Is simplicity, the hardest thing to do?

[KeysFla]

This past few months I have been looking at many complex takes on music performance and gear guideline's. Makes me feel sometime a bit backwards. Are we overplaying our lick’s, putting more thought on the latest (maybe not the greatest) gear. Yes, we have home bound musicians whom enjoy playing for self satisfaction. When it comes to an audience, we sometimes lack and keep our eyes buried in our gear.
As for me, I still use dated equipment. But concentrated more on the sound quality and pay attention to my customers needs.

 

[Tom]

This past few months I have been looking at many complex takes on music performance and gear guideline's. Makes me feel sometime a bit backwards. Are we overplaying our lick’s, putting more thought on the latest (maybe not the greatest) gear. Yes, we have home bound musicians whom enjoy playing for self satisfaction. When it comes to an audience, we sometimes lack and keep our eyes buried in our gear.
As for me, I still use dated equipment. But concentrated more on the sound quality and pay attention to my customers needs.

Yes. I see buskers all the time that have NO audience interaction (on all instruments). I don’t get it. Fortunately for me, playing easier tunes with a big groove fits my ability and allows maximum interaction. I can improvise and smile at the same time. Unlike you I don’t need more volume than my accordion so need nothing but my music (which I have not been able to shake). I am a simple man, even the arrangers are passing me by. Maybe too simple for some but f em if they can’t take a joke, I am doing it for me. If I needed to make money maybe it would be different and I would have to acquire better gigs and make a business card.

 

[Ventura]

having spend a lot of time in bistro's strolling, the need to be
able to play and converse at the same time becomes evident, and
so you learn that getting good enough with your setlist that your
fingers can go on autopilot is a true goal and even necessity.

the same songs can be more complex when you are free to focus on
your fingers, of course, but it is rewarding to flow between interaction
and performance seamlessly

even when you are not verbalizing interaction, eye contact, the flow of
obviously pressing a shift and telegraphing it so they can understand
why the sound of your accordion just changed, is all part of a good
performance and should not be ignored.

speeding through a multitude of unrelated and seemingly dis-connected
sound changes on a Digital accordion and arranger going balls to the wall
with one song after another ad infinitum may seem like wizardry, but
if you can't bring the audience along for the ride, what good is it ?

 

[Ventura]

business card.

but they are very useful..

even if you only want a limited exposure, you can easily
make a new e-mail exclusively for public exposure, and that can be
the only contact info on your biz card. YOU could easily create a biz card
with your Ai stuff, and print your own on the pre-perfed 10 cards to a sheet
stuff available at the Office Supply

cards let your posse grow and have a reference point to use when they
mention you in their circle of friends

if you want to go full normal, but still be shielded, T-Mo has a
Talk and Text $20 a month plan including taxes to use as a dedicated
business line. Handy for "for sale" stuff too. so your main number
stays shielded from info collection agencies and/or crazies
but you have a biz card number people can call..

can come with a free flip phone (paid off in 24 months) or grab a flip
off of Amazon and pop the simm card in it.. it only rings during the
hours you have it TURNED ON and you can set a flip phone line to
reject all text's (except they let like doctor appt's and T-Mo billing
through)

so yes Tom you can go public, but still be private,.. cost per month
and time invested printing is not much

 

[Tom]

Yeah, you’re right Ventura. I really should update my promotional. My lovely wife is ordering new business cards today for her business. I suppose having better promotional shows respect for the audience too…. Ok, I will get on it.

 

[KeysFla]

The bash (formally Gigmaster) and Gigsalad was my best promotion. But it was pricy. Worth it at the time. Received several bookings and reviews which helped me make a good income playing music. I now pay minimal on The Bash and use the free Account on GigSalad. Accordion players will get swamped with Oktoberfest Gigs when advertising early on these sites. Not the same since after Covid. Seems clients are looking elsewhere…? This is my link…

Larry Roberts Entertainment LLC - One Man Band Scottsdale, AZ<!-- --> - The Bash

Contact Larry Roberts Entertainment LLC from Scottsdale on The Bash. Browse One Man Band prices, photos, and 44 reviews, with a rating of 5 out of 5.

www.thebash.com

 

[Tom]

The bash (formally Gigmaster) and Gigsalad was my best promotion. But it was pricy. Worth it at the time. Received several bookings and reviews which helped me make a good income playing music. I now pay minimal on The Bash and use the free Account on GigSalad. Accordion players will get swamped with Oktoberfest Gigs when advertising early on these sites. Not the same since after Covid. Seems clients are looking elsewhere…? This is my link…

Larry Roberts Entertainment LLC - One Man Band Scottsdale, AZ<!-- --> - The Bash

Contact Larry Roberts Entertainment LLC from Scottsdale on The Bash. Browse One Man Band prices, photos, and 44 reviews, with a rating of 5 out of 5.

www.thebash.com

Super cool, Larry! Great reviews, you’re doing something right!

 

[KeysFla]

Super cool, Larry! Great reviews, you’re doing something right!

We just need to promote younger people into playing the accordion…I am hoping one day someone will take over my steady gig after I can not play anymore. Hopefully, no time soon. Maybe someone will see our show and take up the accordion?

 

[Tom]

We just need to promote younger people into playing the accordion…I am hoping one day someone will take over my steady gig after I can not play anymore. Hopefully, no time soon. Maybe someone will see our show and take up the accordion?

I always offer free lessons if the person will take an accordion. Many are called but few are chosen however. It’s “too difficult.”

 

[KeysFla]

I always offer free lessons if the person will take an accordion. Many are called but few are chosen however. It’s “too difficult.”

You are a good person to offer lessons.

 

[Tom]

You are a good person to offer lessons.

Thank you. Nothing professional, mostly explaining the Stradella to someone who has no clue, or how the diatonic scale works on a concertina.

 

[KeysFla]

Thank you. Nothing professional, mostly explaining the Stradella to someone who has no clue, or how the diatonic scale works on a concertina.

I bid 25$ at a live Auction, Excelsior accordion and got it. Donated it to a friend in Tucson whom is a piano player. Learning it on her own…making progress.

 

[murathan]

Simpler the music, happier the audience because they get it.

 

[Tom]

Simpler the music, happier the audience because they get it.

True in some cases. But if the audience is coming for atonal bebop at 400 bpm it’s not so good to play polkas and vice versa. Just sayin…..

 

[JeffJetton]

That's the thing about music. Simple, when done well, isn't so simple.

 

[murathan]

True in some cases. But if the audience is coming for atonal bebop at 400 bpm it’s not so good to play polkas and vice versa. Just sayin…..

If the audience is coming for atonal bebop at 400 bpm, you are in the wrong place

 

[Tom]

If the audience is coming for atonal bebop at 400 bpm, you are in the wrong place

It was a metaphor.

 

[murathan]

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” (Leonardo Da Vinci)