John, that has happened to me more times than I can count over the past three decades. Sometimes I just set the auto-stop on the keyboard, then take my hands off the keys, and say "OK, if it's recorded, then why isn't playing?" It's amazing at how well that gets their undivided attention. I've had folks that thought it was not even me singing, claiming that I was lip syncing - I always loved that one.

Bill, I've seen a few keyboard guys that never bothered to plug the keyboard in, let alone play it. Their whole show was PC based with MP3s and the keyboard was just a stage prop. Some even sang over the vocals on the MP3s and never bothered to edit the vocals out. Amazing!

I've had lots of musicians come in when I performed in Baltimore's Little Italy and the Inner Harbor clubs and restaurants - I was working, they were not. Some looked over my shoulder, but most just sat there and listened with their girlfriends and wives. I worked 6 to 7 days a week, they worked less than that per month.


All the best,

Gary