I wondered about that, too. I might be old school, but I like to keep power cables and signal cables well separated.

Gary graduated "Magna cum laude" from the UD, DNJ University of OMB players...

I also used the small rack box for many years on storage as shown in front too, makes for a neat setup...Gary was visiting my gig one night...fun times! Currently I'm in the design process of creating a new compact setup also to accommodate my new K&M Spider KB stand.

Wow! Look how young and skinny we were back then.

Gary

I still think, in these days of people automatically assuming that you are a karaoke act, putting anything in front of you so they can't see your hands actually playing is counter-productive.

Note any of the great modern (or vintage) keyboard playing acts, watch how they set up, and you'll see they do everything in their power to make sure the audience can see them play. From turning the piano sideways to having mirrors behind them, the very static nature of keyboard playing (you can't run around and pose like guitarists do, and your hands aren't there for everyone to see your every note being played) makes it necessary to do everything you can to show them your skill.

From Liberace, to Jerry Lee, to Keith Emerson, to Elton John, to Coldplay's Chris Martin... if you are a keyboard playing front man, let them SEE you play!

Or they have every right to assume you aren't...

Nice setups, David, Gary and Donny. I'm fortunate that a simple snake for my patch cords (out to my two MS60S), and a lightweight pedal board for my sustain and volume, keep my own setup rather tidy. I am also fortunate in that I don't need a laptop or I-pad for lyrics etc., since I play all instrumentals. As mentioned above, I try very hard to make sure people can see my hands at work, for I also feel it's just as important for my audience to see me, as well as hear me, play my keyboard.

A uncluttered rig not only considerably shortens setup/break down time, it also makes the performer look more professional.

Ian

I've got an old flight case briefcase (courtesy of an old 80's NAMM job) that houses my cables, two sustain piano style pedals (taped together), mp3 player, music and lyrics folder, guitar tuner (always have one in case your guitar player forgets his!), spare reading glasses, mikes, stand adapters and a bag full of every audio adapter made...

Then, in the flight case for the G70, oversized (so it fitted my G1000 lengthwise and K2500 depth-wise), I can get the music rest, FC-7 and EV-5 expression pedal, along with dust and rain covers, towels and rubberized shelf liner (the best thing in the world to stop pedal creep!).

They both fit (along with the keyboard stand and mike stand) on my folding dolly. As long as I don't need backline for a gig, it's a one trip job...

Diki,

If you want the audiences to see your hands, which in reality, doesn't make a damned bit of difference, you had better cut the top off your G-70 because it blocks the view. Whoops, better not climb on a stage either - they can't see your hands from the dance floor or tables. Whoa! Better get rid of that folding display, can't see beyond that either. Forget a music rest/stand, no one can see anything through those sheets and books of sheet music.

In reality, it really doesn't make one damned bit of difference if they can see your hands. How may of us have experienced audience members walking up to us, while we're playing and singing, and have that person strike up a conversation just as if our hands were not doing a thing, and we were not singing at all. I would venture a guess that it has happened to everyone that has ever played an instrument. It happened when I played a guitar in honky-tonk bars and it happens while I'm playing the keyboard and singing my heart out. They could care less what you are doing, and that's if they're drunk or sober.

I've personally watched people walk up to a good friend sitting at a full size grand piano and singing and begin asking really stupid questions about songs, such as "Who sang that?" or "Do you know anything by Elton John?" while all the time he's singing an Elton John song and playing that piano.

So, it's totally irrelevant whether that tiny, 9-inch netbook PC blocks the keyboard player's hands or not. The audience REALLY doesn't care one way or another.

Gary

Must be coming from YOUR house ... those antique Roland Cube amps still use hamsters and wheels for power, right?

(not a hum or buzz to be heard around here!)