Originally posted by Diki:
Shame you didn't try substituting different players instead of the arranger... It would be interesting to hear how your enjoyment of the gig changed with some fresh players and a new attitude. Your arranger doesn't really add or subtract anything HUMAN to the equation.
As I said in an earlier post, I don't know of any qualified bass players who would've been able to handle the gig. I've seen several different guys come in...rock guys / jazz guys, etc. the feel wasn't right, drummer wasn't happy...Try as I might, we couldn't get the right dance feel for this crowd. Remember, this is people 60+. They're pretty firm on what they'll dance to and what they won't.
Plus, I'd not get to worked up about a crowd enjoying themselves 'just as much' with just automatic backing rather than the real deal... Quite honestly, were you to do a complete DJ act and pick your recorded material as carefully, you might get close to the same reception..! 
You make it sound it like I punched a button and then sat back and had a smoke, lol. They also, have tried DJ's for these dances and none have worked out. These people want...in some fashion...musicians. In their minds, DJ's aren't musicians.
I sang every song...I played every song and the facility with which I play my arranger proved highly effective. I was really playing and really singing and really working the crowd and really picking the songs, etc. Certainly I played differently than I do with my band, no doubt about it.
Which might beg the question... Why are we playing at all? 
For them, or for US..? Most of them don't care much one way or the other, as long as they have a good time. But US? Maybe you feel differently, but I got into music to PLAY music (not play a CD player!), and with as many great musicians as I could. Be careful about being so happy that the arranger 'entertained' the crowd. Because the next logical step is a CD 'entertaining' the crowd. And that opens you up to people with no skills whatsoever other than the ability to play a songlist that the audience wants (and anyone can copy yours just by attending one show) being able to come in and undercut you... Your comments based on my last post are almost funny. My recollection of Saturday night is that I entertained the crowd, while using an arranger kb and my sax player. What's better? A highly skilled kb player using an arranger and getting quite a bit out of it or a very predictable band that while very effective, isn't scoring real high on the freshness scale?
I played my ass off Saturday...and for a change, I could present these tunes as I prefer them, for the most part. The difference between what I do and turning on a CD player is profound.
------------------
Bill in Dayton
[This message has been edited by Bill in Dayton (edited 01-11-2010).]
Previous Topic
Index
