How many here are writing ORIGINAL material on arranger kb or any keyboard/guitar etc..?
with more time at home I was thinking of trying the original creative process,.....how many of you are doing that vs playing other peoples songs all the time.....after all these songs did start out as an original project for each of the artists who produced them.......seems like the arranger kb would be a perfect match to create a song from scratch for music & vocals,....
also if your not whats holding you back?
Thoughts?

I really have not had the inclination to write my own songs. I feel like there are already so many greats songs and so there many that I'd love to learn. What I do love is to arrange songs which is were our arranger keyboards shine. My respect to those that write music... Maybe someday I'll give it a shot, but I would think it would hard to find venues will pay you to perform your own music. Performing original music is feast or famine. Doing covers probably won't make you rich but it can pay the bills.

Paul you can always try to do both and ad your original to your cover act little at a time....every artists songs "your covering" at one point had to go out there and perform their own. You can also write and have someone else perform it too...

Donny, I do most of my high end work for scores in Louisville for a production company. My company in Lexington does not to exceed 20 min pieces. 1/2 have scores done on an arranger, because of budget limitations.

The bigger projects generally start at 2:30 PM on Sunday. From 2:40 until production starts at 6:00 PM, I work with the producer and a technical person (client is a truck manufacturer, in this case) to define the parameters of the project. While watching an extremely rough cut, I work up the approximate lead line(s), percussion, etc., with input from those involved on an arranger; usually an old Solton MS-60.

After initial approval of the arranger produced treatment, we gather samples (live sound in the factory, an engine running, etc.)and, with the help of a percussionist, begin with the bass pattern(s). Depending on the final level of the project (some bill out in excess of $10,000 a finished minute; others, for charities, small organizations, etc. are free, with a bottom paid fee of $500.00 a finished minute), the project can be all me on everything but percussion; up to 10-12 players flown in.

In Lexington, as a support mechanism for other limited marketing/training efforts, the projects bill completed for $500.00-1,000.00 a finished minute. That is basic stuff...no animation...one voice-over.

These kinds of jobs did not exist at this level before UTube.
I get the work not because of superior musicianship, but because I write, shoot and edit the material, and there is almost no learning curve time involved.

I do 120 hours a month in the studio, and could do more if time allowed.

There are more opportunities for "generalists"...people who can do multiple things today. The ability to provide cost effective original scores gives me a big advantage in the industrial film market.

The ability to do copy edits, film editing, treatments, etc. makes me a much more marketable commodity than a person who simply plays.

And....IT'S FUN, FUN, FUN, T-bird or not!

So, yes, the arranger is an invaluable tool. Unsophisticated clients (an engineer who never thinks abstractly, for instance) understands what's going on when he hears an arranger produced rough instead of a simple piano or guitar line or chords.

I get the satisfaction of having worked on a national level
project on multiple levels. It's hard for some to understand that I get as much satisfaction from writing copy, graphic design, film production, trade show management,research management and other collateral projects as I do playing.

They all support each other.

That is pure luck; no pre-planning at all.

I'm a grateful SOB!

Russ

Keep in mind that we do have a few members that do nothing but original material using their keyboards, such as Beakybird (Larry), who really has done some incredible songs with his arranger.

Like Paul, I really don't have the inclination to write my own material, then try to sell it to the general public or my audiences. I had enough trouble learning all the songs they wanted to hear over the years, and I believe they hired me because I could perform the songs they enjoyed listening to in the past.

Gary

Original songs always don't have to be sold..... Writing for your self satisfaction is perfectly acceptable also and can be very rewarding to the artist too.

I have written dozens of songs, most autobiographical, most country, but not all. Each has risen to Number One in my living room over the years. All now are only occasionally pulled up when someone asks "do you have any originals?"
All are better than 95 percent of current country songs on the radio. At least in my HUMBLE opinion!
I could put them on the internet and make a fraction of a cent each time they are downloaded, and nothing each time they are shared. 20 or so years ago I put some of them on a tape and sold nearly a thousand of them at 8 bucks apiece, to drunk people in my night club!
I took most of that money and went on a gambling spree, eating fine food, drinking fine wine and courting fine women. The rest of it I just wasted.

All the time.. I have written lots of songs. I try to upload my stuff to You Tube to share my messages with others. I ve uploaded quite a few but it is pretty time consuming
Finding the right images to go with your lyrics.

God Bless,
Don Reeves

I tried a few times but no real interest.
Without that inner desire not much happens.

John C.

I am first a Songwriter.......The PA 4X is an invaluable companion for me