Hello! I am Douglas Wolfe of Sacramento. I have been lurking for some time now, and thought I'd better introduce myself.

By way of making myself at home, allow me to post the following. I got it from Bob Norton at the Band-in-a-box discussion pages.

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Gig haiku
(author(s) unknown)


Jam session bassist
Observes fourteen soloists
Contemplates murder

Say, do you guys know
"Wedding Song" by Kenny G?
Buy the damn record

Riffing on "Rudolph"
Musicians in red and green
Learn humility

Best man pays sideman
Revealing greed of leader
Rebellion ensues

I'm sending a sub
But don't worry, he'll be fine
He's fresh from rehab

Solo pianist
Freed from all constraints of form
Heedlessly mangles

Jazz nymphs crowd bandstand
Offering carnal delights
My alarm clock rings

Double-timing bone
Sounds like somebody chewing
On a rubber band

Forty-two straight gigs
With no requests for "Take Five"
Time to call Guinness

Free jazz temptation
Strikes during the bride's first dance
What Would Wynton Do?

New Years revelers
Here's hoping the stroke of twelve
Sends you the hell home

Checking out women
High stages and low necklines
Great combination

A new world's record
For choruses on "A Train"
My band hates me now

That plate of hors d'oeuvres
Cost more than we're getting paid
Think we underbid?

Break time is over
Rest of band is returning
Now for that phone call

Rock drummer, lounge keys
Classically trained singer
Welcome to sub hell

God bless trust fund gigs
Only have to eat ramen
For a few more weeks

My drummer helped me
Count the syllables
in this Haiku

Doug,
Welcome to the forum....I'm from Sacto. too.
Terry

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jam on,
Terry http://imjazzed.homestead.com/Index.html

Welcome aboard. Quit lurking--jump in there every chance you get!
DonM

Hello Douglas.

Welcome to SZ family.

Brasilian regards,
Chico

Welcome to the the club (SZ Forum).
Denny

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Thanks everyone for your cordial greetings. I was pretty sure I would receive a warm welcome here....!

Doug should we assume by your handle you're one of Sacto's finest?
Terry

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jam on,
Terry http://imjazzed.homestead.com/Index.html

Welcome Doug..... I see some 'strange' humor on the horizon for this board ...

trt: his profile says he's a teacher .. ???
t.

Doug,
Welcome to Synth Zone Arranger forum. What gear do you use to create music? Sounds like you use Band_In_a_Box. Do you use a computer to create music?
Starkeeper

Douglas! Welcome to finally making yourself known here on Synthzone. btw: I was just in Sacramento last month to attend my sister's wedding. I myself live in the SF Bay area.

I know there must be many other longtime Synthzone 'lurker' junkies out there too, so I'm hoping Douglas' decision to finally 'come out of the closet' will encourage others join in as well. Let yourselves be counted cuz no matter what arranger keyboard you play (or not), what level of experience you're at (amateur or pro), or what genre of music your interest is, we ALL have something to contribute to the Synthzone Arranger forum pot.

btw Douglas: I really enjoyed the humor of the Haiku Poetry you shared with us.

For those unfamiliar with Haiku, it's a form of poetry begun in Japan in the 17th century, which has become appreciated around the world in the 20th century. The English version of Haiku Poetry form:

1. Use no more than 17 syllables.
2. Arrange in lines of 5-7-5 syllables
3. Avoid using similes and metaphors
4. Strive for: lightness, simplicity

Scott

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http://scottyee.com

Welcome to the Forum Doug. I have driven through Sacramento many times and it really is a beautiful city. Just make sure you drink plenty of water during the "Summer Months" and that your car's air conditioner is fully charged and in working order and your House has Central Air Conditioning and when you do go outside B line it strait to a building that has a working Air Conditioner. The summers up there rival Phoenix, AZ for hotness from what I've heard. And I can attest to that fact having driven through Sacto during the middle of Summer. Notice, I drove "through" and didn't stop. I rolled down my window once when driving through Sacto in Summer to toss a piece of gum and I thought I was in an oven it was so hot. But to be fair I have stopped in Sacto during the Winter months, and had a wonderful time.

PS: Don't mind me. I'm just in a giddy mood.
And sorry to dis your city but you really have to do something about the hot weather up there.

Again, welcome to the Forum Doug. And for all you others out there that are "Lurking" and not participating, do yourself a favor and join in on the fun and in the process learn new things and experience first hand all that our wonderful SZ members have to offer not only in knowledge and wisdom of Keyboards and making music but in friendly down home hospitality and genuine kindness to all those who enter our Door. I know that has been my experience.

Best regards,
Mike

Posters getting bold
Sensitive egos start fight
Zynth Zone thread has gone

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Thanks again, everyone, for your wonderful hospitality!


[8{>


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Welcome aboard flatfoot
Tell us a bit more.
Whatta ya do....?

Where do ya do it....?

How long ya 'bin doin' it...?

Need input...Need Input
...again..Welcome, I'm sure you'll make a lot of good friends here.

>>>> IDATROD SEZ <<<<<<

I rolled down my window once when driving through Sacto in Summer to toss a piece of gum and I thought I was in an oven it was so hot.

>>>> FLATFOOT REPLIES <<<<<<<<<<<

Fine with me if the heat keeps the tourists away. What they don't tell you is how the breezes from San Francisco Bay cool everything off at night. It's delightful to spend the day in shorts and a tee shirt, and then enjoy the cooling breezes as I am falling asleep. If I open all the windows after dark, then close them in the morning, I only need the airconditioner maybe ten days all summer long.

.
...so when i am not basking in my newly bestowed status as a Junior Member of this august body, I work as a substitute teacher during the day. This is because I am taking classes at night to be a regular teacher. I got a possible lead on a school that might want me to teach music and English classes this fall. This would be a dream come true.

I just started singing at nursing homes. I don't use a keyboard at all. I make up backing tracks in Band-in-a-box, record them to CD, and play them back on a K-Mart karaoke machine. I like the karaoke machine for its great big buttons and display that I can use without taiking my eyes off my audience. The machine has 2 mic inputs and a reverb effect. I don't use the spaekers on teh karaoke machine. I run from the RCA outs on the machine into a Peavey keyboard amp. 15 watts. 8-inch speaker.
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...Please return to this thread after you have finished rolling on the floor laughing....
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...but seriously. This setup works. The rooms aren't much bigger than my home living room, and the audiences max out at thirty. I could easily fill the room with just my voice and no equipment. All i need is to make the backup tracks sound good, and maybe add a little reverb. This minimal setup fits into a rolling milk crate that I can drag around with one hand. I can set up and tear down in 7 minutes.

Not playing an instrument makes for a better show. There is nothing between me and the audience, so I can walk around, shake hands and talk to each audience member in a whisper between songs. Whether its the music or the personal interaction, they love what I do.

Even though I don't use a keyboard on gigs, I like visiting here because what y'all do is otherwise very close to what I do. I have gotten a lot of great ideas and I thank you for your generosity.

Douglas Wolfe
Sacramento