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!


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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.

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...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