... is happening tomorrow! After being in the friendly confinements of one hour gigs at senior living homes since I reentered performing this year, I have a 10-6:00 Oasis Grand Opening tomorrow. I have absolutely no idea how this will work out, but if I'm not heard from again, you'll know why. I might trade it all in for gardening... we'll see.

(I musta been nuts to agree to a 10am start time!)

Glenn,

Take the laptop and load it with midi files. Yep, it's time to play along with Glenn!

Enjoy,

Gary

Glenn, Congrats on the gig. Exactly what type of gig is this? Is this for the grand opening of a new (Grand Oasis) hotel and/or golf resort? What type of music entertainment are you expected to provide? Background or featured entertainer? Karaoke host or are you expected to exude a high class cocktail bar feel (ala Bobby Short) performing classic Cole Porter-Gershwin standards, or is this a pool side Jimmy Buffet attitude thing? Laptop commercial midi files may be suitable suitable for karaoke style entertainment or accompannying yourself in some limited situations, but I don't recommend relying on commerically produced midi files too heavily, as it can begin to sound really canned & generic quickly, and make your music end up sounding just like the next (easily replaceable) guy. Just my thoughts and biased opinion of course.

As far as the hours go. I hope you've already made it in clear (hopefully in a contract) the number and length of breaks and lunch break you're entitled to. Mine includes a 10-15 break every hour with an hour for lunch or dinner. I typically play a little longer or shorter than the standard 45 minute set depending on the energy of the room, and try to schedule breaks & lunch accordingly, having even had to combine 2 breaks into one after performing for over an 1-1/2 at a time. Flexibility is the key, but having the ground rules set initially, avoids any confusion or problems later.

Keep us posted and let us know the details. Good luck, and most of us, have fun. If this is a grand opening event, the time will go by faster than you can blink an eye, and you'll probably pick up some other gigs from it as well. Good luck.

Scott

Glenn,
Your writing about your upcoming 8 hour music job brings back memories from the mid-1950’s when I was still in high school. In those days I played accordion in a three piece polka band in the mid-West. We had an 8 hour outdoor gig during the day followed by a 4 hour dance gig from 8 – midnight that evening. We always played standing in those days and no laptops, no MIDI's or no Mp3's. Just a lot of pushing and pulling on the bellows. I know for sure that there’s no way I could ever do that again at my present age. A few years ago I played an outdoor party using my arranger keyboard and that party stretched from the originally planned 4 hours to 6 hours. I was pretty drained by the end of that gig. I barely had the energy to pack up my gear and get home. Age really makes a difference.

Good luck to you. Let us know how things work out.
Paul C.

Glenn...I suspect you'll be soaking your fingers in epsom salts the next day???
Congrats on the gig...Good Luck, and have fun!

------------------
...L

Glenn .. At my age (63) I don't envy you, although I would no doubt love it... Like Scott, I would be interested in the particulars of what the client's expectations are ... Will you be able to start out 'easy' with background music and then build up to a 'party' atmosphere?
If it were me, I would also set the height of the kb so that I could stand for a while,or 'rest' on my piano stool ... this way I wouldn't get 'stiff' in one position too long ...
Good luck, buddy ... no doubt you'll be great, and the crowd will love it ... Report back ...
t.
PS ... Also, if it were me there would be some serious arthritis meds before and after ...
t.

Glenn...
Just think of it as eight 1-hour gigs without having to move equipment.
Eddie

I'm thinking of it as payment (mostly) for my soon-to-have new speaker system... I was paid well.

Oasis is a nation-wide organization that provides a broad range of low cost educational programs for seniors... now defined (by Oasis) as age 45 and older. The local chapter had a major restructuring, thus the grand re-opening.

Most of my music was what I play at senior homes, tho with an increased amount of newer stuff, from 70s on. Oasis had several people 'selling' their programs, so much of my music was background, altho ~ 65% was entertainment with audience response. I was in pattern mode most all day with most songs 3 or 4 times thru rather than 2 or 3... think I did only 3 or 4 midis.

A few things that surprised me... I did probably 75% vocals, had thought it'd be more like 25%. Altho I brought a comfortable stool, hardly used it. Guess that's one of those personal things... and for me, I'd just rather stand if I'm singing.

Lots of requests... filled all of them except one, some latin number I'd never heard of, tho I'm sure Dreamer would have had it out in a flash.

All in all, it went well. Best part, I parted with several business cards and flyers... which I just 'Print-Shoped' late last night (thanks again, Gary)

So now it's a glass (or a few) of wine, Nip/Tuck (disgusting show, but funny and I'm hooked) then the jacuzzi.

Thanks for the moral support... nite all.

Glenn