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#390649 - 07/16/14 01:40 PM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: Mark79100]
travlin'easy Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 12/08/02
Posts: 15556
Loc: Forest Hill, MD USA
Thanks Donny, you were a great teacher.

Today was a good example of why I do things the way I do. This morning, the AD from the place I performed yesterday called and asked if I could do a special event for her, a volunteer appreciation luncheon, a two-hour job, but unfortunately, I was already booked for the day she asked about. She called back an hour later, asked what day would be best for me, I gave her a date and booked it. And, because I did my best to accommodate her event, she bumped up the price to $150 an hour.

This afternoon, I performed at an Assisted Living and Rehab Center located just 10 minutes from my home. I had the place rocking, I had staff members and young girls who were visitors doing the Rocketts High Kick to New York, New York, and at the end of the job, the assistant AD came up, gave me a big hug and a kiss - WOW! She's 24 and drop-dead gorgeous. The AD came to me just before I left, asked me to get out my calendar and see if I could do a candlelight dinner for them, another two-hour job. We found a suitable date, booked it on the spot and the event will be a senior prom kinda thing, which is fine with me. I get to wear my summer tux (if it still fits).

Damned I love my job, smile

Gary cool
_________________________
PSR-S950, TC Helicon Harmony-M, Digitech VR, Samson Q7, Sennheiser E855, Custom Console, and lots of other silly stuff!

K+E=W (Knowledge Plus Experience = Wisdom.)

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#390653 - 07/16/14 02:35 PM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: travlin'easy]
tony mads usa Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 01/16/02
Posts: 14376
Loc: East Greenwich RI USA
Originally Posted By: travlin'easy
I get to wear my summer tux (if it still fits).
Gary cool


SUMMER TUX = No shirt, shorts, flip-flops, bow tie !!! laugh2
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t. cool

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#390656 - 07/16/14 05:16 PM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: Mark79100]
travlin'easy Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 12/08/02
Posts: 15556
Loc: Forest Hill, MD USA
Not ANY place I perform up here in the frozen wilds of Maryland - Down in the Florida Keys - OH YEAH! smile

Gary cool
_________________________
PSR-S950, TC Helicon Harmony-M, Digitech VR, Samson Q7, Sennheiser E855, Custom Console, and lots of other silly stuff!

K+E=W (Knowledge Plus Experience = Wisdom.)

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#390657 - 07/16/14 07:53 PM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: Mark79100]
ianmcnll Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 07/27/05
Posts: 10606
Loc: Cape Breton Island, Canada
The question I had to ask myself, Mark, was who was I really playing for? The answer, in my case, has always been "me".

That's what has held me to my profession.

As far as jobs for instrumental music players (no vocals), they are certainly less in number than those for vocalist/players, but they are there...I worked for over 11 years straight doing instrumental music (using an Arranger Keyboard), in my case, at a high end restaurant.

In that environment, vocals aren't wanted, as they interfere with the conversations among the patrons; vocals command more listening attention, rather than supporting the activity happening at the venue.

I've taken a self imposed break from gigging, but I am still playing every day and enjoying it very much, because, that is my first love.

You've got to turn yourself on with your playing before you can really project it fully and turn on the listener.

It's called "playing" remember, so that's what it should be to you...fun and joy.

Ian
_________________________
Yamaha Tyros4, Yamaha MS-60S Powered Monitors(2), Yamaha CS-01, Yamaha TQ-5, Yamaha PSR-S775.

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#390659 - 07/17/14 02:28 AM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: Mark79100]
Mark79100 Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 10/23/06
Posts: 1661
Loc: USA
I was reading Gary's monologue. He's 100% correct about studying everything and everybody in the performance field. I was very lucky....

...in my early years (living in England), when passion for music was on a level with testosterone production in my body, and my enthusiasm was at it's peak, and my desire to entertain consumed me entirely....I studied every single aspect of playing, performing, and entertaining. Memorized all my songs and all my lyrics, listened to the BBC every night for new song ideas and studied how they spoke in their news broadcasts, busked in the streets for practice and money, did tons of technical exercises for my fingers, started vocal lessons, bought new equipment every time I had some extra cash, and when I wasn't doing all that I would go to a different pub every night and study the entertainers and the audiences response to them. I carried a recorder so I could go over their act again at home and I carried a notebook to make notes (and to steal their jokes!). I had already read that Phyliss Diller was funny because she kept a "book of jokes" that she would compile and add to constantly and that she had 5 copies of her master book spread around the world. That started me doing the same thing and classifying everything musically. I still have my own "book of jokes" and I still refer to it periodically to keep me "loose" with an audience.

There is cabaret every night in every pub with sometimes a dozen different performers doing their act. I'm sure it's different now, but back then those places were breeding grounds for great entertainers. That's where Elton John started and I'm sure Tom Jones also paid his own dues working these places.

I worked the London pubs for many years honing my skills. That's where you definitely go for "training." If you can make your mark in a British pub, you can make it anywhere!

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#390666 - 07/17/14 06:10 AM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: ianmcnll]
rosetree
Unregistered


Originally Posted By: ianmcnll

As far as jobs for instrumental music players (no vocals), they are certainly less in number than those for vocalist/players, but they are there...I worked for over 11 years straight doing instrumental music (using an Arranger Keyboard), in my case, at a high end restaurant.

In that environment, vocals aren't wanted, as they interfere with the conversations among the patrons; vocals command more listening attention, rather than supporting the activity happening at the venue.


Yes, that corresponds to my experience. There are a number of locations and occasions where the music is expected not to disturb conversations of the guests. I have heard a lot of people complain about entertainers on birthday parties because the music with singing was too loud and impeded conversations. There are also events such as stand-up receptions (e.g. directly following a wedding ceremony) where just live high-quality background music is wished. However, such people rather want to have a pure pianist, and it seems to be difficult to offer them a digital symphony orchestra played on the keyboards instead. So I'm currently offering both pure piano music and orchestral sounds.

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#390673 - 07/17/14 08:28 AM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: Mark79100]
ianmcnll Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 07/27/05
Posts: 10606
Loc: Cape Breton Island, Canada
Rosetree, the fact that I played instrumentals actually worked in my favor as there were lots of solo performers using arrangers and singing (as well as solo guitar player/singers) and their playing skills, although fine for accompanying their vocals, weren't quite up to snuff for playing a full evening of dinner/background music.

Like you, I've often played a combination of solo 88 key electronic piano (in my case, a Yamaha P-85/95), along with arranger instrument, for those venues wanting "a piano player" but I eventually won them over to mostly arranger type play.

Proper control of volume was the key to keeping these gigs, as well, of course, as a carefully chosen repertoire, especially concerning the arranger...my drum volumes (and kit choices) were just as important as the genre of music.

The gigs paid as well as (or often, more than) what vocalist/players were and are getting, and, as said earlier, competition was not as fierce. Myself, and another arranger player, managed to garner most of the available jobs, and often we subbed for one another if either of us wasn't able to make the gig for one reason or another.

The beauty of playing instrumental music is that we aren't subject to the woes of laryngitis and other voice affecting issues and age (and it's relation to the voice) is not nearly as much of a setback.

Ian
_________________________
Yamaha Tyros4, Yamaha MS-60S Powered Monitors(2), Yamaha CS-01, Yamaha TQ-5, Yamaha PSR-S775.

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#390674 - 07/17/14 08:47 AM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: Mark79100]
travlin'easy Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 12/08/02
Posts: 15556
Loc: Forest Hill, MD USA
Ian, I, like most players here, have done those instrumental jobs in the past. For me, they were boring as Hell after just 30 minutes. We sometimes have to do them for 30 minutes or so while performing at private parties in large halls, mostly while the guests are being seated or eating dinner. Fortunately, after 30 minutes of being part of the wallpaper, we then have the opportunity to have fun as entertainers, which is what keeps ME going in this business.

As I've said many, many times, I'm not a musician - I'm an entertainer. Sure, I can play, but just not as well as most of the other forum members here. And, knocking hard on the door of age 74, I can still sing with the best of them. NO old man's voice here! Even after performing three weeks straight without a letup, I do not have any vocal problems, laryngitis, sore throat, etc... And, those symptoms are NOT age related - they are more related to the way you sing than anything else. I know guys that don't need a mic because they sing so loud - claiming they have a power voice. Those are the same folks that cannot speak at the end of a 4 hour job.

Cheers,

Gary cool
_________________________
PSR-S950, TC Helicon Harmony-M, Digitech VR, Samson Q7, Sennheiser E855, Custom Console, and lots of other silly stuff!

K+E=W (Knowledge Plus Experience = Wisdom.)

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#390675 - 07/17/14 10:28 AM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: Mark79100]
ianmcnll Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 07/27/05
Posts: 10606
Loc: Cape Breton Island, Canada
Gary, I was never bored playing...I always made it a point to keep myself entertained first, and the audience second. If I'm "interested", then quite likely, my listeners will be as well. Being able to sight read has also given me quite a large repertoire to choose from so boredom is not an issue.

I have played the "entertainer" role quite a few times in the past, and my many years as a Yamaha clinician demonstrator often had player/entertainer rolled up in one package.

Singing was never a love of mine, although I am told I can sing pretty good...I think it has to be a real passion before it becomes a performer's main feature. I just don't love it enough.

You are one of the fortunate singers, for at your age, many singers start to have issues, especially with wind (hopefully not from both ends), but, everyone is different, and some singers last well on in to their 80's and more.

The proper technique saves our chops, whether they be vocal or keyboard playing...I was lucky to have many years of classical training early on, which really helped with my wrists and hands staying in good shape. I wouldn't want to try and count the hours of playing I put in over the years, but, fortunately, I have no carpal tunnel or joint problems, again, probably due to the proper technique learned at the beginning.

I may go back to gigging, but it won't be a financial decision...it will be because I'd just like to perform again. Right now, I'm enjoying retirement too much to consider working.

Ian
_________________________
Yamaha Tyros4, Yamaha MS-60S Powered Monitors(2), Yamaha CS-01, Yamaha TQ-5, Yamaha PSR-S775.

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#390676 - 07/17/14 11:06 AM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: ianmcnll]
travlin'easy Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 12/08/02
Posts: 15556
Loc: Forest Hill, MD USA
Originally Posted By: ianmcnll
Gary, I was never bored playing...I always made it a point to keep myself entertained first, and the audience second. If I'm "interested", then quite likely, my listeners will be as well. Being able to sight read has also given me quite a large repertoire to choose from so boredom is not an issue.

I have played the "entertainer" role quite a few times in the past, and my many years as a Yamaha clinician demonstrator often had player/entertainer rolled up in one package.

Singing was never a love of mine, although I am told I can sing pretty good...I think it has to be a real passion before it becomes a performer's main feature. I just don't love it enough.

You are one of the fortunate singers, for at your age, many singers start to have issues, especially with wind (hopefully not from both ends), but, everyone is different, and some singers last well on in to their 80's and more.

The proper technique saves our chops, whether they be vocal or keyboard playing...I was lucky to have many years of classical training early on, which really helped with my wrists and hands staying in good shape. I wouldn't want to try and count the hours of playing I put in over the years, but, fortunately, I have no carpal tunnel or joint problems, again, probably due to the proper technique learned at the beginning.

I may go back to gigging, but it won't be a financial decision...it will be because I'd just like to perform again. Right now, I'm enjoying retirement too much to consider working.

Ian






And, therein lies the difference between a musician and an entertainer. As an entertainer, my first objective on any job is to satisfy my audiences - that's why they pay me. I don't play what I want to hear, I play and sing what they want to hear. They're the customer/consumer, I'm just the entertainment provider.

As for retirement, the only reason I would retire, which may, unfortunately, be a lot sooner than I wish, is for health issues. My lungs are shot from asbestos, my heart and joints have taken a nasty hit from Lyme Disease, but my mind is still sharp as a marble. wink

vive la différence,

Gary cool
_________________________
PSR-S950, TC Helicon Harmony-M, Digitech VR, Samson Q7, Sennheiser E855, Custom Console, and lots of other silly stuff!

K+E=W (Knowledge Plus Experience = Wisdom.)

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