|
|
|
|
|
|
#428967 - 02/15/17 12:18 PM
Re: Guess I should stick with playing for seniors
[Re: guitpic1]
|
Senior Member
Registered: 01/16/02
Posts: 14376
Loc: East Greenwich RI USA
|
Valentine's Day I filled in at a restaurant for an act that had cancelled. Since I play mostly for seniors, I realized my music was dated for this under 45 crowd that showed up. I even learned(well actually am learning..Don wish I could get some help)) Lay Down Sally....but even this song is 40 years old. The 45 year olds were around 5 when this song came out. Sometimes I feel like I'm caught in the middle. I'm a baby boomer at 68. But my music is way too old to play for the under 50 crowd and too young to embrace all the music of the 85 - 95 year olds I find at most of the places I play. Thoughts? What type of music did the other group play? Since it was a restaurant, were they expecting dance music? There is a lot of music from Billy Joel, Elton John, The Beatles, Eric Clapton, etc.that can be played, and in a restaurant setting I don't think it has to 'sound like the record' ... this past week I did a version of "Can't Buy Me Love" using a Big Band shuffle style and it went over well ... Plus, with the recent popularity of 'duets' - Sinatra & others, Tony Bennett & others - and re-releases of standard songs by Michael Buble, rock stars like Rod Stewart recording American Standards, there is a lot more exposure to standards than there has been in a long time ... HOWEVER, if it IS a 'DANCE' setting, then obviously newer songs are needed ...
_________________________
t.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#428972 - 02/15/17 02:38 PM
Re: Guess I should stick with playing for seniors
[Re: guitpic1]
|
Senior Member
Registered: 12/08/02
Posts: 15556
Loc: Forest Hill, MD USA
|
It's all a matter of reading the audience - it's that simple. Before I play that first song, I look at the audience, determine their ages, and often go through the crowd and ask if they have any special songs they would like me to play. Then, I return to the keyboard, and select appropriate songs from when that audience was 15 to 45 years of age, which is the era that would work best for most audiences. This technique has never failed me, and I have played for everyone from Spring Breakers to octogenarians. Even if they don't dance. Now, unlike some folks here, I never used MP3s and DJ'd a job - it's just not my style. When I was still working, I was a singer, musician and entertainer and very successful for lots and lots of years. I played restaurants where no one danced, and restaurants where everyone danced, and never had a problem keeping the audiences entertained. I sincerely believe in having a diverse repertoire, and being able to cover every genre of music from rock to ballroom and modern country. This is one of the reasons Don Mason has always been one of my music idols - he can cover all the bases and does so very professionally. If someone in the audience asks for a Jimmy Buffett song, it will take him about 6 seconds to kick into Margarettaville, and 6 seconds after that song ends he can be into any Sinatra song or a country oldie. That's what it takes, and he, as some noted in his recent video, can readily mix with the audiences. I tried to emulate many of the things that Don does in Ernest's every weekend, though I wouldn't wear that hat if you paid me to. The best advice I have is for you to update your song list, registrations, MFD, songbook, etc..., practice those songs, and work on reading those audiences. Good luck, Gary
_________________________
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.)
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#429709 - 03/10/17 11:25 AM
Re: Guess I should stick with playing for seniors
[Re: Dnj]
|
Senior Member
Registered: 01/14/02
Posts: 1497
Loc: Buffalo, NY
|
get some up to date dance mp3s to play and mix it up in that situation.... Blurred lines Can't stop The Feeling Cake by the Ocean Lets get Loud Cupid Shuffle Fireball Do It etc, etc, dont get stuck in a wrong crowd situation they will tear you a new one if you get my drift. Good suggestion. Playing for a 72 year old Birthday tomorrow. I'm sure guests will be in their 70's, Their kids in their 50's, and grandkids in their 30's great grand children........... Though audience to cover. I asked the host for a list of request and she said "I'll give it to you when you get here." I asked for them in advance and still no dice. I'll gather a bunch of MP3s and hope they are right choices. Otherwise I'll take the money and run. The kicker is........... she owns the place, and the Birthday Boy (her father) recommended us. Regards, Jerry
Edited by Jerryghr (03/10/17 01:40 PM)
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#429733 - 03/11/17 04:03 AM
Re: Guess I should stick with playing for seniors
[Re: tony mads usa]
|
Senior Member
Registered: 06/04/02
Posts: 4912
Loc: West Palm Beach, FL 33417
|
POSTED BY GARY— “IT'S ALL A MATTER OF READING THE AUDIENCE - IT'S THAT SIMPLE. BEFORE I PLAY THAT FIRST SONG, I LOOK AT THE AUDIENCE, DETERMINE THEIR AGES, AND OFTEN GO THROUGH THE CROWD AND ASK IF THEY HAVE ANY SPECIAL SONGS THEY WOULD LIKE ME TO PLAY. THEN, I RETURN TO THE KEYBOARD, AND SELECT APPROPRIATE SONGS FROM WHEN THAT AUDIENCE WAS 15 TO 45 YEARS OF AGE, WHICH IS THE ERA THAT WOULD WORK BEST FOR MOST AUDIENCES”.
THE MAN IS RIGHT ON. BECAUSE IT IS A RESTAURANT WE CAN ASSUME THAT PEOPLE CAME TO EAT AND TALK.
I PLAYED AT MAYACO COUNTRY CLUB, IT WAS AN UPSCALE CLASSY RESTAURANT. USED MY KN7000 AND PROGRAMED THE ACCOMPANIMENT TO PLAY BASS,DRUMS AND PIANO. I USED ONLY PIANO FOR MY RIGHT AND LEFT HAND. I MADE SURE THE MUSIC DID NOT INTERFERE WITH THEIR CONVERSATIONS. ON OCCASIONS I USED A FLUTE OR A SOFT TRUMPET. MY JOB WAS TO DO WHAT GARY SAID – THEY WILL LET YOU KNOW BY A SMILE OR SOME TYPE OF BODY MOVEMENT.
WHEN I APPLIED FOR THE JOB THEY SAID NO THEY WANTED A PIANO PLAYER. I ASKED FOR ONE NIGHT, THEY AGREED. I WAS THERE FOR SIX YEARS. GOOD INSTRUMENT USED PROPERLY, (VOLUME) AND DOING WHAT OUR GOOD FRIEND GARY SAID. NORMALLY THERE IS NO DIALOG BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND THE MUSICIAN. I DID NOT SING UNLESS IT WAS REQUESTED.
WHY DO MUSICIANS GET SO CONCERNED WITH A REQUESTED SONG? WHEN I WAS ASKED TO PLAY A SONG I DID NOT KNOW I APOLOGIZED AND HOPED I DID NOT DISAPPOINT THEM. I FEEL THAT THEY WERE SATISFIED BECAUSE I ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM WITH RECOGNITION. I AM TALKING ABOUT 100 OR MORE PEOPLE IN A CATERING HALL -- PLEASING ONE WITH A SONG I AM NOT SURE OF OR THAT IS NOT MY STYLE, OR THAT WAS NOT ME, WOULD NOT DO MUCH FOR THE OTHER 99 PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE. I BURIED THEIR REQUEST WITH ONE OF MY BEST EXCITING SONGS THAT WAS POPULAR AT THAT TIME.
JOHN C. PS, I am assuming that there is no dance floor in the restaurant. I DON'T KNOW HAO THIS POST CAME OUT ALL CAPS AAAAH COMPUTERS,
Edited by bruno123 (03/11/17 04:04 AM)
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#429776 - 03/11/17 11:45 PM
Re: Guess I should stick with playing for seniors
[Re: guitpic1]
|
Senior Member
Registered: 10/23/06
Posts: 1661
Loc: USA
|
One of the great joys and, at the same time, one of the increasingly great hazards these days is playing to people on a one-on-one. i.e. playing for a very small crowd or "strolling" among restaurant tables.
I get "strolling" jobs here and there that I do on accordion. I'm a very sociable person so I tend to talk easily between playing. Most tables will greet you with pleasantries and eagerness to have you play for them. But in the few steps and few seconds before you visit the next table or booth, you have to do a quick assessment of the situation you're walking into. i.e. would they rather eat just now, are they having a deep conversation or is it a first date and courtship and it's not a good time to interrupt, are they just plain immune to music, does the man look like he might become "possessive" if you talk to the wife first, has anyone had too much to drink, what type of music might they be into, shall I talk on a personal level or keep it professional, and other situations that might be good plots for a horror movie.
It can be challenging but exciting at the same time. Most are eager for you to approach them, but each person (or persons) has to be analyzed in those "few seconds" before you start your interaction.
People don’t realize that good entertaining is not only a musical endeavor but a psychological one also.
Mark
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#430057 - 03/23/17 10:40 PM
Re: Guess I should stick with playing for seniors
[Re: bruno123]
|
Senior Member
Registered: 10/23/06
Posts: 1661
Loc: USA
|
“WHY DO MUSICIANS GET SO CONCERNED WITH A REQUESTED SONG? WHEN I WAS ASKED TO PLAY A SONG I DID NOT KNOW I APOLOGIZED AND HOPED I DID NOT DISAPPOINT THEM. I FEEL THAT THEY WERE SATISFIED BECAUSE I ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM WITH RECOGNITION. I always found "honesty to be the best policy." My own Modus Operandi in responding to requests that I do not know is to simply say: "I'm sorry but I don't know that song." Of course, I'm not that blunt. I temper the statement, and appease the requester by adding on something like "hey, that's a really great song though....I'm going to get the music to that and.......LEARN IT! This way the person is honored for his musical knowledge and it takes the edge off of the simple "I'm sorry but I don't know that song." My other response is to say something humorous like: "you know, when I first started playing music there were only two songs in the world: Moon River and Hello, Dolly. Now 50 years down the line there are hundreds of thousands of great songs out there, but, unfortunately, you can't learn them all. And, even if you could, you'd forget them fast not being able to play them regularly." People like to hear odds and ends snippets like that when said in a humorous way. Mark
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|