This is sort of an aside to Donny's question about playing. Do we simply play whatever people want to hear, or are we saying something about ourselves when we play?

R.

I always play what THEY want to hear - that's why they hired me in the first place. Of course, much of the music my audiences enjoy hearing, I also enjoy playing. I'm playing for their entertainment - not mine. I'm not there to make a statement about myself - I'm there to entertain my audiences.

All the best,

Gary

Today I played an assisted living facility. I took a chance and told them today I am taking requests and asked what they would like to hear. They couldn't think of anything. So...back to my originally scheduled program where they proceeded to clap and sing.
Eddie

What Gary said. I have nearly 4000 songs in my collection but probably use only about 100 of them at any time. It gets rather boring to be truthful but like Gary said, I am there to play what they want to hear, not entertain myself. That said, I use three different keyboards, PA4X, SD7, and a Tyros 4 for gigs, and that keeps me entertained as well - something a bit different even with the same songs.

Deane

I play what I want, but it made up of the best songs ever written for that era. I then play to my age group and all is well,

I've always thought that I have a duty to educate. I play places where people there would appreciate something a little different. I play most requests (not all...no Bill Anderson or Buffet-UGH). I play quietly...I don't interrupt conversations. That's the cost of being able to play 50% of what I want to play.

These places are also where the people who can use my company productions hang out. That's how I got an international manufacturer of vehicles as a client, who spends $250,000.00 annually with me and has for many years.

I've had many people ask the origin of some of my material and come back to say that they are now listening to that music.

Of course, I'm definitely NOT an entertainer. If I were, the major thing I would want to do is play what the people want to hear.

I feel the world is a better place after being exposed to the work of Leon Russell (RIP), LeGrand, Jobim, Boz Skaggs and the like.

Everyone plays for their own reason(s). This is mine.


Russ

Don't knock JB:
https://www.iorr.org/talk/read.php?1,1671738,1671808

Net worth $400 million. I guess not everyone agrees with you Russ.

I like to expose the audience to new music or different renditions of tunes they are familiar with. Popular songs are cool & definitely need to be played, I just want them to sound "Stevie Style"....Otherwise why play at all?

I am the Artist & my goal is to paint a picture to invoke thought.....

Don, most people don't agree with me. That's fine. I wouldn't play that stuff for the entire $400 million net worth.

Ya gotta draw a line in the sand, and this is where I draw it.

I'm willing to pay the consequences, although I get lots of jobs at better places because the majority of folks looking for work can't play much else.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

R.

I think money is only one measure of success and that it means more to some people than others. If money is your primary goal in life, then music is a pretty risky choice of professions. If having a spiritually fulfilling life is more important to you, then music is a great choice. BUT, there is no reason one cannot have both as they don't necessarily have to come from the same source. I love music but there are many other things in my life that are also very fulfilling such as flying (over 40 yrs. and > 20 types of planes), camping, travelling, and being involved in social causes that I think are important.

As for me, I'd rather listen to Tony Monaco or Joey D. for 10 minutes than Jimmy Buffet for a lifetime - but that's just me. I don't, however, look down on or disparage those who like Buffet - 'different strokes for different folks', I just don't find his music inspirational and that is what music has to be for me - inspirational. I love (some) soul singers, a handful of rock singers (Joe Cocker, Janis Joplin), a lot of gospel singers, a few opera singers (Pavarotti, Lanza, L. Price), a lot of blues singers (BB King, Ray Charles, Aretha, Gladys Knight), even a few Country singers (love Willie Nelson), but very few Pop singers. Always loved Tony Bennett and Mel Torme but was always lukewarm about Sinatra (go figure?). What they all have in common (for me, anyway) is that they all sing from the soul (or the gut or whatever) and it is so apparent in their performances. I know that tastes differ and can be dictated by our cultural experiences, but some things are just 'out there'. When Ray Charles sings Georgia or America (bad grammar and all), it touches us all, regardless of our normal or usual taste in music, because we recognize the authenticity and genuineness in it. But enough of this stuff, just my long-winded way of saying I agree with Russ .

chas

Thanks, Chas. You said what I was trying to say more clearly and eloquently.

Eloquence is the characteristic that is most frequent in your posts...the thing people can't see when quickly scanning a page.

Add empathy and compassion.

R.

My patrons are generally an older group, like me. So, in most cases, I can anticipate what they might enjoy hearing and what requests might come up. I play them, if I know them. If not, I’ll learn the tune pronto. My latest request was for Maria Elena, a song I’ve heard, but never played.

I play a mix of "songs I know many people like" (based on requests and response over many years), and "songs they might not have heard as much, but might like". I often good good response and comments on the less-often-heard ones, but not always. Sometimes I'm surprised by what song(s) someone says they particularly liked!

I also actively take requests at nearly every gig ... I can't always play ALL of them, but I tend to be able to handle ~80-90% of them. Asking for requests, I think, involves them a bit more actively than not taking requests, and gives me some input on what they want to hear. At some gigs, that are for a "special theme", I will more likely not take as many requests, but play "to the theme" (such as Italian Night or 50's Sock Hop Dance, or Classical Concert, or other specific themes requested for an event by the client).

I have a lot of set lists I have made (from about 1000 songs in my repertoire), and I rotate through them a lot, i.e. try to play different set lists each time at a venue. I keep a little "log" (a file on my computer) where I type in a quick summary of "what I played" at a given place on a given date ... to help me vary the music for them each time I play at that particular venue. So I don't play the same songs at the same place too much, except certain favorites they always request. . .

Jim

Jim,
We are of like mind. I too have dozens of set lists and try not to play the same list at the same venue with the exception of requests I get from the audiences. I find if i get to far way from the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s music I get complaints about not playing certain songs. But then I only play for full time retirement places.

Deane