Quote:
I don't think that good audience response is dictated by the number of entertainers onstage, nor whether there are any kind of backing tracks or autoaccompaniment going on, the real common denominator is Strong Performance and that can be accomplished no matter what the presentation consists of, solo entertainer all the way up to the bigband and orchestral and everything in between.


I agree completely...

but the main point of my original post was more about opportunity than anything else.

In the past people seeking solo gigs have met resistance not only from people who hire the musicians, but also from audience members who say that anything less than a full band is "not real music"

I see that changing... maybe not as fast as I'd like to see it... but when high visibility places like resorts hire solo acts, to me that signifies a change in perception.

I'll use John DeJardins (aka Silvertones) as an example. Johns act is VERY well prepared. Its interesting, and John is an extremely talented musician and singer. But he only gets fringe opportunities because he's still running into that brick wall of perception that defines live music as being a whole band. Based on his posts, I'd say John has been plenty discouraged and it makes me mad that anybody would deny him the opportunity to show what he has up his sleeve.

That's my main point... but I totally agree that its still up to the solo artist to serve up a strong performance once the opportunity arrives. (I think John does that)

Somebody who gets up and sucks doesn't deserve a second gig. What bothers me is when somebody like John gets up and does a good job, and the local yokels decide it wasn't real music so they don't give him a second chance. But it looks like that's changing. How long it takes to get from the coastal resorts to western NC is another question.

Hang in there John. You're awesome.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ey71h8ep047758h/AAC12jNM0Hz9Q8zsh5iDeqNHa?dl=0