I've found over the years that there are several major factors that come into play in this regard. First and foremost, vocal clarity is of utmost importance. There are so many systems that do not provide this high vocal quality, especially most conventional sound systems that I've owned over the past 5 decades.

Next, showmanship is a key ingredient. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, some of the best, highly trained and skilled musicians I know have been out of work for years. They're often the ones sitting in my and other entertainers audiences. They are all far superior musicians than myself, but they were never an entertainer or showman. Granted, some musicians find work, but most of the the busiest folks I know in the music industry are musician/entertainers/singers.

Vocal ability is a key ingredient to success - no doubt about it. Yep, there are a select few, such as Captain Russ and Deane Peters, that are just musicians and rarely sing, though both have good vocal skills. I'm not sure why they choose not to utilize those skills, but again, in my experience, audiences seem to respond better to someone that provides great vocals to their audiences. Additionally, those vocals also become a form of communications with our audiences, thus allowing more interaction and connection with those sitting or dancing in front of us.

Appearance. Sure, there are some folks that feel they do just fine wearing old, ragged jeans, a wrinkled shirt, and work-boots while performing. Me, I want to look great in front of my audiences, even when performing in a laid back location such as the Florida Keys where shorts and a tee shirt are considered formal attire. I want to look better than the waitstaff and line cooks. And, the perception is that if you look professional, you are professional. I spent thousands of dollars on my performance apparel over the years, and I absolutely love it when I'm ogled by some younger lady in the audience.

Overall sound. There is no question in my mind that the overall sound quality of our arranger keyboards is an important component of our performances. While most audiences wouldn't know the difference between various brands, those subtle differences do provide a higher degree of musical and sound quality that keeps those audiences coming back for more.

Vocal harmonizers. For the most part, this adds a bit to our vocal performances, however, most of the time it's use should be very limited. When you depend heavily upon vocals, such as myself, the key ingredients is crisp, clear vocals coming from the vocal processor - with vocal harmony coming in a distance second.

Lighting is also a key ingredient in any performance. While much of the time, this is beyond our control, subtle accent lights are a great asset. Gimmick lights, such as Bob The Flame can also be a great asset - they draw attention to the entertainer the same as lights that change with the tempo. Essentially, they create an atmosphere, which is a key ingredient.

Don't forget about song selection, which should always be done on the spot - not ahead of time. You must be able to read that audience, then provide the music that you feel will stir their emotions, get them out of their seats and on the dance floor. Play what they want to hear - NOT what you want to play.

Hope this helps,

Gary