That reminds me of the time in 1991 when we played an event for recovering alcoholics and we started drinking beer at 1pm during setup. By the time we started at 8 we were HAMMERED!!!
That didn't go over well.
At all.
That was probably a collective bad decision as I look back on it now...
There is more than one way to do this. What's right for one isn't necessarily right for the other.
Unlike Eddie, I actually enjoy playing Mustang Sally and the others.
To me, simple songs are like potato chips or Cheetos, junk food for the ears. Not a lot of nutritional value, but a lot of fun to play.
I enjoy nutritious 'art songs' too, and play some of those as well.
I enjoy playing WITH the audience. It's a dialog, it's give and take, and they enjoy what I do, even when I add something for myself. I'm rewarded with love from the audience and enough money to meet my needs.
I don't consider entertaining a sell-out. Other's do. To me, the ultimate sell-out is to take a day job, so I can play 'art music' one day a week for drinks and tips or very low wages. Other's disagree, but that makes us both right.
I had two 'day jobs' in my life while testing what it was to be normal, and to me a bad day at playing music is better than a good day at any other job I can think of.
And I don't agree that the average audience would like whatever you played, as long as you do it well. If I decided to play a set consisting of "Four", "Moonlight Sonata", "Marzy Dotes", "Camptown Races", "Brandenburg Concerto", "Bemsha Swing", and "Night In Tunisia" 90% of the people in the USA wouldn't like it. None of these are considered pop music to me.
During one of my day jobs, I played Sunday afternoons in a jazz band. The guitarist taught at the University of Miami and was in Ira Sullivan's group for a while. Real heavyweights in the industry came to sit in with us because they knew him well. I enjoyed that gig.
For a few years, I played in a top40 band, and ended up being the opening act for top stars of the day. Enjoyed that one too. Plus, I've gigged in a blues band, Salsa band, punk band, sonic-wallpaper band, disco band, psychedelic acid-rock band, show band, symphonic band, and an oldies band. I enjoyed them all.
I just like playing music, and I like entertaining an audience. It's the most fun I can have with my clothes on. YMMV
That reminds me of the time in 1991 when we played an event for recovering alcoholics and we started drinking beer at 1pm during setup. By the time we started at 8 we were HAMMERED!!!
That didn't go over well.
At all.
That was probably a collective bad decision as I look back on it now...
Years ago, an agent booked us for a New Year's Eve party at an Alcoholics Anonymous club. I discovered it was A.A. when we got there to set up our gear. I told the guy who let us in, "You know, you took away our competitive edge!" He laughed a bit, grinned a lot, and I knew it was going to be OK.
They had coffee, doughnuts, soft drinks, finger food, and people from all classes of society were there, from the poor to the well-heeled. Inside A.A. they all got along despite their class differences because they had one major thing in common.
We had a great time at the gig, and I felt a little safer driving home that night.
And I don't agree that the average audience would like whatever you played, as long as you do it well. If I decided to play a set consisting of "Four", "Moonlight Sonata", "Marzy Dotes", "Camptown Races", "Brandenburg Concerto", "Bemsha Swing", and "Night In Tunisia" 90% of the people in the USA wouldn't like it. None of these are considered pop music to me.
Insights and incites by Notes ♫
I would LOVE to hear that set and anyone who could accomplish it. The Brandenburg is the killer. But that’s just me.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
There is more than one way to do this. What's right for one isn't necessarily right for the other.
Unlike Eddie, I actually enjoy playing Mustang Sally and the others.
To me, simple songs are like potato chips or Cheetos, junk food for the ears. Not a lot of nutritional value, but a lot of fun to play.
I enjoy nutritious 'art songs' too, and play some of those as well.
I enjoy playing WITH the audience. It's a dialog, it's give and take, and they enjoy what I do, even when I add something for myself. I'm rewarded with love from the audience and enough money to meet my needs.
I don't consider entertaining a sell-out. Other's do. To me, the ultimate sell-out is to take a day job, so I can play 'art music' one day a week for drinks and tips or very low wages. Other's disagree, but that makes us both right.
...................................... Insights and incites by Notes ♫
Unlike you I was a weekend warrior for years playing in wedding bands. Other guitarists called me a sell-out but I just laughed all the way to the bank.
Like you we interacted with the audience and played what they wanted to hear and not necessarily what we liked to play. The plus side of this is that we had more gigs then we wanted and had to turn down many gigs because we were already booked.
During the down times, all in the winter months, we played at VFWs, American Legions, etc. Again we were booked year after year.
The bottom line is that you have to decide what you want to play and not criticize people who take a different path.
YMMV
The fitness trainer asked me, "What kind of a squat are you accustomed to doing?" I said, "Diddly."
64 bit Win 11 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
SIMON! That was spectacular. I'd call it stripped down metal, maybe. It has the 'elements' even when it was quiet..the jagged rhythm, dissonance, and all that.
It's just that they were out of costume (except the drummer, but only when he was shirtless). They look like the next six or so hipsters through the doors at Starbucks. How can they be metal without the costumes?
But that singer! Lord-a-mercy. Those are probably the best vocals I've heard in a long, long, long ever.
Glad you liked it! Your reaction is spot-on - Einar's vocals are absolutely out of this world.
Originally Posted By: Tangmo
On topic: Pop is like [*****]. I have a hard time defining it, but I know it when I (see) hear it. I've always liked the majority of what made it to radio, as long as it doesn't wear out its welcome.
I agree. I think we all get tired of whatever we hear too much of - for example listening to Kiss a few times is fun, but a hundred thousand times might get a bit old.
Originally Posted By: eddie1261
I will play what I want to play, and I am going to have a band that plays it SO WELL that they will have no choice but to adore us for what they are hearing. And it will include about 20% of my own writings.
Drivers really loved the Corvette and the Firebird. Should every car maker have tiptoed down the party line and make one of what every other car maker is already doing, or is there something to be said for being unique?
Valid point. Don't get me wrong here, those are two beautiful cars, and one could argue that they are universally accepted as the pinnacle of automotive design, but having driven more than my fair share of Firebirds and their Camaro siblings I can confidently say I would never want to own one.
Same goes for music. Having listened to my fair share of country, hip hop, blues, top 40, and other genres I don't typically listen to, I can confidently say that I would likely be bored at a gig that focused on these genres. You could put me at the front row of a Beatles concert and I would probably get bored and walk out, much like how most of you would walk out of a Meshuggah concert.
Originally Posted By: Planobilly
It's not your choice what you can sing in certain venues.
Especially if you're getting paid.
Originally Posted By: Notes Norton
I don't consider entertaining a sell-out. Other's do. To me, the ultimate sell-out is to take a day job, so I can play 'art music' one day a week for drinks and tips or very low wages. Other's disagree, but that makes us both right.
Much how I don't consider working here at PG a sell-out. I could try and start my own music studio, which would likely end up a very expensive exercise in futility, but I'm happy receiving a regular paycheque while still working a job that allows me to be musical and creative. Not to mention I share an office with a very expensive grand piano that I get to play regularly...
Having driven more than my fair share of Firebirds and their Camaro siblings I can confidently say I would never want to own one.
Darn Simon, I had you in my will to get my Camaro. I guess I'll have to find someone else to give it to when I pass......
Haha I meant Camaro's are the best car ever and I've always wanted one of my own hahaha
*edit* Realistically, most of the Camaro's I've driven were 80's models that were very well worn - one had been extensively modified, but not very well (a rear-end swap that totally messed up the gear ratios). The Firebirds I've driven were all similar, save for my dad's '99 Firebird Formula, which in my opinion was just not as fun to drive as my old '94 Mustang V6, my '91 Probe, or my '99 Cougar.
Last edited by Simon - PG Music; 09/23/2112:30 PM.
Yeah, I wasn't a big fan of the mid 80s - 90s Firebird/Camaros that were a little smaller. The big late 70s - early 80s were much better. My Dad had a couple late 70s TransAms that were awesome to drive. All the electronics and tech features in them today make them very fun plus the retro body style. I really like to play Pop Music!!! There, back on topic....
nice car sslecta. lol...camaros/firebirds/corvettes etc common as cheese. get a real mans car lmao... as i mention in my song coastal highway in the pg user showcase.. A CATERHAM (links/pics on you tube in the showcase).
all the women i know lol...say real men choose the caterham option to build your own.
lol...if you get a caterham, all you american guys. note >> englands women like american guys accents and also flash sports cars. i should know cos when i lived in uk , i would pretend to be american by hanging around with some american buds...lol...thats how i got dates. so i went to america where the american women like english blokes. opposites attract lol
ps love eddies bobble pic. happiness to all om ps i once owned a wreck of a 79 firebird with a special engine if i remember forgotten engine model. wish i had kept it now and refurbed it. 289 ?
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 09/23/2101:16 PM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
You guys need to come to visit me so you can see both cars and guitars!
.
Billy
“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig? “Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”
Come on down Simon. I have a 200-watt metal amp from hell I custom-built just for you to play through. But better bring a helper because the Mercury Magnetics transformers tip the scale at around forty pounds.
Oh, and just in case you don't like the Ferrari you can take the Countach for a spin...lol
Billy
Last edited by Planobilly; 09/23/2101:47 PM.
“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig? “Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”
Head to Rick Beato’s YouTube channel as he goes through a recent list of the most paid for downloads on iTunes. Not streaming, but what people are paying for the right to listen to particular songs at will
The closest thing I had to a Ferrari was a Fiat 128 Spider. Its name was "Freddy" (the only car I ever had with a male name). Body by Pininfarina, tuned exhausts, red, convertible, 2 seater, it was fast, and it hugged the road.
The speedometer went to 140 mph (225 km/h), but I never took it over 135 (217) because the tach yellow-lined there.
I got a ticket for going 95mph on I-95 once.
That car cost me a lot of money in fines.
But it was a lot of fun.
When I went from carrying two saxophones and a flute to the gig, to carrying a complete PA to the gig, I had to get something bigger. So it was "Arrivederci, Freddy."
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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