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Super Contributor
TIMKEYS
Posts: 8,906
Registered: ‎12-02-2010

Re: Keyboard players - why so hard to find?

Quote Originally Posted by jplanet View Post
I thought I would follow up on this thread since I originally started it. The keyboardist we found did a fine job on the new album, which we have streamed in its entirety here:

http://shadowcircusmusic.com/audio

Reading through this thread has shown me why keyboard players are so hard to find for a band like ours. It's because it's hard to find anyone - on any instrument - who is in this for the music, and not the money.

It used to be that having something to say musically made money, though. It wasn't always this way.
If you expect for a key guy to be your sound bitch,, you will have to pay him to do it.
"you mess with him and you mess with the whole trailer park"
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guido61
Posts: 28,317
Registered: ‎12-09-2001

Re: Keyboard players - why so hard to find?

Quote Originally Posted by jplanet View Post
I thought I would follow up on this thread since I originally started it. The keyboardist we found did a fine job on the new album, which we have streamed in its entirety here:

http://shadowcircusmusic.com/audio

Reading through this thread has shown me why keyboard players are so hard to find for a band like ours. It's because it's hard to find anyone - on any instrument - who is in this for the music, and not the money.

It used to be that having something to say musically made money, though. It wasn't always this way.
I like your band and your recording. Sounds really nice. But as far making money by having something to say musically? Depends on what you're saying and who you're saying it to. And I don't think that's any different than it ever has been.

On your website you talk proudly of your music and performances being from the 70s. Well, I'm not sure that 40-year old music has ever had much marketability. I like your music because I'm over 50, but for that same reason I'm probably not going to be buying it or going out to see your band live any time soon. Got other things to do with my time and money.

Nothing at all wrong with what you're playing and how you're playing it. But your expectations for the market need to be realistic and it isn't all the fault of the public or the state of the industry today. And finding guys who want to do things just for the music gets harder as people get older as well. Something else that I don't think has really changed much either.

But good job on what you've done and good luck! The keyboard player sounds really good.
--David

FOR SALE: DBX Driverack PX; DBX 231 EQ; Behringer Racktuner; Rane SAC 22 crossover; Alesis D4 drum module; Line 6 Pod Pro rackmount.

Band website: http://www.JumpStartYourParty.com
http://www.gigmasters.com/Rock/Jump-Start/

Stage gear: Korg Kronos, Yamaha Motif, M-Audio Venom, Neo Ventilator, Digitech GSP-1101, Fender Stratocaster, Takamine Eg544SC, Samson SM10 line mixer, Alesis Picoverb, Samson Airline 77 Wireless, APC Smart-UPS SC 450VA
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guido61
Posts: 28,317
Registered: ‎12-09-2001

Re: Keyboard players - why so hard to find?

Quote Originally Posted by jplanet View Post
I thought I would follow up on this thread since I originally started it. The keyboardist we found did a fine job on the new album, which we have streamed in its entirety here:

http://shadowcircusmusic.com/audio

Reading through this thread has shown me why keyboard players are so hard to find for a band like ours. It's because it's hard to find anyone - on any instrument - who is in this for the music, and not the money.

It used to be that having something to say musically made money, though. It wasn't always this way.
I like your band and your recording. Sounds really nice. But as far making money by having something to say musically? Depends on what you're saying and who you're saying it to. And I don't think that's any different than it ever has been.

On your website you talk proudly of your music and performances being from the 70s. Well, I'm not sure that 40-year old music has ever had much marketability. I like your music because I'm over 50, but for that same reason I'm probably not going to be buying it or going out to see your band live any time soon. Got other things to do with my time and money.

Nothing at all wrong with what you're playing and how you're playing it. But your expectations for the market need to be realistic and it isn't all the fault of the public or the state of the industry today. And finding guys who want to do things just for the music gets harder as people get older as well. Something else that I don't think has really changed much either.

But good job on what you've done and good luck! The keyboard player sounds really good.
--David

FOR SALE: DBX Driverack PX; DBX 231 EQ; Behringer Racktuner; Rane SAC 22 crossover; Alesis D4 drum module; Line 6 Pod Pro rackmount.

Band website: http://www.JumpStartYourParty.com
http://www.gigmasters.com/Rock/Jump-Start/

Stage gear: Korg Kronos, Yamaha Motif, M-Audio Venom, Neo Ventilator, Digitech GSP-1101, Fender Stratocaster, Takamine Eg544SC, Samson SM10 line mixer, Alesis Picoverb, Samson Airline 77 Wireless, APC Smart-UPS SC 450VA
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jplanet
Posts: 137
Registered: ‎03-20-2008

Re: Keyboard players - why so hard to find?

Quote Originally Posted by TIMKEYS View Post
If you expect for a key guy to be your sound bitch,, you will have to pay him to do it.
Um, who is expecting a key guy to be a "sound bitch"?
Good deals: pianorocker

..::.PROG LIVES!.::..
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Frequent Contributor
jplanet
Posts: 137
Registered: ‎03-20-2008

Re: Keyboard players - why so hard to find?

Quote Originally Posted by TIMKEYS View Post
If you expect for a key guy to be your sound bitch,, you will have to pay him to do it.
Um, who is expecting a key guy to be a "sound bitch"?
Good deals: pianorocker

..::.PROG LIVES!.::..
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Frequent Contributor
jplanet
Posts: 137
Registered: ‎03-20-2008

Re: Keyboard players - why so hard to find?

Quote Originally Posted by guido61 View Post
I like your band and your recording. Sounds really nice. But as far making money by having something to say musically? Depends on what you're saying and who you're saying it to. And I don't think that's any different than it ever has been.

On your website you talk proudly of your music and performances being from the 70s. Well, I'm not sure that 40-year old music has ever had much marketability. I like your music because I'm over 50, but for that same reason I'm probably not going to be buying it or going out to see your band live any time soon. Got other things to do with my time and money.

Nothing at all wrong with what you're playing and how you're playing it. But your expectations for the market need to be realistic and it isn't all the fault of the public or the state of the industry today. And finding guys who want to do things just for the music gets harder as people get older as well. Something else that I don't think has really changed much either.

But good job on what you've done and good luck! The keyboard player sounds really good.

Thanks for the kind words on the music. To be clear, we don't do this for the money. That's the whole point, we do it because this is the music that is going on in our heads, and we will go nuts if we don't play it!
Good deals: pianorocker

..::.PROG LIVES!.::..
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Frequent Contributor
jplanet
Posts: 137
Registered: ‎03-20-2008

Re: Keyboard players - why so hard to find?

Quote Originally Posted by guido61 View Post
I like your band and your recording. Sounds really nice. But as far making money by having something to say musically? Depends on what you're saying and who you're saying it to. And I don't think that's any different than it ever has been.

On your website you talk proudly of your music and performances being from the 70s. Well, I'm not sure that 40-year old music has ever had much marketability. I like your music because I'm over 50, but for that same reason I'm probably not going to be buying it or going out to see your band live any time soon. Got other things to do with my time and money.

Nothing at all wrong with what you're playing and how you're playing it. But your expectations for the market need to be realistic and it isn't all the fault of the public or the state of the industry today. And finding guys who want to do things just for the music gets harder as people get older as well. Something else that I don't think has really changed much either.

But good job on what you've done and good luck! The keyboard player sounds really good.

Thanks for the kind words on the music. To be clear, we don't do this for the money. That's the whole point, we do it because this is the music that is going on in our heads, and we will go nuts if we don't play it!
Good deals: pianorocker

..::.PROG LIVES!.::..
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Trusted Contributor
guido61
Posts: 28,317
Registered: ‎12-09-2001

Re: Keyboard players - why so hard to find?

Quote Originally Posted by jplanet View Post
Thanks for the kind words on the music. To be clear, we don't do this for the money. That's the whole point, we do it because this is the music that is going on in our heads, and we will go nuts if we don't play it!
--David

FOR SALE: DBX Driverack PX; DBX 231 EQ; Behringer Racktuner; Rane SAC 22 crossover; Alesis D4 drum module; Line 6 Pod Pro rackmount.

Band website: http://www.JumpStartYourParty.com
http://www.gigmasters.com/Rock/Jump-Start/

Stage gear: Korg Kronos, Yamaha Motif, M-Audio Venom, Neo Ventilator, Digitech GSP-1101, Fender Stratocaster, Takamine Eg544SC, Samson SM10 line mixer, Alesis Picoverb, Samson Airline 77 Wireless, APC Smart-UPS SC 450VA
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Trusted Contributor
guido61
Posts: 28,317
Registered: ‎12-09-2001

Re: Keyboard players - why so hard to find?

Quote Originally Posted by jplanet View Post
Thanks for the kind words on the music. To be clear, we don't do this for the money. That's the whole point, we do it because this is the music that is going on in our heads, and we will go nuts if we don't play it!
--David

FOR SALE: DBX Driverack PX; DBX 231 EQ; Behringer Racktuner; Rane SAC 22 crossover; Alesis D4 drum module; Line 6 Pod Pro rackmount.

Band website: http://www.JumpStartYourParty.com
http://www.gigmasters.com/Rock/Jump-Start/

Stage gear: Korg Kronos, Yamaha Motif, M-Audio Venom, Neo Ventilator, Digitech GSP-1101, Fender Stratocaster, Takamine Eg544SC, Samson SM10 line mixer, Alesis Picoverb, Samson Airline 77 Wireless, APC Smart-UPS SC 450VA
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Piano Whore
Posts: 483
Registered: ‎02-27-2012

Re: Keyboard players - why so hard to find?

IMO jplanet's music has really GOOD marketability. Would anyone have ever predicted Trans-Siberian Orchestra's success? I don't see too much modern about THEIR music-AFAIK rap/hiphop-free and family-friendly. Maybe there are some faults with that comparison, but it seems pretty solid to me.
Andrew the Piano Whore



If you can't get the the forensic social media language-deconstructing technician you REALLY want, call me!

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Super Contributor
Piano Whore
Posts: 483
Registered: ‎02-27-2012

Re: Keyboard players - why so hard to find?

IMO jplanet's music has really GOOD marketability. Would anyone have ever predicted Trans-Siberian Orchestra's success? I don't see too much modern about THEIR music-AFAIK rap/hiphop-free and family-friendly. Maybe there are some faults with that comparison, but it seems pretty solid to me.
Andrew the Piano Whore



If you can't get the the forensic social media language-deconstructing technician you REALLY want, call me!

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Trusted Contributor
guido61
Posts: 28,317
Registered: ‎12-09-2001

Re: Keyboard players - why so hard to find?

Quote Originally Posted by Piano Whore View Post
IMO jplanet's music has really GOOD marketability. Would anyone have ever predicted Trans-Siberian Orchestra's success? I don't see too much modern about THEIR music-AFAIK rap/hiphop-free and family-friendly. Maybe there are some faults with that comparison, but it seems pretty solid to me.
Well, an exception or two doesn't change the rules. I wish the OP all the luck in the world and hope he breaks all the rules in the same way TSO has.

My comment was directed at his line about how the business has changed. I don't think it has. Prog rock was successful in the 70s because it was hip, fresh and appealed almost exclusively to people under 30. Nowadays? Not so much. Now it's a 40-year old genre with very little appeal to younger people. So it's marketability is severely limited for those reasons. In both live and recorded formats. It has nothing much to do with the dedication of the musicians to the art or the state of the music business, really.

That's all I was commenting on. But his music and his band are very, very good, IMO. And if he's doing it for the love of the music without any illusions about the difficulties of selling it, then more power to him. Doing it for the love of it is what it's all about.
--David

FOR SALE: DBX Driverack PX; DBX 231 EQ; Behringer Racktuner; Rane SAC 22 crossover; Alesis D4 drum module; Line 6 Pod Pro rackmount.

Band website: http://www.JumpStartYourParty.com
http://www.gigmasters.com/Rock/Jump-Start/

Stage gear: Korg Kronos, Yamaha Motif, M-Audio Venom, Neo Ventilator, Digitech GSP-1101, Fender Stratocaster, Takamine Eg544SC, Samson SM10 line mixer, Alesis Picoverb, Samson Airline 77 Wireless, APC Smart-UPS SC 450VA
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Trusted Contributor
guido61
Posts: 28,317
Registered: ‎12-09-2001

Re: Keyboard players - why so hard to find?

Quote Originally Posted by Piano Whore View Post
IMO jplanet's music has really GOOD marketability. Would anyone have ever predicted Trans-Siberian Orchestra's success? I don't see too much modern about THEIR music-AFAIK rap/hiphop-free and family-friendly. Maybe there are some faults with that comparison, but it seems pretty solid to me.
Well, an exception or two doesn't change the rules. I wish the OP all the luck in the world and hope he breaks all the rules in the same way TSO has.

My comment was directed at his line about how the business has changed. I don't think it has. Prog rock was successful in the 70s because it was hip, fresh and appealed almost exclusively to people under 30. Nowadays? Not so much. Now it's a 40-year old genre with very little appeal to younger people. So it's marketability is severely limited for those reasons. In both live and recorded formats. It has nothing much to do with the dedication of the musicians to the art or the state of the music business, really.

That's all I was commenting on. But his music and his band are very, very good, IMO. And if he's doing it for the love of the music without any illusions about the difficulties of selling it, then more power to him. Doing it for the love of it is what it's all about.
--David

FOR SALE: DBX Driverack PX; DBX 231 EQ; Behringer Racktuner; Rane SAC 22 crossover; Alesis D4 drum module; Line 6 Pod Pro rackmount.

Band website: http://www.JumpStartYourParty.com
http://www.gigmasters.com/Rock/Jump-Start/

Stage gear: Korg Kronos, Yamaha Motif, M-Audio Venom, Neo Ventilator, Digitech GSP-1101, Fender Stratocaster, Takamine Eg544SC, Samson SM10 line mixer, Alesis Picoverb, Samson Airline 77 Wireless, APC Smart-UPS SC 450VA
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RoadRanger
Posts: 9,718
Registered: ‎02-12-2009

Re: Keyboard players - why so hard to find?

Hey, thinkin' about getting back into keys again - only two songs I ever played live were "Space Truckin'" and "Head Games" and only one handed on a mini-keys Casio . The intro riff on "Head Games" is about the closest to playing a lead I'll be able to pull off for a year or two I suspect. What do all you all think of the chances of finding a band crappy enough to want a crappy (but with potential ) rhythm keys player? Would I really suck if I transpose everything to the white keys like I hear some guys are doin' these days? I might be able to play more than rhythm then . BTW I found an organ program for the iPad that not only lets you transpose but you can tell it wheither you are playing a major, minor, blues, or penatonic scale and it will map the "wrong" keys to the closest "right" note - is that sick or what ?
"We Have Met the Enemy and He is Us" - Walt Kelly

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RoadRanger
Posts: 9,718
Registered: ‎02-12-2009

Re: Keyboard players - why so hard to find?

Hey, thinkin' about getting back into keys again - only two songs I ever played live were "Space Truckin'" and "Head Games" and only one handed on a mini-keys Casio . The intro riff on "Head Games" is about the closest to playing a lead I'll be able to pull off for a year or two I suspect. What do all you all think of the chances of finding a band crappy enough to want a crappy (but with potential ) rhythm keys player? Would I really suck if I transpose everything to the white keys like I hear some guys are doin' these days? I might be able to play more than rhythm then . BTW I found an organ program for the iPad that not only lets you transpose but you can tell it wheither you are playing a major, minor, blues, or penatonic scale and it will map the "wrong" keys to the closest "right" note - is that sick or what ?
"We Have Met the Enemy and He is Us" - Walt Kelly

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guido61
Posts: 28,317
Registered: ‎12-09-2001

Re: Keyboard players - why so hard to find?

Quote Originally Posted by RoadRanger View Post
Hey, thinkin' about getting back into keys again - only two songs I ever played live were "Space Truckin'" and "Head Games" and only one handed on a mini-keys Casio . The intro riff on "Head Games" is about the closest to playing a lead I'll be able to pull off for a year or two I suspect. What do all you all think of the chances of finding a band crappy enough to want a crappy (but with potential ) rhythm keys player? Would I really suck if I transpose everything to the white keys like I hear some guys are doin' these days? I might be able to play more than rhythm then . BTW I found an organ program for the iPad that not only lets you transpose but you can tell it wheither you are playing a major, minor, blues, or penatonic scale and it will map the "wrong" keys to the closest "right" note - is that sick or what ?
As in demand as keyboard players can be, I'm sure you could find work. Especially since you can sing. And transposing? Why not? If that makes it easier for you and sound better--that's why the added that feature in the first place.
--David

FOR SALE: DBX Driverack PX; DBX 231 EQ; Behringer Racktuner; Rane SAC 22 crossover; Alesis D4 drum module; Line 6 Pod Pro rackmount.

Band website: http://www.JumpStartYourParty.com
http://www.gigmasters.com/Rock/Jump-Start/

Stage gear: Korg Kronos, Yamaha Motif, M-Audio Venom, Neo Ventilator, Digitech GSP-1101, Fender Stratocaster, Takamine Eg544SC, Samson SM10 line mixer, Alesis Picoverb, Samson Airline 77 Wireless, APC Smart-UPS SC 450VA
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Trusted Contributor
guido61
Posts: 28,317
Registered: ‎12-09-2001

Re: Keyboard players - why so hard to find?

Quote Originally Posted by RoadRanger View Post
Hey, thinkin' about getting back into keys again - only two songs I ever played live were "Space Truckin'" and "Head Games" and only one handed on a mini-keys Casio . The intro riff on "Head Games" is about the closest to playing a lead I'll be able to pull off for a year or two I suspect. What do all you all think of the chances of finding a band crappy enough to want a crappy (but with potential ) rhythm keys player? Would I really suck if I transpose everything to the white keys like I hear some guys are doin' these days? I might be able to play more than rhythm then . BTW I found an organ program for the iPad that not only lets you transpose but you can tell it wheither you are playing a major, minor, blues, or penatonic scale and it will map the "wrong" keys to the closest "right" note - is that sick or what ?
As in demand as keyboard players can be, I'm sure you could find work. Especially since you can sing. And transposing? Why not? If that makes it easier for you and sound better--that's why the added that feature in the first place.
--David

FOR SALE: DBX Driverack PX; DBX 231 EQ; Behringer Racktuner; Rane SAC 22 crossover; Alesis D4 drum module; Line 6 Pod Pro rackmount.

Band website: http://www.JumpStartYourParty.com
http://www.gigmasters.com/Rock/Jump-Start/

Stage gear: Korg Kronos, Yamaha Motif, M-Audio Venom, Neo Ventilator, Digitech GSP-1101, Fender Stratocaster, Takamine Eg544SC, Samson SM10 line mixer, Alesis Picoverb, Samson Airline 77 Wireless, APC Smart-UPS SC 450VA
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Super Contributor
Piano Whore
Posts: 483
Registered: ‎02-27-2012

Re: Keyboard players - why so hard to find?

@roadranger- if you can play substantial rhythm parts with a good feel that enhances the groove, doesn't clutter things up, and fills sonic "holes"- IE, what the music needs- AND sing well- you should get more work than a non-vocalist such as myself, IMO. A singer in one of my bands used to show me keyboard parts, and play them well enough that I asked him "why aren't YOU playing keys?" He assumed that not being a soloist ruled out being the sole keyboard player in a band. But he took my advice and started gigging on keys. Especially in the increasingly down-sized bar-band scene, versatility trumps advanced skill at any one thing and a jack-of-all-trades guy will get more work than a specialist. IMO that's a subject that deserves it's own thread.
Andrew the Piano Whore



If you can't get the the forensic social media language-deconstructing technician you REALLY want, call me!

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Super Contributor
Piano Whore
Posts: 483
Registered: ‎02-27-2012

Re: Keyboard players - why so hard to find?

@roadranger- if you can play substantial rhythm parts with a good feel that enhances the groove, doesn't clutter things up, and fills sonic "holes"- IE, what the music needs- AND sing well- you should get more work than a non-vocalist such as myself, IMO. A singer in one of my bands used to show me keyboard parts, and play them well enough that I asked him "why aren't YOU playing keys?" He assumed that not being a soloist ruled out being the sole keyboard player in a band. But he took my advice and started gigging on keys. Especially in the increasingly down-sized bar-band scene, versatility trumps advanced skill at any one thing and a jack-of-all-trades guy will get more work than a specialist. IMO that's a subject that deserves it's own thread.
Andrew the Piano Whore



If you can't get the the forensic social media language-deconstructing technician you REALLY want, call me!

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Frequent Contributor
jplanet
Posts: 137
Registered: ‎03-20-2008

Re: Keyboard players - why so hard to find?

Quote Originally Posted by guido61 View Post
... Prog rock was successful in the 70s because it was hip, fresh and appealed almost exclusively to people under 30. Nowadays? Not so much. Now it's a 40-year old genre with very little appeal to younger people. ...
This is only the case in the U.S., and in an internet-driven music market, where you are located matters very little to fans. In Europe, prog never succumbed to the punk-rock backlash that started in England and carried through in the U.S....In Sweden, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, etc., prog fans are high-school kids, and they really pack the festivals there...

It's just hard for me to imagine any rock keyboardist not having some allegiance to prog -- prog is what put keyboards on the rock stage. Where would rock keyboards be without the likes of Keith Emerson, Rock Wakeman, Tony Banks? And prog's influence can be heard all over modern pop - wherever you hear unusual time signatures, classical instrumentation, or the classic Moog sound, prog blazed that trail. It continues to, but people put different labels on it.

Prog is also just another marketing niche. We play our music to people who have no idea what prog is, and they just associate it with what they know. They might hear the influence of The Who, Queen, Styx, early Heart, even Trans Siberian...
Good deals: pianorocker

..::.PROG LIVES!.::..
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