IS this the future of solo gigs?

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 29 Oct 2009 3:02 am

Maybe it would be less annoying if he was sitting down.
It's like playing an organ standing up.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 29 Oct 2009 7:45 am

Everybody on this Forum is commenting from a musicians side of view..People/customers probably dance and listen to the music and most are probably in awe of what they hear and see..For myself It looks like he is still learning to use the equiptment and thus all the movements..But I commend him for all the work he is getting.. Club owners /Resturants ect.don't care and certainly can afford his services..It would sound great with a Steel filling in some of the holes but he is making a living and any musician should apreciate that..Watching it from a cameras view does take a lot away from the performance but I'll bet with a room full of people he's earning his money..He is working and paying for the equiptment,Its more than a hobby to him...I see no need to critique someone who is successful.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 29 Oct 2009 9:47 am

I agree that he's earning every cent of his pay. What he's doing is much harder than just playing guitar and singing. Plus he has more gear to set up, and if there are any mistakes it's all on him. I don't begrudge him the right to do what he's doing. More power to him!

That said, a computer playing patterns just isn't very musical to my ears. I think a duo would sound much better and satisfy the buyer and his patrons. I actually did one gig as a solo act some years back. It was an annual event. When I was called the following year to do it again, I hired a rhythm guitar player instead of using the machine. The result was much richer musically, in my opinion, and less effort too. I didn't make as much money, but a rhythm player got a gig and the audience was very happy.

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 29 Oct 2009 4:28 pm

I went to see Ron Crites tonight and told him about this thread. He said he would love to work in a full band but can't find people who will commit to being full time musicians so he works rather small venues. The one he's at tonight won't hold more than one or two players. He asked me to sit in with him at a place in Windsor N.J. some Tuesday and I told him I would. He works 20-25 days a month. He says he canvassed hundreds of places since moving here four years ago to get the gigs he has.
It's not for everyone, as this thread shows, but I have to give him credit for working so hard at learning to use all that equipment and chasing down the work.
www.roncrites.com

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 30 Oct 2009 8:01 am

There are very few areas now anywhere in the Country (except maybe Texas) that have clubs or venues that can allow a side man to make a living full time..Nashville has a lot of hopefuls looking for that opening for a road gig along with struggling pickers that work for small up front amounts and share a Tip Jar...Even when I had the 6-7 nighters and 5-6 piece bands,Maybe two or three were full timers..I did the single thing a couple of years ago with a keyboard,Vocal harmonizer and some tracks Smiley made for me...The Keyboard had a great rythm section, programable so It was fairly easy..But I did not enjoy it and no money is worth doing things one does not enjoy..I guess being honest with myself it was scary up there all alone..

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 30 Oct 2009 8:50 am

A solo act may be the only way to make a living as performer without going on the road.

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 30 Oct 2009 7:50 pm

And you thought you had to learn to dance to play steel guitar... Whew!

Mat Rhodes · Post by **Mat Rhodes** » 31 Oct 2009 8:59 pm

I think a $300 iPod with rhythm tracks might have been a more efficient expenditure. All he'd have to do is velcro it to his headstock.

Leslie Ehrlich · Post by **Leslie Ehrlich** » 31 Oct 2009 11:01 pm

Joe Casey wrote:Everybody on this Forum is commenting from a musician's point of view.

Good observation. Those of us who are used to playing in bands may have a lack of appreciation for solo acts without live accompaniment.

Joe Casey wrote:There are very few areas now anywhere in the Country (except maybe Texas) that have clubs or venues that can allow a side man to make a living full time.

Another good observation. Many steelers are just sidemen, and if you're just a sideman and not a frontman, the gigs may be few and far between. Sidemen are easily replaceable - with other sidemen or with machines.

b0b wrote:A solo act may be the only way to make a living as performer without going on the road.

Well, at least a solo performer doesn't have to worry about paying 'sidemen'.

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 1 Nov 2009 4:17 am

Leslie Ehrlich wrote:Well, at least a solo performer doesn't have to worry about paying 'sidemen'.

I was only a band leader once and I decided after that to be a hired player. Too many musicians are so "artistically egotistical" that they are hard to work with.
I had a friend who went solo just so he didn't have to put up with excuses for not showing up, not liking a particular song or fellow band member.
I have noticed, at least in this part of the country, that the majority of musicians don't think they need to rehearse with the band. Just send mp3's and let them learn it at home. That's fine but people don't always hear things the same.
If you do everything solo you only have one person to thank or blame.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 1 Nov 2009 9:01 am

I know a guy who does solo gigs with a "looper" stompbox. He records with the looper while he plays rhythm for the head and sings. Then he hits the play button and plays his lead solo over his own, freshly-recorded rhythm track. It's so seamless that the audience hardly notices that there are now two guitars instead of one. Nothing is prepared or generated by computer. It's all just one guy, playing live with a very simple setup, and it sounds really good.