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Keyboard players - why so hard to find?


jplanet

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I can't, for the life of me, figure this out. When I put an ad on Craigslist for bass players, who are notoriously hard to find, I got dozens of responses, all very enthusiastic. When I put an ad for a keyboard player, it might as well have just been a blank ad! Nothing. Weeks go by. Months. Nothing.

Can someone tell me if there is something inherently terrifying to keyboard players about our band or something? This is the link I am putting in the ad (they can hear all of the music from our CD): http://www.shadowcircusmusic.com/audio.

I thought it might be because most are looking for paying gigs, but I didn't specify that...

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That's a shame. It's a fun gig for anybody who grew up listening to Jon Lord, Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman...all songs were written on keyboards, and musically is very challenging throughout...And a tour is very likely...hmmm...maybe I should specify those things...

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That's a shame. It's a fun gig for anybody who grew up listening to Jon Lord, Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman...all songs were written on keyboards, and musically is very challenging throughout...And a tour is very likely...hmmm...maybe I should specify those things...

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I've got two keyboard players, both with amazing keyboards and I could have a whole freakin orchestra of JUST keyboard players if I wanted to. They're really easy to find here, it's probably the scene you're in.

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I've got two keyboard players, both with amazing keyboards and I could have a whole freakin orchestra of JUST keyboard players if I wanted to. They're really easy to find here, it's probably the scene you're in.

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I'm a keyboard player - and gave a quick listen to the audio on the link you posted. Nice stuff, good production - obviously very pro. Yet in the next breath, I'll tell you that I likely wouldn't respond to a Craiglist posting for your gig as a keys player. Although it's clearly solid material - I can't picture anywhere around town where material like yours is being played. That more than anything would probably keep me from responding. (...and that's not because I don't like the material - I simply struggle to see the market....)

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I'm a keyboard player - and gave a quick listen to the audio on the link you posted. Nice stuff, good production - obviously very pro. Yet in the next breath, I'll tell you that I likely wouldn't respond to a Craiglist posting for your gig as a keys player. Although it's clearly solid material - I can't picture anywhere around town where material like yours is being played. That more than anything would probably keep me from responding. (...and that's not because I don't like the material - I simply struggle to see the market....)

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Quote Originally Posted by SpaceNorman View Post
I'm a keyboard player - and gave a quick listen to the audio on the link you posted. Nice stuff, good production - obviously very pro. Yet in the next breath, I'll tell you that I likely wouldn't respond to a Craiglist posting for your gig as a keys player. Although it's clearly solid material - I can't picture anywhere around town where material like yours is being played. That more than anything would probably keep me from responding. (...and that's not because I don't like the material - I simply struggle to see the market....)
Ah! Very helpful information. Helpful because, I can certainly set those concerns at ease - we have a good following and many venues lined up - the only thing that's holding up the gigs, ironically, is a lack of a keyboard player - the venues and audience are in abundance. We even get major FM radio airplay in Holland and Germany, and could probably pack some decent sized clubs over there.

We actually passed up on playing any gigs after our first album simply because auditions were taking so long that we just went into the studio and did another album...there are enough fans and venues to book an east coast tour, and four major progressive rock festivals every year that we could be playing...

What I don't get is - how does a bass player see these possibilities, even a drummer and a vocalist, but not a keyboard player? What's different about that instrument that changes the perspective?
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Quote Originally Posted by SpaceNorman View Post
I'm a keyboard player - and gave a quick listen to the audio on the link you posted. Nice stuff, good production - obviously very pro. Yet in the next breath, I'll tell you that I likely wouldn't respond to a Craiglist posting for your gig as a keys player. Although it's clearly solid material - I can't picture anywhere around town where material like yours is being played. That more than anything would probably keep me from responding. (...and that's not because I don't like the material - I simply struggle to see the market....)
Ah! Very helpful information. Helpful because, I can certainly set those concerns at ease - we have a good following and many venues lined up - the only thing that's holding up the gigs, ironically, is a lack of a keyboard player - the venues and audience are in abundance. We even get major FM radio airplay in Holland and Germany, and could probably pack some decent sized clubs over there.

We actually passed up on playing any gigs after our first album simply because auditions were taking so long that we just went into the studio and did another album...there are enough fans and venues to book an east coast tour, and four major progressive rock festivals every year that we could be playing...

What I don't get is - how does a bass player see these possibilities, even a drummer and a vocalist, but not a keyboard player? What's different about that instrument that changes the perspective?
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Quote Originally Posted by jplanet

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we have a good following and many venues lined up - the only thing that's holding up the gigs, ironically, is a lack of a keyboard player

 

You can't seriously mean that you won't play gigs just because you don't have a keyboard player??
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Quote Originally Posted by jplanet

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we have a good following and many venues lined up - the only thing that's holding up the gigs, ironically, is a lack of a keyboard player

 

You can't seriously mean that you won't play gigs just because you don't have a keyboard player??
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Quote Originally Posted by ggm1960

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You can't seriously mean that you won't play gigs just because you don't have a keyboard player??

 

Listen to the clips. It would be impossible, every song is based on keyboards. Read the reviews - the focus of keyboards is very important to the market we appeal to. Imagine Yes, Jethro Tull or ELP songs without keyboards...
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Quote Originally Posted by ggm1960

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You can't seriously mean that you won't play gigs just because you don't have a keyboard player??

 

Listen to the clips. It would be impossible, every song is based on keyboards. Read the reviews - the focus of keyboards is very important to the market we appeal to. Imagine Yes, Jethro Tull or ELP songs without keyboards...
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Quote Originally Posted by jplanet View Post
Ah! Very helpful information. Helpful because, I can certainly set those concerns at ease - we have a good following and many venues lined up - the only thing that's holding up the gigs, ironically, is a lack of a keyboard player - the venues and audience are in abundance. We even get major FM radio airplay in Holland and Germany, and could probably pack some decent sized clubs over there.

We actually passed up on playing any gigs after our first album simply because auditions were taking so long that we just went into the studio and did another album...there are enough fans and venues to book an east coast tour, and four major progressive rock festivals every year that we could be playing...

What I don't get is - how does a bass player see these possibilities, even a drummer and a vocalist, but not a keyboard player? What's different about that instrument that changes the perspective?
Put that stuff in your ad! In order to become a competent keyboard player, one needs patience, discipline, and rational thought (ya know, not like a bass player). You can pick and choose your gigs, so you're only going to jump on the ones that look to be worth your time. Most keyboardists I've met are money-oriented at the end of the day, but you could probably entice a younger guy with the touring Europe deal.
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Quote Originally Posted by jplanet View Post
Ah! Very helpful information. Helpful because, I can certainly set those concerns at ease - we have a good following and many venues lined up - the only thing that's holding up the gigs, ironically, is a lack of a keyboard player - the venues and audience are in abundance. We even get major FM radio airplay in Holland and Germany, and could probably pack some decent sized clubs over there.

We actually passed up on playing any gigs after our first album simply because auditions were taking so long that we just went into the studio and did another album...there are enough fans and venues to book an east coast tour, and four major progressive rock festivals every year that we could be playing...

What I don't get is - how does a bass player see these possibilities, even a drummer and a vocalist, but not a keyboard player? What's different about that instrument that changes the perspective?
Put that stuff in your ad! In order to become a competent keyboard player, one needs patience, discipline, and rational thought (ya know, not like a bass player). You can pick and choose your gigs, so you're only going to jump on the ones that look to be worth your time. Most keyboardists I've met are money-oriented at the end of the day, but you could probably entice a younger guy with the touring Europe deal.
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Cool - thanks! Actually, I do think starting this thread was very helpful - I have such a different, idealistic perspective on music (perhaps because guitar and composing original music is so much harder to monetize), so it helps to know how to appeal to those who think differently.

Basically, I have to do a better job selling it - and you know, I hesitated mentioning the possibility of touring in the ad, because I'm afraid the only available players will be guys with wives, kids, day jobs that may prohibit that...but the fact is, we do need someone who is prepared for hitting the road...

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Cool - thanks! Actually, I do think starting this thread was very helpful - I have such a different, idealistic perspective on music (perhaps because guitar and composing original music is so much harder to monetize), so it helps to know how to appeal to those who think differently.

Basically, I have to do a better job selling it - and you know, I hesitated mentioning the possibility of touring in the ad, because I'm afraid the only available players will be guys with wives, kids, day jobs that may prohibit that...but the fact is, we do need someone who is prepared for hitting the road...

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Quote Originally Posted by jplanet View Post
Listen to the clips. It would be impossible, every song is based on keyboards. Read the reviews - the focus of keyboards is very important to the market we appeal to. Imagine Yes, Jethro Tull or ELP songs without keyboards...

Who's doing all the keys that the songs are based on then?
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Quote Originally Posted by jplanet View Post
Listen to the clips. It would be impossible, every song is based on keyboards. Read the reviews - the focus of keyboards is very important to the market we appeal to. Imagine Yes, Jethro Tull or ELP songs without keyboards...

Who's doing all the keys that the songs are based on then?
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