As most of us know, Russ is a long-time performer. What most of us don't know is what he does in his real job!
Russ is in the marketing business. As a part of that he produces backing tracks for commercials, tv spots and other promotions.
Most of the work he does he cannot play for us, because the finished product belongs to the company who paid him to do it for them.
When Russ is doing one of these projects, I understand that he first does all the music on keyboard, playing the guitar parts, strings, brass, etc. himself on keyboards.
After he gets the arrangement right, he goes back and does it with real, live instruments (not the keyboard).
I am posting an example of his work. It is from the stage where he has done it all on keyboard, but not yet done any live instruments. So it is in a "rough" stage.
It's the only one he could get permission to share with us.
Anyway, it's quite long, over 8 minutes, but WELL worth the time to listen. He really gets to jamming as you get into it.
Remember this is a commercial "bed", not a consumer song.
I am highly impressed with his work!
Here's the link:
www.donmasonmusic.com/Russ Lay.mp3

DonM

Let me try again with the link. You may have to type it in. www.donmasonmusic.com/RussLay.mp3

Too bad we can't play nice enough to be able to edit posts!

Oh, I've posted some new songs on my music page too.
DonM

Very cool!

Ahhhh Smooth Jazz!!

Very nice, Russ. Excellent work.

Most impressive!

------------------
Al Giordano
http://www.arrangerworld.com


Tyros 2, Yamaha P-250, Korg Triton Extreme 76, Roland VK8-M, DW Collectors Series Drums, Roland SPD-S.

Very nice indeed.
I would say Lee Ritenauer style and that is meant as a compliment!

Fred

since Russ can't post music that belongs to the customer, where can we find it?
I meanif it is for a TV advert he can say "watch out for the Dove bar, the one with the tall blonde in the beginning" or something.

Unless we are talking about music like the one posted, which is good but reminds me of the music used to carpet a lengthy product presentation.

I'm sure Russ will elaborate when he gets time.
DonM

Russ, outstanding everything I expected from you and more, despite you once telling me you didn't have a lot of talent. You're a very humble man, great work in more ways than just music. All the best to you for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Topic: Captain Russ IS a pro after all!

Was there ever any doubt?

Nice stuff, Russ...definitely fine background music.

I had the distinct pleasure of hearing Russ' work once before ... he REALLY is TALENTED guy ...
t.

I know I have no right to ask but I'd love to hear some of Russ's organ/club/gig stuff.

Yes me too, thats would be kool!

I love that jazz organ stuff but around here (cny) it is non existent anymore.
So I don't mean to pick on Russ I like to hear anyone that does that stuff.
I also enjoyed Dave McMahan's video with Jazz It UP.
Joey D comes to town every couple of years and we usually do sound and/or backline for him, one of the last times he was here he played with the high school jazz band.

Thanks, folks! Wasn't sure this belongs here, since no arranger is used. Privately sent this to Rory, Nigel, Tony, Donny and, this week, to Don. Sent it to Rory, because he's the real pro around here when it comes to running a class recording operation and being a pro. Nigel can relate to scores used in the video game production business, which are top notch. Don was a communications director for a large oil company; a corporate job much like the one I had for almost 30 years, so he was the kind of customer this work is done for. Also wanted him to hear my attempts at keyboard guitar.Donny got it because he buggs people about sharing what they do.

Video production is about 1 10th of our volume. Sound score production is about 1 10th of video production, or around 1% of our annual volume. All this work is internal for international companies. We work for a vehicle manufacturer (Japan), a spiral staircase company (Italy), a paint products company (Spain), a tool manufacturer (China) and others.

The end product is a production of between 10 and 20 minutes shown to the financial community and/or to stockholders and sometimes employees. None of it is for broadcast.

We don't do "one shots". If GM contacted us to do a film score, we would politely turn them down. We do "turnkey" marketing; either for a major division of a company or for the entire organization. That usually involves doing the strategic plan, the MARCOM plan and all associated tasks; typically involving annual reports, brochures, product packaging, internal and external (seller) training, trade show management, production budget management, perception research, etc. All is business to business work...no retail.

The audio part of this project billed out at $17,000.00, and I had out-of pocket expenses (studio, players, etc.) of about $5,000.00. We do about 10 projects a year. This it a rough, all done on keyboard, with whatgever is lying around. Usually, I deliver a storyboard and a rough like this as a first pass to the client. With input, we go to final production on scripting, shooting, etc. The music is my touch. I could use the rough and make an additional $40-50,000.00 in gross annually, but would not be happy with the result.

The downside? Lead lines need to be simple, the edited piece is mixed down under a voice-over (which I often do) and the intros and endings (like this one) are on the hokey side. Plus, no one really hears the music. Usually, DVD dupes number 1000 or less.

Sometimes I feel like I've sold out. It's kind of like playing dinner music at a high end event or restauramt.

But, it's what I do, and I get a lot of enjoyment working at this level. Friday, I got a project involving naming, packaging and doing all associate communications work for a line of 53 different tools from China. It is a massive $1.2 million project, which will be my exit from full-time work. It will take about 5 years to complete. There are now about 4 audio productions planned.

Sorry for the rant. There is profitable work in the music industry outside the area of public performance. If anyone would like to talk about this, just email me.


Thanks,


Russ Lay

Fred, thanks...BIG compliment. Lee is one of my all-time favorites.

Trident, you nailed it. These are flooded background tracks for internal educational films. Most of the compensation comes from total video production fees...no broadcast at all.

Did commercial work for companies like KFC, Sealtest and Lensecrafters years ago, as a studio guy. Now, this is all the recording I do...don't even have a personal demo, publicity photo (UGH), website or any P/R materials, either for myself or my business. Don't even have a bold listing in the white pages. Kind of ironic...

R.

Hi Don
You are right .I am very impressed with Russ's performance.
We have a true pro in our team.
Hi Russ, congrats from Brasil.
Chico

?!?!?!?!?.. WHOA, Captain ... that's what I OFTEN DO !!! ... and I don't feel like I've sold out !!! ... ...
t. ;cool:

Tony, what i meant was, I often go for the bucks when I would be happiest playing straight ahead jazz or funk for for ten bucks at a dump. I guess, when you think about it, everyone makes choices everyday. I've done very well with my choices...better, I think,sometimes, than I deserve.


Russ

Don is always modest. He mentioned a few new tunes posted on his website. They're really worth a listen. They're recorded on an SD-1, a Yamaha and a G-70.

He's the real performing pro around here! Great simulated guitar!

Good work, friend,


R.