Graham and the others,

I think I really need to clear up this "garbage equipment" remark that a few of you got upset over, although I�m certainly not apologizing for it.

I meant "garbage" in relation to today's keyboards with all the frills on them. I'm using a 10 year old Roland that hasn�t failed once in all this time (and this is by choice and NOT because of finances). That doesn't mean it "sounds" garbage. It actually gives me a very full and versatile sound. The organ and string patches are full, warm and rich, brass cuts through when I need it, trumpets not great sounding�but with a lot of pitch bend and vibrato can be made to sound presentable, accordion is a very sweet musette sound, bells (as in I�m Getting Married in the Morning) are striking, orchestra patch simulates a full orchestra fairly well, fiddle (for square dance music) fits right in the pocket, electric pianos a little hollow but passable, guitars..again with pitch bend and vibrato can sound very jazzy, throw in a good dance pattern with lots of "fills," good singing, pick the right songs, and you�ve got a working formula.

You�ve all missed the point of my first post: Point: Don�t get caught up in the keyboard and speaker wars. Use the time to work on your act. At one time I played three keyboards simultaneously on stage and had a fantastic sound. Sure I miss it, but I�m more concerned about giving my audience more meat and potatoes now. After all, if they want to hear pretty music they can listen to Lawrence Welk on a CD player. I give them dynamic/exciting music that �moves them� (which is what Activity Directors love to see).

That�s not to say what you folks do in your performance is incorrect. If it works, go for it. I find this is what works for me. They don�t care if I share �new� equipment with them , but they certainly care whether or not I share MYSELF! And, believe me, if I thought for one second I was short-changing my audience, I�d be at Sam Ash the next morning with checkbook in hand.

Mama Leone�s Restaurant (in NY) used to throw out this saying: Give them good food and plenty of it, and they�ll come back for more. My motto, based on that, has always been: �give them good MUSIC and plenty of it and they�ll come back for more!�

P.S. Try going through a �musical trivia� routine with them to �jar� their memories. The �fan� idea was good�.I�d like to hear a few more if you don�t mind. I�m always looking to improve!

Lucky