[JimboSaxAndKeys]

I just thought it would be interesting to hear what everyone does as a solo (or duo) performer, as this category could include one-man bands, strolling sax players, and other interesting approaches to playing sax without a full band.

Myself, i'm in the one-man band category (though i try to avoid that label, it apparently has some perjorative connotations). I sing (passably but not great) and play keyboards (with accompanying drum track), playing sax breaks wherever one is called for or to replace the guitar solos in a (classic-rock-type) song. I also mix it up with some fakebook standards on sax or flute (with backing track accompaniment) to give my voice a rest.

How about you all?

 

[Hunter Rivett]

play sax and get women on the side.

 

[chardylan]

Get women and play sax on the side.

 

[saxguy007]

I set up a QSC K8 on a speaker stand to my left, and plug in to its RCA jacks my ipod preloaded with songlist/setlist of Aebersolds and kareoke tracks. Over these tracks, I play sax un-miced. Since these various tracks are not normalized volume-wise, I have the speaker right next to me so that I can adjust the volume as needed to be balanced with sax. I position the speaker just slightly behind my ear so that I can hear the tracks and lock into them.

I bill myself solely as a listening jazz performer to add ambience to an event, and never try to bill myself as a center-of-attention type act. That's not my bag, and explains why I really don't need a mic at all. I will always have a mic and cable in my kit bag in case a client says she needs to make some announcements or something.

This formula works, and I get several gigs with it. Actually most of my gigs lately have been sax-with-trax, with jazz trios and party band plug-ins much rarer of late.

 

[Woosax]

I do a duo with my brother (it's cleverly named "Me and My Brother"). We both sing, and we use backing tracks. I play alto, tenor, and flute along with a little keyboard. He plays congas, harmonica, and various other percussion. We cover a pretty wide range of material including cliche standards, pop, rock, blues, and even some country. So, in a given night we might do songs from Erroll Garner, Queen, Meat Loaf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Sinatra, Joe Cocker, Todd Rudgren, KC and the Sunshine Band, James Taylor, Blake Shelton, and Alan Jackson. For a gig tomorrow we just learned "Red Solo Cup" (Toby Kieth) and "Mack the Knife". It keeps it interesting.

We do mostly pub/restaurant/bar gigs with some corporate/private parties. We have a powerful (but relatively light) PA with a separate bi-amped sub-woofer. We always try to keep to a comfortable listening level. We play 2-3 times a month, a little more in the summer. We are currently working up some more jazz standards/Sinatra type stuff to book some more formal stuff.

 

[Hunter Rivett]

Get women and play sax on the side.

nice.

 

[Enviroguy]

play sax and get women on the side.

Actually, I get one woman (my wife) to play beside me in duets. :bluewink:

 

[jshirley825]

I mostly do sax covers of other songs. Here's an example:

 

[Smokey613]

Since these various tracks are not normalized volume-wise, I have the speaker right next to me so that I can adjust the volume as needed to be balanced with sax.

I bill myself solely as a listening jazz performer to add ambiance to an event, and never try to bill myself as a center-of-attention type act. That's not my bag, and explains why I really don't need a mic at all. I will always have a mic and cable in my kit bag in case a client says she needs to make some announcements or something.

There are a couple of ways to equalize the playback volume.

One is to use the built in Sound Check on the iPod and iTunes:
http://ipod.about.com/od/introductiontotheipod/ht/soundcheck_ipod.htm

The other if you use the mp3 format is to run the files through a program such as MP3Gain and it will equalize the volume on all the tracks:
http://www.winportal.com/mp3gain?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=audio&utm_content=javi%20MP3Gain

I use a QSC K10 and an iPhone 3Gs donated by a good friend to use like an iPod.

Like you, I do not promote myself as the main attraction only as ambiance.

 

[widetrack]

Like you, I do not promote myself as the main attraction only as ambiance.

Smokey:

Do you think it's workable to say you can be either one, depending on the client's needs?

 

[Smokey613]

I do not seek out the "primary act" gigs. There are far more accomplished musicians around here than me. I leave the main act gigs to those guys. I am only a part timer on this stuff. I fill the void of someone wanting "live" music but cannot afford a full blown band or group. Thankfully I have a very good paying full time job as well as a retirement pension so I can pick and choose. I do it for the enjoyment and if I can make enough extra money to feed my sax habit it is even better.

 

[saxguy007]

There are a couple of ways to equalize the playback volume.

One is to use the built in Sound Check on the iPod and iTunes:
http://ipod.about.com/od/introductiontotheipod/ht/soundcheck_ipod.htm

The other if you use the mp3 format is to run the files through a program such as MP3Gain and it will equalize the volume on all the tracks:
http://www.winportal.com/mp3gain?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=audio&utm_content=javi%20MP3Gain

I use a QSC K10 and an iPhone 3Gs donated by a good friend to use like an iPod.

Like you, I do not promote myself as the main attraction only as ambiance.

Thanks for the tip! I'll have to look into those products, especially if one is already built into itunes!

 

[haddock]

As someone currently embarking on my journey as a solo performer, this sub forum is really helpful. Just to know that there are others out there who have thought along the same lines and are actually making a success of performing to backing as a soloist or duo, is of great comfort. My plan is to start off with three sets: on flute I am developing a 'classical' set and a jazz set; on tenor saxophone I am developing a collection of jazz tracks. Depending on how this goes I have thought of expanding on this and incorporating 'popular' tunes on sax (eg Robbie Williams, Madonna etc) and a traditional/folk set on flute (eg Londonderry Air, When the Boat comes In), but this would only be if I needed to as these styles are not so much my 'bag'..

Although Jazz Standards is where I am most comfortable, I've deliberately chosen to try and bridge into the classical field as I believe I will be more appealing to the weddings market. I plan to make money from this and I want to try and be business like in my approach. Any tips, advice or words of wisdom from others who have more experience than me would be appreciated.

Thanks for sharing the Mp3 gain equalisation tip, Smokey613, will probably use that..
jshirley825, that video is great, I like your playing style..

Mat

 

[The Saxist]

As I recall(from a long time ago, may no longer be true), Mp3Gain does not actually "normalise" the wave data. It sets a variable in the MP3 header that tells whatever player you're using to turn up/down the volume. I have run across instances where the player doesn't have the smarts to read this setting... just sayin'. YMMV

 

[Smokey613]

You are probably correct on this. Is there a simple software that actually "normalizes" the wave data?

 

[Fader]

I have a duo with my wife. Maybe 10 gigs a year and too many friendly gatherings. I play acoustic guitar and we both sing. No tracks, No MIDI. It's pretty good though because I'm a decent player and she's got PIPES...

oh....and we both have a sense of humor.

The duo is called "Two Tits & Whatshisname"

 

[hornlover]

H i every one,I have dealt with the subject of ' solo performer as a career 'in a thread some time ago and came to know WIDE TRACK and a few other SOTW members. I've sent some of my sound clips to them and received very good comments.As a brother musician I would like to help any one doing solo performance .I dont do Supermarket busking.I am an established pro with many years of foreign experience with our local pop groups and for the last eight years have been doing this solo act.I get paid very well and perform only at prestigious venues.Our country is a small island compared to the States but we have the same music that comes from your country and word wide.I think that some of you have gone too much into technicalities such as the latest digital technology.Forget it .After all what matters is what comes out of the speaker system and your own playing.I read some of your comments on equipment and find them to be of little consequence.I maybe still using out dated technology but my set up delivers the goods .I use a Sony MD player which serves as the play back as well as the recording machine.I use Cakewalk editing software and a Creative Audigy Sound Card for editing and recording tracks. I use POWERED MIXERS and 2 way and 3 way speakers of different wattage to suit the sound level required for the venue. I use an AKG clip-on mic for sax .My repertoire consists of around 250 tunes which are a mix of 60's and 70's pop, Standards ,Bossa ,Latin, and some Jazz.Let me tell you that I never took sax lessons and cannot read music .Every thing is by ear and I also improvise when I do Jazz and Standards I have two sets of sound equipment, small and medium .When I need a large set up I hire it and add it to my fee.So basically that should be sufficient for a solo performer or even a duo or trio.

 

[Bill Mecca]

No act yet, not sure if there will be..lol But last night I went to an open mic run by a former bandmate. Tuesday night in a seashore resort and it's dead as a door nail. I sing a bit, and of course the players at the open mic don't know the tunes. ( I went two weeks ago) so I did up some backing tracks and we plugged in my iPhone into the Bose L1 and I set up a quick playlist of four tunes Rambunkshus, Talk to me, The fever (both Jukes tunes) and Harlem Nocturne. It went over okay. I thought I had put another instrumental in between the two vocals but apparently didn't, but it was rushed. I did find that I will need to add some silence to the end of each tune since the iPhone runs them right together. I have other mp3 players, but the screen is really nice to be able to see... with my aging eyes..Next week is their last open mic for the season, but they do one at another bar usually later in the fall.

I don't have time for a band these days, and have been running into the lack of motivation to play, so maybe this is it. I'll work up some more tracks ( I have them just need to flesh out a list and then add to it) and put a book together for those I don't have memorized.

any tips on the ipod or iPhone play list is always welcome. I tend more toward a classic rock mind set, so I have to work on widening my personal play list as well. ;-)
I have a Roland KC500 in the garage if and when the need arises. ;-)