This is a nice off-off-topic discussion.

The fact that I got triggered by the term "Karaoke Guy" is the simple reason that I want to be acknowledged as a serious artist an musician. We all seem to dislike the DJ's who just press the "play" button and the shower-vocalists that go out with their lyrics on screen (or book) and try to sing with a karaoke-backing track. And don't forget the people who participate in all of 'em "talent" shows. I'm lucky they broadcast those in the weekends, when I'm out working, so I don't have to watch those tossers. Some of them even make it (for a limited period of time). fact is, they can't manage on their own on any aspect of the trade if their live depended on it!

I play guitar (mostly rhythm and some slow soloing, I just can't seem to move my fingers quick enough to play ear-burning solo's). Learned that (and continue to learn) at the cost of countless hours of practice and blistered fingers. I play some drums. I can keep the beat steady for a whole song and give a steady base for a band to play with. Again practice, practice, practice. I know how to play the simple chords on a keyboard and I know the lay-out of a keyboard so I can play melodies in the key I want them in. The only instrument I have put at least at much time and effort in to learn to master as into playing guitar is my into voice.

Let me tell you there's a big difference in singing one show a month and doing an all-night show (4 * 45 minutes) four or five nights in succession! Imagine you have a cold and you have a weekend of gigs ahead of you. You simply can't do that without extensive schooling and training.

Yes, one voice sounds nice and another voice will sound harsh. But with training and extensive exercise every voice can be trained to sing in tune, in time. But one person will have more natural talent than an other. Just like playing guitar, guessbone or any other instrument.

We could say Carl Lewis is not an athlete because any (most) human can walk. He just used his talent to be a little quicker than the others.

Given the fact that a horn player is not a guitar player (not counting Mac ) and a drummer is not a singer. Yet if put together they can make music. What instrument makes it worth the title "music" ?

I do like gigging with my band better than doing solo gigs (by that I mean al by myself!), but venues simply won't pay for a band and the PA. And when I do a solo gig I get to cash 4 times more than when I play with a band.
Pick your choice if your family depended on it...
The market wants so the market gets.

I don't play guitar on my solo gigs 'cause they don't pay me extra to do so (and don't give a damn if I do or don't), I don't have to tote the extra equipment and I have less things to think about.

Mike
www.mikewever.nl