Just curious. I'll be playing at the country club about a block from my house. I will be using two or three other players, a guitar player and sax man for sure. Maybe another singer. My guitar player had surgery for colon cancer last week, but it looks as if he will be able to make it anyway. Bill Semilive Music is on standby. Although he is not a lead guitar player, he plays great rhythm and sings good to boot. He can also play keyboard and is a lot of fun to boot.
The only reason I'm adding players is because they wanted a "full band". So I raised the price accordingly. The customer is always usually right, right?
I know HankB has one of those high-paying private party jobs lined up. They pay you to get drunk, over-eat and act crazy. By the way, my guitar player is really Hank's guitar player, who is also his son-in-law, even though he's older than Hank. I think there's a Country song in there somewhere.
What a great occupation!
DonM

My trio plus a drummer at our annual NY gig...for way too much money...A NJ shore Yacht club..

home alone :P

Been booked for over a year as a duo with a girl singer. A few months ago she moved to Kentucky. I called every client that booked the duo (including the New Year's Eve client) and told them of the situation. Everyone of them said "No problem, just play as a single". Naturally, I adjusted the price.

Kinda makes me wonder if they even liked the girl singer to begin with. But, I am happy not to have lost any work because of her departure.

The girl singer has since called and hinted that she could come back to work New Year's or the season with me. But, I am not even going to try to unring that bell.

Eddie

400 happy people, + 4hrs = mucho bucks,
I'll be home by 1:00am, Year over, Whew!

I'll be working at a resort for near 200 people, from 8 to 11 PM.....and like DNJ
200 people + 3 hours= $$$$$ and I'll be at my home before 2006.

Will be welcoming the New Year with church friends at my pastor's home in Hayward. Food, games, lots of singings, countdown and champagne !

Synthzone members: welcome to join me and the gang for the countdown. We'll have a good time for sure.

I'll be playing with a 6 piece band to 400 people at a resort at Big Bear which is snow country just out of Los Angeles. It will be a 4 hour night which we are getting paid well for. Plus we get 2 nights accomodation at a ski resort.

Nigel,
that sounds wonderful (if you like skiing).
As for myself, I'll be at my father's home where we are going to celebrate the New Year together with my brother, lil sister & friends.
George

Glad your friend is mended enough, Don. It'll give him a good shot of adrenaline, too!

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Bill
Yamaha PSR2000

This is my last New Year's Eve Party at home. It will be the usual deal, 40 to 50 people, steamed jumbo shrimp, fillet mignon, crab balls, grilled kabasa-bobs, other finger foods and lots of Kickapoo Joy Juice. I've been putting the party on for about 15 years now, and every year I have to turn down lots of bucks--so this is where it will end. Next year, I'm not turning down the high-paying, private parties.

Nigel, I didn't know you were into swingin' with them snow bunnies. Whoa! Don't know if this old man could handle two days of young gals paradin' around in Spandex--I gotta' think about that one.

Happy New Year everyone,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

Don:

You're right! There is a country song in that story somewhere. I'll be in Glen Rose, Texas visiting family in that great little town. Hope the "gig" goes well. I'm kinda worried about your guitar player. Keep an eye on him. Surgery takes time for recovery.
Glad "Semilive" is waiting in the wings.

Have a great time and a fabulous 2006.

All my best, RICE

Going to my co-workers which are church friends (I work at a church) to play some games. Small town, what do you expect?

"Sing"cerely,

Jeff

From 5:00 until 8:00, I'll be at a place recently opened by a friend of mine, called, get this, George's Country Cookin. Then, from 9:00 until 12:00, I'll be at my normal New Year's job at a local country club.

My friend, George, is also the owner of one of the better Chinese restaurants in town.

He speaks very marginal English. His host is Genero, a former owner of an Italian restaurant around the corner that recently closed. He looks and sounds like the guy with white streaks in his hair on the Surpranos. The chef is a Mexican. Several of the servers are from Tieland (sp?). The only country music I enjoy playing is from the country of Brazil! What a hoot! George and Genero do local call-in commercials. When George says, "Y'all come back, now", it hilarious!

I'm going to change my name to "Buck" Lay for the evening.

These guys are good friends and I will have a great time!

Hope you folks do, too!


"Buck" Russ

I'll be playing at a private function taking the Tyros 2 out for the first time. I've spent the last month or so setting it all up, creating about 100 custom voices, some new multipads and registration memories, so fingers crossed it performs well in a live environment. Got my G1000 in reserve as well just in case. I've got a lift there and back so I can have a drink and get merry afterwards, makes a change as keyboard players usually have to stay drunk free!!

My annual New Year's Eve "3 gig" schedule:

4:00-6:00pm New Year's Dinner Asst: Living Community
7:00-9:00pm New Years Eve Party: Retirement Community
10:00-1:00pm New Years Eve Bash: Exclusive Country Club

Clocks at first 2 gig venues will be moved forward, with me Ringing in 2006, not once, not twice, but three times in one evening:

First two venues: Solo (w/ Tyros2). Country Club gig: Female Vocalist & Sax-horn Player featured. Travel time between gigs: 10 minutes.

Scott

I was wondering how you'd pull off that schedule, Scott. Good for you, that's pretty cool!



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Bill
Yamaha PSR2000

I'm gonna make the rounds and crash all the parties you guys are doing... wouldn't that be nice. Actually, just an early evening 2 hours at a senior facility... easy.

Eddie, don't burn the bridge with your singer, you may want to 'unring that bell' if your voice ever goes out again.

Happy New Year to all.

Glenn

Eddie...what part of Kentucky did your singer move to? If it's near or in Lexington, I might be able to help with some connections.

Russ

WOOOOOH, my N.Y. eve job was just cancelled, because of lack of interest. It was $150. a couple, so I guess a lot of people thought that was too high.
Oh well, I do have a contract so I'll get paid to stay home this year!
DonM

Don, that has to be the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. $150? My gosh, who runs that place? That is insane for that club.

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Bill
Yamaha PSR2000

New Years Eve is nuts.

I played a Christmas party at a restaurant which had a sign up advertising NYE at $155 per person.

A guy called me this morning looking for a job saying his NYE at a homeowners association was canceled this morning (3 days before the job). He had a small deposit, but no contract beyond that.

Russ.... I believe the girl singer I mentioned moved to Covington. She is in her late 60s with a very strong personality, but pretty good sense of what pleases a crowd. If you need more info..let me know.

Glenn... I hear what you are saying about "unringing" the bell and I guess I would cave and use her if I had to. The problem is she left me in a bit of a lurch knowing we had contracts for this season.

And DonM...sorry to hear about your cancelation, but glad you had a contract with a client who will honor the financials.

For all you guys who are not working, don't forget you could always crash Gary's party at his house. (Better bring a snow shovel.)

Eddie

Hello and Happy New year to all. I lost my gig to a DJ. The contractor tried to get me into a lowest bid fray and the DJ took the gig for less than I get for an everyday job. So, like DonM, I'll be home - sans pay - and just spend some time with the grandkids.
Ciao,
Jerry

Eddie....Covington is about an hour and a half up Interstate 75 on the outside of Cincinnati from Lexington. There are probably more job opportunities in the Cincinnati market. Singers with duos or trios get $100.00 for small restaurant/club jobs here...$150 for a single. Not sure that's enough to drive three hours for.

At any rate, if she's in the area, have her call me (859)-948-4687. I could introduce her to the heads of the two society bands
that work the most with vocalists. 50% of my work is as a single. The rest is keyboards, gutar and drums, so I rarely need a vocalist.

Russ

Thanks Russ.
She tells me she is coming down to her Daughter's in West Palm Beach the first two weeks of January. I will find out exactly where she is located in KY and if she would be interested in taking you up on your offer.

Nice of you to do this..

Eddie

Well Don, here's your chance to use some of that instant wealth and fly out to California to join Nigel up at Big Bear. Great place. Nigel, hope you've got your "ski-legs" in shape. At least you won't be running between gigs like our boy Scott Yee. Oh to be young again!

Happy New Year. (You too Uncle Dave and Chico!) DISCLAIMER: If I left anybody out, it's probably because of hardening of the arteries or some other good excuse like that.

All my best to all of you, RICE

Hey Guys,

My performance calendar is finished for the year. About 3 1/2 weeks of singing with a local choir (at about 14 rest homes and assisted living facilities) and 3 Christmas programs (playing keyboard) at local senior centers.

Having survived five years now past throat and kidney cancer I am thankful that I will be home again this year (goin' on 14 years) fixin' rib roast, veggies, potatoes, tomato bisque soup and bread pudding with spiced pears for 12 of our close friends. Then playing games the rest of the night.

EDDIE: The thought crossed my mind about heading back to crash Gary's party - then I realized he said he was having crab "balls" on his menu. I was a little concerned about the size of crabs that might be runnin' around.

Happy (and safe) new years to all of you !!

vc

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Vern

Hi Don,

Here's an interesing one. About five months ago the activities director at a facility I play for asked me if I'd be interested in playing for then on New Year's Eve from 6 till 8. I politely declined and then she mentioned what she would be willing to pay me and I said I'd think about it. I took the job. About a month after that another facility asked me to play from 9 till 10. Again, willing to pay decent money. The bottom line, I'm playing 2 easy gigs for the same big bucks I usually make on the outside and I'll be finished in time to go to our inner harbor condo to watch fireworks with the family, and, I won't have to deal with any drunks. Who would have guessed.

Happy New Year everyone!

Joe

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Songman55
Joe Ayala

Don,

I quit playing NYE the year 1999 turned into 2000. I didn't want my keyboard turning into a pumpkin because of Y2K. Seriously, Pat sat alone with the kids for 25 years while I played. As much as I need and enjoy performing I enjoy spending NYE with Pat more. I told the band I was done playing on NYE.

You see while you have the luxury of deciding weather to golf or go fishing because you have no day job, I have the luxury of NOT having to play if I choose not to because I do have a day job.

Since NYE 2000 we have had a small party of 5 couples who are all close friends of ours. We rotate the location every year among the 5 households. It would take a lot to make me give up this wonderful time with our friends and my wife.

Happy NY to you and Susan. As Spock would say "live well and prosper".

Tom

...the plot thickens!!
It seems a large group of people who were planning to attend the NY eve party that got cancelled have decided to have their own party and have hired me to play for them. That will be from 8 to 1.
In the meantime I had told the supper club where I work during the week that I was suddenly available, so they called tonight to ask if I come come and play there. I told them I could play from 5 until 7:30, so it looks as if I'll be busy after all. It will be just soft dinner-type music.
Fortunately I have at least two of everything on hand, so I can be set up ahead of time at both places. I'll use HankB's PSR2000 and a Barbetta at the first job, and the Bose PAS and SD1 for the PARTY!!!
Then I'll be off until Sunday evening!
Tom, I'm a little envious, but the stakes are too high to stay home on the most lucrative night of the year! Have a great evening though!
Happy New Year to all.
DonM

Hello

Had a great NYE performing at the Fish Out Of Water at the Water Color Inn Resort in Santa Rosa Beach.

Played as a duo with a sax man from 6:30-8:30 then with a Big Band from 8:30-12:30.
http://www.watercolorinn.com/dining_fish.asp

Happy New Year!
Scott Langholff
http://ScottLMusic.com

Oops! A little late.. BUT, better late than never as they say.

Btw, Happy New Year everyone!

As to Don's question I had a quiet, restful, peaceful night at home with the family.

So none of this - More like this -

You can have New Years Eve gigs if you want. I prefer to spend it in a more 'leisurely' way with friends and family. But more power to you if you don't mind the frenzy.

I hope no one got their Keyboard drenched by good ol' Bud or Samuel. Or... What's that others first name?? Humm.. Not sure. Anyway, his last name's Miller..

PS: Liquid is murder on Keyboards. That includes Beer and Booze. It might be intuitive to put a sign on your keyboard like the ones on Firetrucks saying: "Keep 300 Feet Back." I dare say though that anyone inebriated probably wouldn't be able to see very well anyway or could care less. In that case if you see someone charging with a bottle or glass in his or her hands you may want to turn your Keyboard off immediately, even if it's in the middle of a song and the Dance floor is buzzing. Better safe than sorry as they always say. You can always start the song over and most likely they'd never know the difference anyway. [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/biggrin.gif[/img] Besides, if you're in a Band the Drummer or Guitarist could cover for you.. lol

It's a poor proposition if you make $300.00 a night and lose a $3,000 dollar Keyboard in the process. [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/frown.gif[/img]

All I can say is be careful if you do New Years Eve gigs. [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/wink.gif[/img]

Best regards,
Mike







[This message has been edited by keybplayer (edited 01-01-2006).]

Well here I am still up at the ski resort in Big Bear CA. Last night's New Years Eve job went great. Everyone partied hard and loved the band. What more could we ask for. I am typing this now on a laptop in the lobby of the ski resort. I just wanted to check on how everything was here on the forum while I am away. I hope you all had a great New Years Eve whether or not you were playing.

I successfully did the "double", playing the PSR2000 for 21/2 hours, then hurrying to the other job where I had my main gear set up to work from 8 to midnight, which turned out to be 8 to 1:30.
Then, last night I played an outdoor birthday bash, on a boat dock on a lake near my house. Fortunately the temperature is in the 80's here so it was very nice. Again, I had to play an extra hour. All in all, an enjoyable and very lucrative weekend!
Happy New Year to all!
DonM

Hi,
hubby & I spent a quiet evening at home watching an ABC documentry " A Long Way to the Top if You Want to Rock n' Roll.
Amazing to see so many of the 60's aussie artists performing. Some of them still looked fantastic nearly 40 years down the track.
Nigel, if you're around, do you remember some of these familiar names
Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs ( he still looks fantastic)
Masters Apprentices
Max Merrit & the Meteors
The Twighlights
Normie Rowe
John Paul Young
Ross Wilson
etc etc
Brings back great memories. Also shows we're getting on in years ( haahaa)

best wishes
Rikki

Oh yeah Rikki all those names are extremely familiar to me. Thorpie especially as I saw him live on a number of occasions, always a great all round performer singing and playing guitar in front of his band.

Hey 1965 doesn't seem all that long ago ..... or was it ???

It was nice to hear about everybody's NYE!

My New Year gig went really well. After 5 years playing at the same place, this year it was time for a change. I entertained a group of 100/120 people in a small hotel, from 8 pm to 5 am (!) [dinner + dance]. Friendly atmosphere; I received several compliments about the performance. Here are a couple of pics...

-- José.

I did my double on New Year's Eve and then a party on Sunday night that's been a yearly thing. All in all, a great weekend, especially after spending a week in Florida. While visiting a relative in an assisted living facility in Bradenton, I played the piano and the activities director offered to book me anytime I was in the area. Guess I'll be going down there fairly often.

Salud,

Joe

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Songman55
Joe Ayala

Hi Nigel,
scary isn't it, seems like only yesterday.
Actually he and 2 of his original band members performed his rendition of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow". He still sounds & looks great.

best wishes
Rikki

Route 66 ... 8PM to 5 AM ?!?!?!? ...
Those people like to PARTEEEEE !!!
t.

Hi Tony. Yes, portuguese people do like to party! And this crowd wasn't very young... This kind of schedule is pretty standard around here. From 8pm to 11:30pm I played "dinner music" (soft music at a very low volume); the rest of the time, dance music, with very few and short breaks. I was pretty exhausted at the end... and my voice was in a very bad shape. But it was fun and the work was well payed. As a matter of fact, most of my musical work are big private parties (particularly weddings), so I'm used to this kind of 'hard work'!

Cheers,

-- José.