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A
few notes from a bandleader and musician: (Erik 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 
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