PG Music Home Forums General Discussion Off-Topic My first gig in sunny Florida

I have just finished my first gig ever and I doubt it will get better than this. I set up under a gazebo next to the pool at the campground that is our winter home in Florida. The audience of about 60 was round the pool and under a lean-to party room next to the pool. I knew many of them so it was a really supportive audience. The sun was shining and it was 80degF.

Here are some PHOTOS of the location and my equipment set up.

I made a folding screen velrcoed to the keyboard stand to hide the wires etc and my wife made a cover with a Xmas theme that velcroes to the screen. We can make different covers to suite different occasions.

I cannot play without reading the music so I have set up my keyboard on a two level stand with a shelf on the top level to hold the music, mixer, synth and laptop. Page turning could have been a problem so I have photocopied the music for every BIAB song and put it in plastic sheets in ring binders. I can flip the pages easily because they slide over each other. I had no problems with page turning at all. I found my first gig experience a bit like learning to drive a car. At first it was hard to concentrate on everything at once but after an hour or so I was able to flip the pages or adjust the mix or glance at the screen without loosing concentration. I guess this is something you get better at with practice. The hardest part was remembering the repeats for different songs. Some repeats can get quite complicated so I developed a system using different coloured highlighters marked on the music to help me remember the repeats.

Most of the audience is retired (like me) so I decided to play something for everyone and see what worked for them. I played for three hours in the afternoon with a short break and my set included everything from Moonlight Serenade to I Can’t Get No Satisfaction – quite an eclectic mix. BIAB was a hit with everyone especially some of the songs which I had put together to showcase the program’s RT solos.

I used a “name that tune” formula where I played a couple of bars without BIAB and asked the audience to name the tune or the artist or movie it was from. Then I mentioned some trivia about the song that I had looked up on Wikipedia. Then I played the song with BIAB accompaniment. Since most of my songs were standards or well known pop/country songs the formula seem to work really well – there was great audience participation.

I really enjoyed the experience and everyone wants me to do it again. There is a resident entertainer at the campground - I think he gets free rent for entertaining once a month. He plays and sings very well but has a limited repertoire of mainly heavy rhythm and blues. He has been playing the same songs for years and most people are hungry for something different. He doesn’t seem to recognize the needs of his audience and has never heard of BIAB. The owners of the campground like the idea of someone different and since I can read music I can keep changing my sets to keep them fresh. If I can find the music, then with BIAB’s help, I can perform it. The next challenge is to master singing while playing and reading.

Tony
Waterloo, Ontario and Palm Harbor, Florida

That is a nice setup and a GREAT report! I am a little jealous, since there are no opportunities around here to do this type of thing..

Thanks for sharing!

Nice!! Tidy, efficient, everything you need at arm's length.... unlike the spaghetti factory a lot of us have....

Very nice! I wish I could of been there!

Couldn't get the photos. Another wonderful Google app.

Hi Tony,

Man, I see you are in the fun part of Florida. Sounds like a neat place for a snow bird retreat! You must be one of those people with the Canadian license plates attached to those huge RV campers I always see on I-95 & I-75. I know there are lots out there, especially in Canada, that are coveting your 80F temps. And for you folks that are envying Tony right now. Just remember, he leaves here when the temps turn into flames from March through October!! Yes, it actually gets hot enough to where you cannot enjoy the pool...

Boy, "Can't Get No Satisfaction" for retirees? Times they are a changin'.

Enjoy your time in FL this winter!

RickeG

Tony,

Happy to hear it all worked out for you, but many of us knew it would as we all do something very similar. Glad to hear you completed your 1st gig with BIAB and my bet is there will be plenty more to come, so break a leg!

PS: You have a PM coming your way.

Enjoy,

Welcome to Florida Tony...these 80 degree days we've been having are sure to get our Northern friends jealous!

Thanks for the great report Tony. Three hours is a long time for a gig. I hope you have many more, if that is what you are wanting to do. Sounds like people had a great time and I heard the music was excellent !!

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