Yes, what a nothing song.haha It is an upcoming request. All the midi's I've checked online, and there were a lot of them had no melody part, just the back up band.

So.......I could really use the midi with melody and/or sheet music, lead sheet where I could play the melody against the midi if I had to.

Thanx
Scott

check your mail

This song is SO popular with the line dancers at wedding receptions and such. They don't want to hear me do it. I just play an MP3 of the original. Also have Strokin', Macarena, the Hustle, Harlem Shuffle, Brick House, Cupid Shuffle and maybe even some of the nasty ones ready to go. Compromise? You bet. I put 3 or 4 on and take a break for 15 minutes.
Then I do the Buffet Line Dance while they sweat off some of the punch.
DonM

Exactly Don when people realize to survive today you have to be part DJ/KJ plus a Musician/Singer...people are happy, pockets get filled..

"you have to?"

...You don't have to use mp3 files to be successful...you don't have to use styles, both, etc...

I can honestly count the mp3 files I've used playing live over 15 years on one hand.

Business is booming-turning work away every week. This is my best year, next year looks like it may be as good, if not better.

The success that I enjoy, or Don Mason or Donny Pesce, etc. enjoys is knowing our audiences, delivering high quality, professional music appropriate for the venues we get hired into.

People hire us because we're good at what we do. We don't disappoint very often...We show up on time, we're professional and we make our clients happy. That's why they hire us back.

However you make those audiences/clients happy enough to pay you to return, its all good.



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Bill in Dayton

I'd love to hear your Electric slide version live on the Tyros2 w/vocals.....
as I just play the Mp3 like Don.

LOL, So would I!

I don't play it. There are some things I just don't play. I rarely get asked to play it. Maybe 1-2 times a year. I politely say I don't have that particular song for a line dance, but how about one of these other ones? They pick one...I play it...they dance...everybody's happy. No big thing.

If someone hiring me made a special point to request that tune, then I'd get it for them, but down here the most requested line dances are NY, NY, Marguritaville, Boot Scootin Boogie and All My Ex's.

I play at least one a set...the floor is packed...It's cool...

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Bill in Dayton

About the only problem I see with mixing DJ-ing up with live playing is, if you DJ for any significant time, or perhaps the best received music you play is DJ tracks, what is to stop them looking at a DJ (who will happily undercut you) for their next gig?

The more you DJ, the more you ARE a DJ. And now, you have to compete not only against other OMB's and musicians in your area, but you have in one stroke added all the DJ's in your area as potential competition, too.

You could say you've increased your opportunities as well...

I think for the most part, the experienced guys like Don and Donny know their niches pretty well. The work they provide is probably pretty stable...

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Bill in Dayton

[This message has been edited by Bill in Dayton (edited 09-22-2009).]

But that's the deal... they ARE 'niches'. They don't necessarily translate to being universal. But you can rarely get them to qualify their advice with 'in my area' or with 'with the age crowd I work for', etc..

The thing I have had to decide is, IF the opportunity to DJ more came up, would I be happy doing it? In my case, it would have to be 'Hell no!'. So, putting myself in a position that, if it is successful, I would get a lot more calls to DJ/'play live' works against what I want to do. I mean, if working 24/7 is the only goal, fine. Have at it. If being a musician is the goal, setting yourself up for the 'opportunities' of being a DJ only works against you, IMO.

While Diki makes some valid points, I agree with Bill... when someone hires Don, Donny, Bill and a number of others, it is for what THEY bring to the occasion ... I don't think playing a few line dances using mp3s or whatever is going to change that ...
t.

Speaking only for me, I think its implied for each of those guys. The ability to wear both caps has its place.

I don't really looooove to do weddings. I don't really loooooove to play restaurants. I've done both...get calls to do both pretty often and for the most, I pass. If the wedding is a themed older style music then I might get involved, but I don't really need the work.

I'm not comfortable with midi files, I've tried...maybe not enough...just can't get comfortable with them. For me, playing the T2 over styles/sometimes acoustically/singing works the best for my situation.

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Bill in Dayton

I only use MP3s very rarely, and in very specific circumstances, such as I mentioned in my first reply. I have turned down numerous DJ job offers. I also accepted a couple because they were too lucrative to refuse.
One was at a car dealership opening a few years ago. About six hours of clicking MP3 files from a laptop for $200/hour, while I sat in a lawn chair and sipped soft drinks, ate hot dogs and watched people shop for cars. Sign me up for the next one!
I couldn't do it very often though. It's just not what I got in the music business to do.
I have more freedom now to turn things down that I don't want to do. There have been many times when I compromised my "musical integrity" to help raise a wife and family.
You do what you have to do.
DonM