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#390419 - 07/08/14 10:22 PM My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it
Mark79100 Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 10/23/06
Posts: 1661
Loc: USA
This clip is not exactly the most professional you’ve ever heard, and will definitely NOT make Mark’s Top 10 list. Here’s the history behind it.

About 2 years ago, before I bought a PA3x, I went to Sam Ash to try out a used model they had (which, BTW, sold for more than Frankie V charged me for a brand NEW one!). I spent an hour just trying to figure out how it worked. Finally, I managed to set a “big band” style (don’t remember which one), one piano patch, one brass patch, and one jazzy trumpet.

Then, I spent 3 hours going through the other styles and sounds and recorded everything so I could get an idea of what it could do before I bought one.

I just played this song by memory because most of my attention was on trying to access the different instruments on this very complex machine. I couldn‘t figure out how to lower the piano an octave which would have made it sound much better. And, I couldn’t find the trombone. And……the extra measures are ‘cause I just plain “couldn‘t figure out just what I was doing” so I took liberties with the measures.

The reason I’m posting this.....

I mentioned I was cleaning up my computer desktop of MP3’s a few weeks ago when I came across this. Forgot I even had it. Most of the 3 hour recording was absolute rubbish, but this didn’t come out too bad for not knowing how to work a PA3x.

So I’m listening to it every night for the past few weeks with mixed feelings. On the one hand I think I’d like to finally start learning that PA3x and do some songs correctly this time as, listening to it……….I think I never really appreciated what that board can do.

On the other hand, is there any point in spending hours on a PA3x when there’s hardly any place to play anymore no matter how good you are on it?

For the record, I’m a one-man-band player for longer than I’ve been a pianist and I can’t say I don’t miss playing an arranger, but…..I get more work as a pianist or accordionist

I’m also thinking maybe if I get back into playing, the jobs will just start appearing somehow, though I can clearly see the handwriting on the wall. Both live music and white, middle-class America are both disappearing rapidly around where I live (Bill Lewis is absolutely correct in his posts about disappearing venues and work in general).

As I already mentioned, I completely burned out of playing about six months ago and have hardly worked at all last year and this year. I picked a bad time to “burn out!” But it was the sudden change in the music industry and people’s crap attitudes nowadays that has left me with no desire to go back out there into the field.

Still.....bills have to be paid, so, in the meantime.....every night I listen to what I did with this tune and hope somewhere along the way it prompts me into cleaning up my act and getting back into playing somehow and getting reacquainted with playing an arranger again!

Mark


Attachments
I Can't Believe, etc....playing PA3x at Sam Ash.mp3 (154 downloads)
Description: playing at Sam Ash




Edited by Mark79100 (07/08/14 10:24 PM)

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#390440 - 07/09/14 05:31 PM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: Mark79100]
montunoman Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 10/20/09
Posts: 3208
Loc: Dallas, Texas
Hi Mark, you have some good chops for sure. As for the other stuff your feeling, I feel your pain bro. All I can really say is that you just got to LOVE music. I'm happy when my calendar is full of gigs and I get down when it's not, but the thing is, I love playing so much that I keep on going no matter what. Take a break if you need to, find some other interests. Enjoy yourself, life is short!
_________________________
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#390520 - 07/12/14 09:38 PM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: montunoman]
Mark79100 Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 10/23/06
Posts: 1661
Loc: USA
Hi Montuno.......thanks for your comment about "chops" though I used to be much better when I was playing arrangers regularly.

Mostly, thanks for your remark about "I feel your pain bro." I'm feeling Bill Lewis' "pain" and, at least, somebody's feeling mine. Only another musician would understand what I wrote.....I never discuss anything with friends....they wouldn't get it in the first place.

I already have a lot of other interests, but the bottom line is....."I'm burned out of music!" Most of the time now, I don't even want to LISTEN to music and as for the PA3x, I keep it covered so I can forget the money I spent on it.

But I'm financially OK......just not sure what direction to go in now!

But "life always fixes itself" if you give it a chance. wink

Mark

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#390600 - 07/15/14 08:57 AM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: Mark79100]
Bill Lewis Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 11/12/08
Posts: 2441
Loc: Bluffton/Hilton Head SC USA
Mark

Thanks for the call today. Good to talk live to a fellow musician. Sorry I didn't listen to the sample sooner.
You can play, thats for sure. As we discussed its a revolving landscape in the business these days. Playing well isn't enough or sometimes even needed. We hit the important points in our conversation.
I'm still frustrated but there have been a few rays of sunshine lately. My thoughts are as I expressed them to you. They wanna hear you sing and shake their butts. Everything else is secondary. Even NH with their chair dancers. I've even started using the Chord Sequencer with my BK9 so I can do some silly hand motions with a new song I'm learning. YMCA type thing. That will sell better than any hot solo I can rip off the keyboard.
Keep plugging and do it as long as you enjoy it.
_________________________
Bill in SC --- Roland BK9 (2) Roland BK7M, Roland PK5 Pedals, Roland FP90, Roland CM30 (2), JBL Eon Ones (2) JBL 610 Monitor, Behringer Sub, EV mics, Apple iPad (2) Behringer DJ mixer

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#390606 - 07/15/14 01:21 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
You can be the best musician on the planet, but there's so much more to this business than being a great musician. I'm NOT a musician at all - I'm an entertainer, and that's just a small part of this. I also a good salesman, a meticulous bookkeeper, self made accountant, advertising executive for my company, sound man, transportation specialist, engineer, singer, and player. It's the entire package that must be put together in order to make it, and this is regardless of what area you are trying to find work in the field of musical entertainment.

When Bill gets here on Sunday, he will meet up with very special people, folks that have all the work they can handle, and he will have the opportunity to pick their brains and find out how and why they are successful.

Good luck,

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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#390619 - 07/15/14 10:00 PM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: travlin'easy]
Mark79100 Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 10/23/06
Posts: 1661
Loc: USA
Bill......thanks for posting here. It gives me license to repeat what you said to me today.

Bill and I were tossing "war stories" around and he said something that knocked me for a loop. How could I be so dumb as to not see what was right in front of me.

The #2 remark of the conversation was: "people are not looking for great instrumentalists now.....it's all about "vocals!""

But the #1 remark was what really stood out for me: "people are looking for "action entertainment" no matter what form it comes in! There's no more sitting around listening to Henry Mancini playing Moon River or Roger Williams doing Autumn Leaves. They want excitement, and it doesn't matter whether the music or vocals is good or bad, as long as it's exciting!

So forgot the practicing every day to get better....just playing music is a dead-end street. Now it's.....find a way, entertainment-wise, to get people's minds off their problems, their fears, anxiety, worries about job loss, finances, health insurance....and the list goes on and on.

So, I think that solves my problem of what to do with my music (and my PA3x). And that is to go off in another direction than what I've been doing. As to what exactly, I'm not sure yet, but it definitely will be entertainment that gets people caught up in it rather than plain good music.

I'm starting to feel a little more positive about getting back into the music field!

Mark

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#390626 - 07/16/14 06:39 AM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: Mark79100]
rosetree
Unregistered


I wouldn't be willing to change myself as much as to sacrifice high-level live playing for entertainment features that have nothing to do with musical skills. If people really have this excitement attitude, my consequence is to look for different audiences,even if harder to find. I don't think nobody cares for high-quality live-played background music.

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#390632 - 07/16/14 07:42 AM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: ]
Bill Lewis Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 11/12/08
Posts: 2441
Loc: Bluffton/Hilton Head SC USA
I don't think nobody cares for high-quality live-played background music.[/quote]

Rosetree
Maybe where you live and with all due respect I admire your attitude of keeping the quality in the preformance. I wish it were possible to be so independent. But over the last few years I've gotten a real education and in this part of the world for solo, duo or trio preformers its who has the best backing tracks and vocals and kickin PA.
I've picked some some Happy Hour gigs and people do appreciate me playing the keyboard but its the vocals they listen to. If I didn't sing I wouldn't work.
Out fo all the places with music here, and remember I'm in a vacation zone so there's lots, there are two pianists of super talent working. No other "quailty" live music except for some bands at a the kid clubs or one of the wineries on a sunday afternoon. No arrangers and DJ's are even fading out. This weekend I went to the center of the kid clubs and heard some of the best live bands I've ever heard. 6-9 pieces is common.
Thats my story and I'm stickin to it LOL !
_________________________
Bill in SC --- Roland BK9 (2) Roland BK7M, Roland PK5 Pedals, Roland FP90, Roland CM30 (2), JBL Eon Ones (2) JBL 610 Monitor, Behringer Sub, EV mics, Apple iPad (2) Behringer DJ mixer

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#390635 - 07/16/14 09:10 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
Bill, you are absolutely right. The crowds want to be entertained, and they want quality vocals - the backing is secondary. Rosetree, there are an enormous number of highly skilled players in my area, most are out of work. They cannot find a job anywhere because they don't sing and they don't have a singer that will work for the amount of money a duo would pay.

There used to be some jazz clubs here, but those jazz trios, and there were several around, no longer exist, mainly because there is no demand for them by the club audiences. The trios usually consisted of a guitar player, a slap bass player and maybe a drummer, or piano player - but no vocals. To everyone other than jazz aficionados this gets real boring after just 30 minutes.

The happy hours here, at least those in the restaurants and bars, and combinations thereof, VFWs, American Legions, Animal clubs, are almost all OMB entertainers. I know a couple sax players that used their PCs with backing tracks, but they also sing very well and are great entertainers. They interact extremely well with their audiences, and they have lots of weekend work. The same holds true with some highly talented guitar players. They too are using backing tracks and singing, and one of them that I know personally, sounds a lot like Don Mason on the keyboard when Don is emulating the guitar with his gifted right hand licks.

On weekdays, these same entertainers are working the nursing home circuit. Why? Because that's where the money is - it's not in the places they perform on weekends. Granted, they all claim they enjoy the weekend jobs more, but that circuit still pays the same as it did when I was a green kid sitting on a barstool with my 12-string guitar and a pawn shop amp singing country songs to a crowd of drunks in a smoke-filled bar room.

Bottom line, if you want lots of work, at least everyplace I've visited, you must first and foremost be a great entertainer, which includes great vocals and interacting with the audiences. Secondarily, you need to be a fair - not great, musician. If you have decent chops, can follow the regimented tempo of an arranger with both your vocals and right hand, you can find lots and lots of work everywhere in the U.S..

My wife and I have driven extensively throughout the eastern and central United States, visiting forum members, watching them work on stage, and taking notes on what made them successful. On one trip, we covered more than 5,000 miles, made stops in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, both coasts of Florida and the Florida Keys, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, West Virginia, New Jersey, and Delaware, then returned home. We met with performers, many of whom are forum members, in each of those states. We exchanged ideas, tips, and learned a lot from each other. In each and every instance, we all agreed that quality vocals were of paramount importance and had to be emphasized with the best sound system available, one the placed an emphasis on vocal quality. We discussed mics. Several entertainers, including one lady entertainer, seemed to like the advantages of using a headset mic. She tried my Crown CM311A, used it for 20 minutes, then said she just didn't feel comfortable with with and went back to her Sennheiser E855. She has a very bluesy sounding voice, really sexy sounding, and utilized the pullaway technique a lot because of her limited vocal range. We spent some time talking with her about taking vocal lessons at the local community college, she did take the lessons, and emailed me to tell me how much it expanded her vocal range because of improved breathing techniques.

Now, there are a handful of guys on this, and other, forums that have made a decent living performing just intrumentals, but that number is infinitesimally small. Captain Russ does real well, he has been performing at the same clubs for decades, and he's essentially part of the furniture at those locations. However, those performances are only a tiny fraction of his musical income, and he will verify this I'm sure. Chas is an incredible player, but I've never heard him sing, and I don't know if he plays out at all these days. Boo (brickboo) can play the sax as well as anyone out there, but Boo can't play the sax and sing at the same time, obviously, and where he's at in Colorado he says there is just no work for him.

I guess if I were a great, or even a good, musician, one that was Peabody trained, and could not sing, I would have a difficult time finding work anywhere I've traveled. But, as a mediocre player that can sing the ass off most popular songs from the 1940s to the 1980s, and perform a variety of genres, for me, finding work has been easy - not just here, but everywhere I've traveled.

My suggestion to anyone that wishes to find work in this business is to visit other players, on this and other similar forums, in person. Pick their brains, watch them perform, learn how they work and read a crowd, time their dead time between songs, take a close look at their entire rig, take note on how they run the entire operation from beginning to end. You can learn an awful lot from these very talented individuals - I know I sure did.

Good luck,

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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#390637 - 07/16/14 09:17 AM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: travlin'easy]
Dnj Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 09/21/00
Posts: 43703
Originally Posted By: travlin'easy
My suggestion to anyone that wishes to find work in this business is to visit other players, on this and other similar forums, in person. Pick their brains, watch them perform, learn how they work and read a crowd, time their dead time between songs, take a close look at their entire rig, take note on how they run the entire operation from beginning to end. You can learn an awful lot from these very talented individuals - I know I sure did.


"Your a Good Student Grasshopper" cool2

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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
_________________________
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
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#390677 - 07/17/14 11:54 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
Thankfully, Gary, I'm quite content as a musician (and occasional entertainer)...it has certainly served me very well, both financially, and, in personal satisfaction, over these many years.

I'll leave the real entertaining to those who are really entertaining enough to really entertain.

I'm far too selfish at this point in my life to play anything but what I really enjoy playing...certainly one of the perks in retirement.

Yes, vive la différence for sure.

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

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#390685 - 07/17/14 03:20 PM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: ianmcnll]
tony mads usa Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 01/16/02
Posts: 14376
Loc: East Greenwich RI USA
I know we all have our own way to entertain, but even after reading all the above, I don't know why anyone would get bored playing instrumentals ... JMHO ...
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t. cool

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#390687 - 07/17/14 03:35 PM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: tony mads usa]
rosetree
Unregistered


Originally Posted By: tony mads usa
I know we all have our own way to entertain, but even after reading all the above, I don't know why anyone would get bored playing instrumentals ... JMHO ...


+1

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#390688 - 07/17/14 03:39 PM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: Mark79100]
Dnj Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 09/21/00
Posts: 43703
I think it's more the audiences getting bored sitting there listening for hours of solo arranger KB instrumentals.

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#390694 - 07/17/14 04:42 PM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: Dnj]
ianmcnll Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 07/27/05
Posts: 10606
Loc: Cape Breton Island, Canada
Originally Posted By: Dnj
I think it's more the audiences getting bored sitting there listening for hours of solo arranger KB instrumentals.


A full tip jar is always a good sign that audience boredom does not exist...plus, if you can't keep listener tedium at bay playing instrumentals on any of the recently made arranger keyboards, it's probably time to take up another profession, perhaps tollbooth operator or parking booth attendant.

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

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#390695 - 07/17/14 04:50 PM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: tony mads usa]
ianmcnll Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 07/27/05
Posts: 10606
Loc: Cape Breton Island, Canada
Originally Posted By: tony mads usa
I know we all have our own way to entertain, but even after reading all the above, I don't know why anyone would get bored playing instrumentals ... JMHO ...


Me neither, Tony...plus it's always an interesting challenge to find tunes that work well as instrumentals...not all songs can manage that transition.

We have a remarkable keyboard at our disposal that literally allows for "instant" arranging (or, re-arranging, if you will) so if we can't manage to make a tune interesting, it isn't the instrument's fault. wink

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

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#390696 - 07/17/14 05:14 PM Re: My PA3x recording and mixed feelings about it [Re: ianmcnll]
tony mads usa Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 01/16/02
Posts: 14376
Loc: East Greenwich RI USA
Yes, Ian, and has been discussed several times here, that includes key modulations, tempo/rhythm changes, etc. etc. ...

I LOVE to sing, and I wouldn't play a senior gig without doing it, but I have played gigs where only instrumentals were wanted, and I did not get bored ...
Funny thing, speaking of senior gigs, I was doing a routine at one and I did a 'Dick Contino' style version of "Lady of Spain" using the accordion voices and they LOVED it ... but that was only one instrumental mixed in with the vocals ...
But, that's why there is vanilla, chocolate, and Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia and New York Super Fudge Chunk !!!
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