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A
few notes from a bandleader and musician: (Erik-Hans Vagen)
Are you getting discouraged like the rest of the
musicians?
What is the matter no work or too much competition?
Musicians do get stale and can all "sound the same"
sometimes. In all the years I have been playing, I have
always had the ears that listen to the overall picture and tell when
something does or does not work. It could be a minor
adjustment.
When people try to reproduce a song to sound like the
original, it does not always work. It may be the lead singer, a horn
player, and a drummer or keyboard player that has a different “timbre” than
the lead singer on the recording. I myself cannot sing those songs in
the original key; take it down three “frets.” That is what I
tell the guitar players. Change the key if needed. You
won't sound good in a bad key; everything can't be in A major.
Working in a band for years does not mean that you
"work well together." Too many people are soloists and
cannot work a group. They sometimes stand out and are the "only
one" heard. Sound familiar? Trying to outdo each
other doesn’t help the overall picture. I had a sax
player that all he did was blow. Take a rest.
Musicians in a group have to complement each other, therefore making a
better blend. "Why is his /her microphone always louder than mine?" Vocalists
have to use the same brand microphones or it may not EQ correctly.
One brand is clearer than the other.
The group or ensemble has to sound like one tight
unit, or some people may stick out. As an arranging major in
college, I had to know what sounded good and make the decisions
necessary to fix it. You too can sound good and you also can fix the
problems. It is not "rocket science."
Do you feel like this or have experienced this in the past? People
are writing me: “What
is wrong with the music business?”
My continued fight to promote live music has worked for me and can work for
you.
1. Polish and
improve your sound.
2. Add to your
repertoire and increase your clientele.
3. Play the small
jobs too; you will meet a lot of people that way. Then those
people will book you as well.
4. Adjust your
prices to accommodate the clientele
You may not always get the country club jobs, but
keep trying. A big factor is we are out pricing ourselves and a
DJ will roll in for a $1000.00. Who gets bumped, we do!
The newest thing is to have a wedding or party that
is half live music and half DJ. We all can’t sound like the records
and it keeps the young people hopping.
I have done many weddings where the DJ was up front
and my partner and I did strolling music for the cocktail hour as well as
dinner. We have to teach these DJs a few things:
Take a break once in a while, and
please adjust your EQ!
You the public, we are here for you large and small. We
offer any size ensemble according to your needs. Write us today!
When you
call, please write an email for a backup. We would like to write you
back as soon as possible.
Erik
Vagen - NJLIVE
1-800-308-7616  | 
