|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900 |
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1
Newbie
|
|
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 589
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 589 |
when I used to play the clubs in the early days it was always live backing eg drummer and organist.Then came backing tracks and after a few years live backing disappeared Im afraid thats progress for you.frankie
AMD Athlon 7550 dual core
processor 2.51 ghz
1 87 gb ram
windows 7 Ultimate
yamaha rev 500 effects
tacam DP-24 DAW
Samson Resolv NF monitors
Yamaha PSR-620 Keyboard
Fender semi accoustic guitar
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697 |
Sad yes Sam, but nothing new. Remember we had a long discussion about this last year? I gave you numerous examples and personal experiences. Trying to make a true career out of music is practically impossible outside of teaching. Music as a sideline with a real job that actually pays the bills, maybe. That article talked about the top 3 colleges in New York graduating 500 people a year. Want to talk about LA and the UCLA School of Music, USC, Grove, how about Boston University and Berklee, U of Texas at Austin, the schools in Nashville and all the conservatories in Europe? Thousands and thousands of highly skilled music grads a year chasing what, 200-300 studio gigs and 100 orchestras worldwide? Everybody else plays coffee shops and private parties or some local bar for a hundred bucks twice a week if they're lucky. If you can marry the girl singer and double the family income, that can work.
It's a cruel joke on kids spending tons of money and time for squat.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,278
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,278 |
Martin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,504
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,504 |
I've made a career out of music since the 1960s. It's possible, but it's getting more difficult. Clubs that used to hire bands 6 nights per week are down to weekends. Smaller clubs that used to hire weekend acts are down to one night a week. And because fewer people are going out, the entertainment purchaser is strapped for cash, so the bands have to get smaller (enter backing tracks). Now I see single people playing private clubs buying karaoke tracks and singing along while not playing any instrument at all. To me the big culprit is TV. I was talking to my mother-in-law a couple of years ago, and she remarked how in her day, first it was radio, and then black & white TV. She said the sound was terrible and if you wanted to hear good musical entertainment, you just had to go out to see it live. Now people have giant TV screens with 7.1 surround sound and a monthly Cable or other subscription bill that can easily run into the hundreds of dollars. There goes the entertainment budget right there. According to the pollsters, the average American watches 6 hours of TV a day. Add that to working hours and the monthly subscription fee and who has the time and money to go out to hear live entertainment? Plus, TV is the most abused, and biggest drug habit in the US. Drug you say? - It's habit forming. Try turning off the TV for a week, I guarantee you will get withdrawal symptoms
- The drug needs to get stronger and stronger - it was "Our Miss Brooks" in the 50s and "Sex In The City" by the 90s
- The drug user (TV Watcher) can't tell the difference between the drug (TV) and reality. Just ask any actor/actress who plays an evil person on TV. If they go to the grocery store or anywhere else in public, people shout verbal abuses at them is if they were actually the character they are portraying on TV
So if you want to contribute to the demise of live entertainment. Stay home and watch TV. If you want to do something to help keep live music in your community. Go out every week to hear live music -- and not just the headliners, go to the local clubs where local musicians are playing. Just say "no" to TV. 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: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
When I was younger we'd go to a blues club or other club at least once a week. Dingy, beer stuck to the floor, smoke laden, downright nasty places. Have 5 beers and drive home. Now you can't have 2 beers and drive. And I have cataracts, I don't drive at night. And the noise level, I couldn't take it now. 30 years have changed a lot.
I still go every other Saturday for Saturday at the Opera (Met) high def broadcast in Surround Sound at the Deluxe Adults Only Cinema with big leather seats, drinks serve'md before and at intermission, a martini and shrimp cocktail anyone? I still give a bit every month to the Canadian Opera Company, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and try and get there once a year. Locally I support the Jazz Society, once a month a 'meet' and concert for about 300 people at 'my' club. (Shriner's Hall, I'm past pres), though they just rent the space from us for Sunday afternoon.
I'm trying to convince more groups that weekend afternoons would solve a host of problems. The wife and I used to put together 3 songs and go to some open mics. Got some good gigs that way. I'm too disabled to do that at the moment, but I'm not staying up to 10 to start of a Thursday and come home after midnight. I hope to be asleep then....
John Conley
Musica est vita
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,259
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,259 |
<<Now people have giant TV screens with 7.1 surround sound and a monthly Cable or other subscription bill that can easily run into the hundreds of dollars. There goes the entertainment budget right there.>>
It's even worse than that. It finally recently dawned on me that I could have movies and other shows via wifi for $8 per month from Netflix. The movie theaters will suffer from this as well as the local clubs. But, I agree that TV has taken a huge toll. The "broadway" shows that come to our town have very few musicians since they rely on sound equipment. I would rather see (and play with) live musicians but the times are what they are.
Stan
Cornet Curmudgeon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697 |
The so called "love" for live music has been a myth since the 40's or 50's imho. The only reason young people liked live bands back in the day is that was the only way they could get some loud music to party with. You couldn't ask Dad in 1963 to haul his huge Hi Fi stereo system down to the garage or dance hall for a party so the band was it. Young people never cared about live bands except for the huge concerts, they just wanted to party. Now that they can using a DJ, they're fine with that. In the 80's the sythesizer/prerecorded stuff started coming in. Miami Vice was the watershed. I remember reading in Keyboard Magazine at the time an interview with Jan Hammer and he was talking about his 200K Sinclavier sampler and how he did the whole soundtrack for each weeks show in his house. Little or no live players needed. Even with the cost of his equipment it was way cheaper to do that than hire 20 musicians every week in a studio. At the same time there was a musicians strike in Vegas over using tracks for the big shows. There was a compromise of some sort reached but the casinos won the right to use tracks at least some of the time and it's gone downhill from there.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,199
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,199 |
I guess I'm below average in T.V. usage, although I am above Bob's usage.  I watch maybe 6-8 hours of T.V. a week. The thing that kills me is that I do pay $200 for my cable bill, which is T.V., internet, and phone. I have all sorts of channels that I never watch. In fact, I watch about five channels, the History Channels, the Military Channel, The Discovery Channel and the Science Channel. I have a very nice 40" plasma in my living room with a 5.1 surround system, and a 26" LCD in my bedroom. Guess which one gets watched more. I don't go to concerts. Mostly, there's no one I want to see, and if there is, it's $50-75 a ticket, plus $20-30 for the parking, another $30 to get to Seattle and back on the ferry. I can buy a lot of DVDs for that which are going to sound better anyway. Plus, I won't have to fight traffic. We do have an open mic night around here, but it's during the week, and I'm usually in bed by 9-ish, so I don't go. I try to attend some of the free open air jazz concerts in the summer, but they're often local musicians who get paid by the city to come out for a concert series. We used to go to some of the local bars where small bands played, but you don't find too many of those any more, at least not a 4-5 piece band. Plus, not too many places will advertise that they have live bands any more. Gary
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 85
Enthusiast
|
|
Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 85 |
The irony is strong with this one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,251
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,251 |
Eightstring, (aka Yoda), Quote:
The irony is strong with this one.
If you aren't a Star Wars fan, you may not "get" EightStrings comment and my response.
We are "lamenting" the very thing we're taking part in, and promoting. Replacing "live" musicians with a computer program.
The thing we love, (aka, live music), is being replaced by the other thing we love, (aka BIAB and other programs).
It's not PG's fault. It's our own. We are getting what we asked for.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900 |
I so rarely watch TV - only for good films.
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,251
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,251 |
The question really is, ….. does musicianship really matter to anyone besides musicians? Unfortunately, the answer is no.
TV’s not the problem …………. It’s just one of many diversions that we have today. I’m not gonna list them because we all know what they are.
As musician’s, we wanted to be able to practice our songs when the rest of the band wasn’t around. We eventually got “mutitrack”.
After that, we wanted to be able to write songs and have a backup band for our arrangements. We got that. Then, cover songs. We got that too!
Then we said it sounded too “fake”, because of the MIDI. Then we got MIDI devices to make up for the deficiency in sound.
After that, we were still complaining about the sound, so then we got got actual instruments in a variety of styles and variable tempos that sounds great.
We were ecstatic! Even though the whole band could be replaced, (besides us), everything could else could be replicated electronically.
Then we recently find out that a 3D “hologram” could replace a lead singer and fill stadiums with thousands of devoted fans, and that program is available for purchase in various languages.
So for us to complain about being replaced by electronic media, and for us to be surprised that the public is willing to accept it, is extremely ironic, especially on this forum.
After all, …………… we asked for it.
Last edited by bobcflatpicker; 12/09/10 12:35 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109 |
Quote:
So for us to complain about being replaced by electronic media, and for us to be surprised that the public is willing to accept it, ………….. sorry, but it’s the height of hypocrisy, especially on this forum.
After all, …………… we asked for it, and we're asking for more! 
and yet, life moves in pendulum cycles. The ability to automate music makes music available to more people, but it also makes it less special. People naturally gravitate toward that which is special, so in a roundabout way it is just a matter of time before the pendulum swings the other way and people start making distinctions between those who actually have musical skill and those who simply use music software.
Already many in my son's generation (which has never known a time when there WASN'T music making software) puts more value on real human performance than on automated music. I hear them mocking one another if they learn that somebody's song was created in Garage Band instead of being humanly played into a recording program.
I predict that the current availability of music software will lead to increased interest in music, which will in turn lead to the development of some serious human talent, which will lead to a resurgence in live music.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109 |
Regarding the comment about hypocrisy... I'm not so sure I'd go that far. Our generation came in on the other side of the pendulum swing, when live music was everywhere, all the time. Much of it was horrible, because the market would bear it. Unprofessional behavior was the rule more than the exception. Many of us wished for a way to make the kind of music we wanted to make without being drug down or forced to follow in the footsteps of people whose vision was different than ours... and music software allows us to finally get there. Unfortunately, a million other people got there at the same time, so it didn't make us as unique as we'd hoped.
For those who have lived a full musical experience (playing both in bands and then also in solo acts) it is natural to mourn the decline of live music playing opportunities. Our parents mourned the end of music as they enjoyed it, but their music never died, it just became a niche in a larger, more diverse body of musical styles and types of performance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021 |
Well some of the blame has to go to the Musicians.They are no then the average American worker. They want everything and don't want to give anything back. Case in point. I have a very good friend in NH, were I'm from, that has a solo show.He does all his own backing tracks,harmonies everything. the stuff is right on. Plays 100% Oldies Rock & Roll. Up there the Animal Circuit is still very busy. He has a rotation of about 12 clubs. The Bands get $300 he gets $450 per night. You no why? Because he gives 110%. Plays what the people want not what he may want. gets on stage and has a good time. Doesn't just get on stage and play obscure tunes and look like he's bored shirtless.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,259
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,259 |
"We were ecstatic! Even though the whole band could be replaced, (besides us), everything could else could be replicated electronically. "
I'm not ecstatic about it, but I think show producers and performance venues may be--at least for pop music. My wife and I play duets for retirement homes, etc.. We would like to have a live pianist, but none are available. Same thing for church. We have a couple of good pianists, but their schedules are too tight to have rehearsals during the week. We've had a very difficult time finding a pianist for another band we are in. That band will cancel performances rather than use "canned music." We don't cancel and hence BIAB, which we are very thankful for. The folks in the retirement facilities appreciate live music as do the schools where we play. I just bought tickets to see the Glenn Miller Orchestra in a week. It's a sell-out.
Stan
Cornet Curmudgeon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697 |
Quote:
I predict that the current availability of music software will lead to increased interest in music, which will in turn lead to the development of some serious human talent, which will lead to a resurgence in live music.
Of course it will but that doesn't mean anybody's going to be able to make a living at it except for the rare "winning the lottery" scenarios or the exceptional one man show person which is the point of this thread. Realize I've been making the same $100 more or less for a gig since 1980. There's been no overall increase in pay, why because as the years go on more and more good players are available chasing fewer gigs plus a good DJ can be hired for $3-500 so why would someone pay more than that for a 4 piece band, hence $100 a man. I just did a gig at the Manhattan Beach Country Club last Saturday. MB is millionaire central, Beverly Hills south, it costs $30,000 to join after you wait on the list for years. 5 piece jazz band, $75 each and the new Food and Beverage manager loved us. Great, try doubling the budget. At least it's only 5 miles up the road from me. Did another one earlier this year, West LA Sports Club, in Beverly Hills. They had to valet park my car after I unloaded my gear in front of literally a Ferrari, a huge black Rolls Royce and a whole platoon of Porsches. At least my old but nice Mercedes S class didn't look completely out of place. That one was a full $500 for the band so I made my $100 average. Wow. The appetizers were great though.
Three of those gigs per week is $1,200 a month and I haven't done that since the 70's. Double it, $2,400 a month that's still below the poverty line here.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,724
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,724 |
Shastastan you have a PM.
Later,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
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 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available 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 Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
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.
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 as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,217
Posts802,020
Members40,070
| |
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean