percussion, horns, bass (simply shut off bass function)
in any order supported by the gig.


Switches things up and keeps you on your toes.



R.

Absolutely! It's all about being a showman while on stage. The largest job I've done was 1,200 screaming, crazy drunks at Ocean City, Maryland's Tuna Tournament. I kept the place rocking for four hours, then drove three hours home, getting home at 2 in the morning, dead tired. Got a call the next morning from the White Marlin Open manager at Ocean City and he wanted to know if I could do their captain's party as well the following week, but I was booked and had to turn him down. They ended up bringing in a 4-piece rock band, which turned out a disaster. About the same number of people there as well.

It's not the number of people on stage, it's the number of entertainers on the stage that really counts. If you're a good entertainer, you can pull off some really big shows.

Just my opinion, and I could be wrong,

Gary

One summer years ago a RnR, Soul, Funk cover band called because I played an arranger. I had a couple of slow months coming up and agreed to join them on a temporary basis. My role in the band was to play horn stabs and string background primarily. B-O-R-I-N-G.

It was a 7 piece showband with an agent and a mgr and (what a surprise) the pay was horrible.

I've had several duos with girl singers....much better.

Eddie

Good comments all.

To me the main advantage of adding a second person is that is gives me someone to interact with both during and between songs. I can more easily add life to the show. Problem is getting someone who is good, that you can get along with easily, that is dependable, doesn't screw things up by drinking too much, etc....
Also, I am accustomed to taking breaks when and if I want to, according to how I'm reading the crowd. I don't want to be locked into 45 on 15 off necessarily.
The other factor is the money. Can you get twice the amount you are making? Add three pieces and you need to get four times the amount you get alone. Maybe the money isn't important to everyone, but it's how I make my living so it is primary, even over my own enjoyment.
And then, of course, there is the matter of women. Who gets first pick?

With me on arranger, I frequently add one to three people based on the gig and related issues. I agree with Don’s assessment about such matters.

I have always enjoyed having another player on a gig - a holdover from 26 years of playing in a band with a GREAT group of friends -
Since relocating and going 'solo', I have played a number of gigs with female vocalists, guitar players, and sax players - one guy who plays guitar and banjo, saxes and clarinet, flute, and blues harmonica - ... and fortunately have always enjoyed the experience because they are people who enjoy their craft and aren't on the gig to drink ...
As I have mentioned, I have been doing 'karaoke' gigs with a female vocalist, but I would love it if she would give up the backing tracks and just sing while I backed her on KB ... yes, it would be more work for me, but as the saying goes, "do something you love and you'll never work a day in your life..." and yes, as Don points out, the money is an issue, but being retired with a nice pension, fortunately for me, the money is not a PRIME concern ...

Just my thoughts ...

Tony why not create some of your own backing tracks using the kb...best of both worlds..