|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 479
Journeyman
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 479 |
So I play out for a living just a guitar drum machine a few joks, banter some songs etcetera.
I'm about to complete my third solo CD and have been thinking about doing some lower paying gigs at original venues.
You know, some of these original acoustic places and wineries that are too cheap to pay ASCAP...
So I can re mix my stuff and drop the vocal track out and use those tracks when I would play these joints.
I'm guessing that some of you guys play out and use backing tracks, correct?
I've seen guys using various methods.
IPod, iPad, laptop even somebody who had box is full of 1 song cassettes.
Anybody out there have a particular favorite, preferably seamless, method of doing this?
Thanks in advance fellows.
And, ladies.
WSS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 463
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 463 |
I switched from CDs to an MP3 player a few years ago. Another forum member, Mike Wever, commented in a post that he used about four MP3 players during his shows. Why didn't I think of that?
My song list is now on three MP3 players, only covers; no originals.
If playing requests and interchanging players becomes tedious, I give ‘em the old, “I’ll try to get to it next set.”
Percy
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,494
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,494 |
I have written an entire web page about this, explaining how I make my backing tracks and how I use them on stage. I've been using backing tracks in my duo since 1985 and have gone from cassettes, to floppy disks to the method I'm using now, which works absolutely best for me. Full details are here http://www.nortonmusic.com/backing_tracks.html -- you can take what you want and leave the rest. Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 479
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 479 |
Hi Percy, yeah that would be a lot more complicated having the entire show on the mp3 player and dealing with requests.
If I only had 20 or 30 originals on it I could probably manage with a single mp3 player.
I didn't want to go that route for my commercial show since so much of it is screwing around with the audience.
Thank you sir!
WSS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,722
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,722 |
Steve,
I do it nearly 100 times per year BIAB to laptop, to small mixer to powered speakers.
Later,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109 |
Quote:
Hi Percy, yeah that would be a lot more complicated having the entire show on the mp3 player and dealing with requests.
If I only had 20 or 30 originals on it I could probably manage with a single mp3 player.
I didn't want to go that route for my commercial show since so much of it is screwing around with the audience.
Thank you sir!
WSS
Steve,
I'd like to hear more about how you interact with the audience. (You too Danny)
I think audience interaction is important; but I'm a fairly introverted guy. When I start playing publicly again, audience interaction won't come naturally for me.. I'll need a model to imitate.
So any advice you can serve up on this topic will be appreciated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,722
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,722 |
...
I deleted my post as I got to thinking it might have hijacked the thread. With this said Pat I sent you a PM with the info regarding audience interaction you asked for in the post above.
Sorry for any inconvenience.
Later,
Last edited by Danny C.; 03/03/13 10:51 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
The performers I have seen have a varied mix of transport and it's funny that it's almost totally relative to the amount of income they have available to invest. I saw Eliot Lewis a few months back and he used an iPad. Of course he does pretty well as a member of Daryl Hall's band as well as having AWB on his resume. On the local level I have seen more generic types of devices, but they all do the same job, so "whatever you have" seems like a workable answer. I have gone round and round about the "quality" of playback devices, but whichever you choose, it boils down to some executable program is playing back some data file, and it doesn't know if you are at The Carnegie Lounge or Carnegie Hall. Myself I would go iPad, but that's just because I already have it. If I didn't, I'd go laptop, since I have 2 of them. And if you went laptop, you are just playing back wav files so you don't need a rocket sauce super computer. If you picked up a used laptop and loaded some music player (I like VLC - everybody has a favorite) it would be fine. I would make sure it has an SD slot so you can use memory cards that you can move from studio computer to laptop as you move files. Again, some use USB devices, but I like as few "moving parts" as possible, An external hard drive can fall, a thumb drive can get snapped off, etc.....
Plus Steve, you know a good computer guy to help you make a used one run like new....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 897
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 897 |
Nice Gigging with Mile's "Kinda Blue"...but then again, I can waste away with anchovy-stuffed martinis till I can wake up and finish with the musicians in my BIAB Computer Box.
And to think I started out with a tiny IPOD in my shirt pocket...and a stuffed Miles sittin'next to me...of course always next to me...always
Yamaha...Motif ES-8, Motif Rack, CS6X
Korg...Karma,Triton Classic, PA-80, M-1+
AkaiSampler-S5000, Roland.. X5080 Rack/G-1000 Arranger
Various Guitars/Basses Amps Pedals Rec.Equip.
Plus, BIAB 2015 and Sonar Platinum 2015 Upgrade from Cakewalk's Sonar X-3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
Quote:
Steve, I'd like to hear more about how you interact with the audience. I think audience interaction is important, but I'm a fairly introverted guy.
I can tell you from first hand knowledge that Steve and introverted have never collided in the same sentence. He also plays to a steady following so the banter is fairly natural, and people always leave his shows laughing. I did the crowd patter in a Motown band I was in, and basically I was just being a smart ass, fortunately something that comes naturally to me. Make some jokes about the ugly shirt someone is wearing, comment as someone goes into the bathroom that they are running out on you, tell the story about why this next song was written.... I used to do a bit after the first song were I would find something to get a laugh out of. Two examples. Once playing in a room we visited often, one particular girl always sat in the same seat. Every time we played, she was in "that" seat. One night she got there late and her seat was taken so she sat somewhere else. When we finished that first song, I stopped and looked over the room like I was thinking or drinking in the room. Then I said "Something is just wrong here tonight...... Oh yeah. I see it now." Then I took the wireless mic and walked out and went to that girl and said "This girl is in the wrong seat. That's what it is. And I escorted her to "her" seat and told the guy "I'm sorry sir but you are going to have to move. This girl sits here." And the guy laughed like crazy and found another seat. (I ended up dating that girl for almost a year...) The other example is that some girls came in and one of them was like 5'10" and all legs and she had this TINY skirt on. She sat at the bar across from the stage and crossed those long legs. And a few songs in I stopped the show and went to her with a towel I had on stage and draped it across her knees, saying "You look great and all I but I am trying to work here and I can't play and stare at these long legs at the same time." She loved it, the room laughed.... she followed us gig to gig after that night.
Another thing we did was go in early and tape a band business card to the underside of a chair and at some point we'd tell them to check and whoever had the card got a free beer on the band.
One night, just for no reason, I said "Okay, and tonight's winning number is "Five..... Seven.... Nine. Who has 579?" (which of course meant nothing because there was no contest or anything, but it made for a lot of buzz.)
Mainly, just have fun with them like you'd circulate at a party. Sense of humor is HUGE, and sadly missing from this "do it now, microwaved corporate go-go-go country we live in." 7 people doing the work of 10, people working 8 hours at work and then logging in from home to work 4 more..... Life goes past too quickly to work yourself to death and miss out on having fun.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 263
Apprentice
|
|
Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 263 |
DannyC
That's the way I used to do my whole show until one day my laptop failed. It just wouldn't bring up anything. I was about to abandon the gig and apologize profusely when a fellow in the audience came up onstage and asked if I would like some help. I, of course being desperate, agreed to let him take a look at my laptop. He said he was employed by Hewlett Packard so I said "Have at it". He picked my laptop up and whacked it a good whack on the bottom and said, "we have to do that sometimes." It worked! Brought the screen up and did the program without a hitch. Oh, the wonders of the technitions touch!
Val
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
Val, it's knowing WHERE to hit!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 479
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 479 |
Yes Eddie I do know a computer guy!
And yeah I have a pad, not an iPad but a Samsung, and I also have a droid phone and an iPod.
I can play MP3s from anyway of them, I even have an HP laptop.
I can easily enough mix down my songs in Sonar and leave out the vocal track.
I've seen some guys with the pad on a music stand, a laptop beside his mixing board and 1 who had his iPod affixed to his microphone stand.
It would be nice if I could trigger it with a foot switch.
As far as interaction, it depends on the club.
For instance Saturday at the Eastland and I was telling jokes about a quarter of the time.
Check YouTube.com Westside Steve Simmons.
I think there's 1 called guinness time.
And Val I'm so sorry, I've just been insanely busy getting my new CD ready for spring.
I do have the tracks and lyrics!
WSS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 479
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 479 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,494
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,494 |
An iPod should work, but for me it won't. Why? Because I don't do set lists. I'm not clairvoyant enough to know exactly what will be best for the audience more than 2 songs in advance.
I use a laptop because I can decide what song to play next in the last 10 seconds of the song I'm currently playing, hit two or 3 letters on the keyboard to call it up, and have it start immediately after the song I'm currently playing. That way the dancers won't leave the floor.
So I look at the crowd, are they getting tired? Are they really getting into it? And then I decide what to play next.
The iPod just doesn't work for me as it takes too much time to get to the next song. I suppose an iPad would work the same way, but I like having the laptop keyboard up all the time. I can usually find time enough near the end of the song to type a couple of letters so the next song is queued up.
But I do bring a spare laptop. Using a laptop as an mp3 or wav player, does not require much. If you're tight on money, a refurbished one should work as a spare. Just make sure to boot it up regularly.
I have the spare booted up and ready to go on each job. It's a ThinkPad that I bought in 2002 and it has had only one failure since then. The CMOS battery died - a $5.00 replacement from Radio Shack. The CMOS battery runs the clock and the computer won't boot without it.
I use the "spare" to display words and/or music charts. I don't really need the cheat sheets for most songs, but it's nice to have them for the new not-yet memorized songs, and for those times when a major distraction occurs in the song (like someone coming up to the stage wanting to talk to you while you are singing/playing).
I also keep all my backing tracks on a USB flash drive. I've never needed that, but it's nice knowing it's there.
One thing that I think is very important. When using a laptop, don't rely on the headphone jack. Use a USB-AUDIO interface. They are inexpensive, have better bandwidth than the headphone jack (higher fidelity), and don't make that crackling noise when accidentally touched.
Insights and incites by Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 479
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 479 |
Yes, notes, I'd probably only use it for my original set. My eye sight kind of sucks so it would be a problem searching 4 songs on an iPod!
WSS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,722
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,722 |
Quote:
DannyC
That's the way I used to do my whole show until one day my laptop failed. It just wouldn't bring up anything. I was about to abandon the gig and apologize profusely when a fellow in the audience came up onstage and asked if I would like some help. I, of course being desperate, agreed to let him take a look at my laptop. He said he was employed by Hewlett Packard so I said "Have at it". He picked my laptop up and whacked it a good whack on the bottom and said, "we have to do that sometimes." It worked! Brought the screen up and did the program without a hitch. Oh, the wonders of the technitions touch!
Val
I do carry a spare. But I have benn very lucky thus far, never anything serious going wrong.
Later,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,494
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,494 |
I do one-nighters for a living, which are very hard on all the gear. It is my primary means of making a living, so I perform a lot.
Since I started bringing laptops for my backing tracks, I went to the spare twice.
The first time, the hard drive started to make a mechanical noise so between songs I moved the USB cable to the other computer. I replaced the HD the next day. There was no failure or interruption of our gig.
The second time, the CMOS battery died and the main computer wouldn't boot. I went to the spare and replaced the $5 battery the next day.
I only use ThinkPads because I believe they are the most reliable and rugged consumer PC on the market. I keep the software on my stage computers to a minimum (no Office, no added games, no Internet, no non-essential software at all) and in the 10+ years those were the only two problems - no other glitches at all.
Although thousands of times I didn't need the spare, for the two times I did need the spare they were worth their weight in gold.
Insights and incites by Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,722
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,722 |
Notes,
You are the guy who put me on Lenovo years ago and I have never looked back.
Thanks again,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021 |
Quote:
Notes,
You are the guy who put me on Lenovo years ago and I have never looked back.
Thanks again,
Me too! Lenovo running Power Tracks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!
PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.
The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.
The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.
Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!
Order now!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,086
Posts800,018
Members40,031
| |
Most Online44,367
Mar 4th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean