Comments on: A Band of One http://www.musicianwages.com/musician-profile/a-band-of-one/ The Community for Working Musicians Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:30:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Latu http://www.musicianwages.com/musician-profile/a-band-of-one/comment-page-1/#comment-3296 Latu Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:01:48 +0000 http://www.musicianwages.com/?p=3174#comment-3296 funny thing but this is the busiest that I have been in a long time, averaging 11 to 13 days or gigs if you prefer a week. I have a show band also that can go from duo to 20 or what ever the client can afford. The club I work for has music 7 days a week and 2 shifts a day since the mid 90's and is still going strong, my second job is at another club a few blocks away with another 4 days work. The gigs overlap a lot on the weekend and thats how, I get to pull doubles, triples and sometimes there is a 4th I play what I can then call other musicians to help cover. Tracks or live ? well tracks work for the clubs I am at now cause they are nation wide and thats the way its been since the first one opened and they demand tracks. I sometimes do weddings and old folks homes that call for just an accoustic, thats what I will do. I don't believe using tracks makes you less of a musician cause even with my band backing me my part is still the same and the 3 or 4 guys behind me become the live tracks (more fun though !). In the very late 70's early 80s before midi and tracks I was using a drum machine, old organ paddle bass, Rhodes,Moog source,guitar and cymbals to play one man band and feed the family, I eventually got an auto Orchestra with paddle bass kinda made life a little easier thats why I have no problem with tracks or a Roland MC 909 . Supply and demand try something different if current does not work the one that get the booking is the right one!!! good luck fellow misicians and rock !! on funny thing but this is the busiest that I have been in a long time, averaging 11 to 13 days or gigs if you prefer a week. I have a show band also that can go from duo to 20 or what ever the client can afford. The club I work for has music 7 days a week and 2 shifts a day since the mid 90′s and is still going strong, my second job is at another club a few blocks away with another 4 days work. The gigs overlap a lot on the weekend and thats how, I get to pull doubles, triples and sometimes there is a 4th I play what I can then call other musicians to help cover.
Tracks or live ? well tracks work for the clubs I am at now cause they are nation wide and thats the way its been since the first one opened and they demand tracks. I sometimes do weddings and old folks homes that call for just an accoustic, thats what I will do. I don’t believe using tracks makes you less of a musician cause even with my band backing me my part is still the same and the 3 or 4 guys behind me become the live tracks (more fun though !). In the very late 70′s early 80s before midi and tracks I was using a drum machine, old organ paddle bass, Rhodes,Moog source,guitar and cymbals to play one man band and feed the family, I eventually got an auto Orchestra with paddle bass kinda made life a little easier thats why I have no problem with tracks or a Roland MC 909 . Supply and demand try something different if current does not work the one that get the booking is the right one!!! good luck fellow misicians and rock !! on

]]> By: Margaux http://www.musicianwages.com/musician-profile/a-band-of-one/comment-page-1/#comment-2834 Margaux Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:51:40 +0000 http://www.musicianwages.com/?p=3174#comment-2834 I think it would also depend on the couple's budget. True, one musician and his MIDI-track backup band is not the same as say...a full-out string quartet or jazz band with actual musicians. Even with negotiating a price, not every couple might be able to afford it. Therefore, I'd try to be optimistic and think that there is at least one musician providing live music for everyone to hear, whether with or without MIDI. I think it would also depend on the couple’s budget. True, one musician and his MIDI-track backup band is not the same as say…a full-out string quartet or jazz band with actual musicians. Even with negotiating a price, not every couple might be able to afford it. Therefore, I’d try to be optimistic and think that there is at least one musician providing live music for everyone to hear, whether with or without MIDI.

]]> By: Donna Germano http://www.musicianwages.com/musician-profile/a-band-of-one/comment-page-1/#comment-2500 Donna Germano Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:43:38 +0000 http://www.musicianwages.com/?p=3174#comment-2500 Hi David, Thanks for your comments. I've lost a number of weddings this year to MP3 players and someone's cousin who knows the chords to the Paul Stookey Wedding Song. One of the local organists won't let the bride book a trumpet player since he has a trumpet stop on his organ. But what I am talking about is having a variety of options to offer a client. This hotel is probably the largest employer of contract musicians in our town. My friends that play in the house band have had that gig for over 20 years. They play 5 nights a week (4-5 musicians), their singer/guitarist plays solo (with backing tracks) on Sunday and Monday nights. On Sunday mornings the hotel has a classical guitar duo. I have my solo gig on Fridays and they book duos or trios on Saturday afternoons. My trio plays for the big holiday buffets. Tracy comes in on special occasions when they want something different. Plus there are an assortment of other bands and DJs in and out for weddings and corporate events. For Christmas season there are a variety of special groups and choirs. Piano players in the restaurants and the lobby... Of course, it does have a lot to do with the budget. The entertainment director will call me and ask for something specific, a trio, a duo or just state what some group's budget is and ask what we can offer. I learned a lot from the first serious band I worked with when I came to this town. It was a 5 person ensemble that booked anything from solo to the full band. They could be a classical trio, a jazz quartet or send me out as a solo classical harpist. My instruments can stand alone for solo jobs pretty well, but I think it will be fun to have some tracks to work with, particularly for the really noisy gigs where I can't book another musician. I just don't want to see that day job again! Hi David,

Thanks for your comments. I’ve lost a number of weddings this year to MP3 players and someone’s cousin who knows the chords to the Paul Stookey Wedding Song. One of the local organists won’t let the bride book a trumpet player since he has a trumpet stop on his organ. But what I am talking about is having a variety of options to offer a client.

This hotel is probably the largest employer of contract musicians in our town. My friends that play in the house band have had that gig for over 20 years. They play 5 nights a week (4-5 musicians), their singer/guitarist plays solo (with backing tracks) on Sunday and Monday nights. On Sunday mornings the hotel has a classical guitar duo. I have my solo gig on Fridays and they book duos or trios on Saturday afternoons. My trio plays for the big holiday buffets. Tracy comes in on special occasions when they want something different. Plus there are an assortment of other bands and DJs in and out for weddings and corporate events. For Christmas season there are a variety of special groups and choirs. Piano players in the restaurants and the lobby…

Of course, it does have a lot to do with the budget. The entertainment director will call me and ask for something specific, a trio, a duo or just state what some group’s budget is and ask what we can offer. I learned a lot from the first serious band I worked with when I came to this town. It was a 5 person ensemble that booked anything from solo to the full band. They could be a classical trio, a jazz quartet or send me out as a solo classical harpist. My instruments can stand alone for solo jobs pretty well, but I think it will be fun to have some tracks to work with, particularly for the really noisy gigs where I can’t book another musician. I just don’t want to see that day job again!

]]> By: David Roe http://www.musicianwages.com/musician-profile/a-band-of-one/comment-page-1/#comment-2499 David Roe Sun, 26 Jul 2009 12:14:02 +0000 http://www.musicianwages.com/?p=3174#comment-2499 I understand that these are hard times for musicians, and that places that once hired trios, now hire duos, and the backing track seems like a good idea. But basically this is a proud article whose subtext is that MIDItracks can somehow replace an entire backup band. What you are doing is karaoke, not music. Music is what happens when musicians get together and create together. Music is a communication between musicians. Playing with backing tracks not only puts other musicians out of work, but it is always a lame and faint echo of what might have been. This is not the same argument that horn players used against the organ, or that the player piano and radio will replace live music. There is no replacement for the interaction and surprise that comes with live music. I understand that these are hard times for musicians, and that places that once hired trios, now hire duos, and the backing track seems like a good idea. But basically this is a proud article whose subtext is that MIDItracks can somehow replace an entire backup band. What you are doing is karaoke, not music. Music is what happens when musicians get together and create together. Music is a communication between musicians. Playing with backing tracks not only puts other musicians out of work, but it is always a lame and faint echo of what might have been. This is not the same argument that horn players used against the organ, or that the player piano and radio will replace live music. There is no replacement for the interaction and surprise that comes with live music.

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