It's all about where you're coming from Gary. You'll get no argument here.. There is no doubt in my mind that arrangers have opened up many new doors and options for those in the entertainment business.

Although I do entertain occasionally, that really isn't the perspective I'm looking at it from, although it is one of the reasons I have an arranger per se, and I'm grateful to have one. Arrangers are also good practice tools and can be useful to me for composing / emulating some types of music. Still, I can listen to just about any piece that anyone does with an arranger ( including me ), and recognize instantly that it isn't a real band playing it. I guess the same can be said for most of the music made on synths / workstations too though. The difference in my mind ( right or wrong ) is that the workstation often isn't trying to emulate a real band

For me, it really isn't about business, it's more about the art form itself, and I truly prefer it that way. On those occasions when I do make some money at it ( the occasional studio or entertainment gig ), I certainly don't object to being paid.. but that isn't my primary reason for playing music.

The arranger is a great tool, but for me it doesn't replace the feel of playing with a live band, and I suspect that in spite of the future technological advances that are bound to come about, it never will.

AJ




[This message has been edited by Bluezplayer (edited 11-03-2003).]