So lucky to be with like minded people.

[alpina]

Hi Guy's.

I am very much a late bloomer to the gigging lark at 42 years old , but cant get over how driven I have become in my quest to gig in the new year.

A little bit about me... I play the tenor sax, have done for quite a few years but never too anyone.

In the last Month me and ebay have obtained the following

Kustom Profile pa system
Roland SD-35 Midi player
Shure 58 mike

I also want to sing "I think"


I am certain I can overcome the nerves and play to an audience.

My first choice would be Jazz standards , tunes like "All of Me"
"Am I Blue" etc, I also like the idea of rock and roll tunes too.

I believe in fate and feel finding this site is meant too happen

Guys , from my heart can I ask the "Seasoned Wise Troopers for any feedback , advice, tips , directives and no' no's ..please.

There would be no long solo's , just play the tune ala radio edit and move on .

I am sure my wife and kids think I am having a mid life crisis , but little do they know I had that last year!!!

Andy

[guilty]

Hi Andy.....love your enthusiasm about starting to gig. You may find some helpful hints under 'General Midi Board' 'Advice for those new to gigging'. There's a lot of experience on this forum in all types of gigs.

Good luck with your venture.

[midimart]

Andy....

If you need to know anything specific please ask away.... There are a few Sax players here in the forum, maybe you may gain some knowledge from these members....

I am sure my wife and kids think I am having a mid life crisis , but little do they know I had that last year!!!

Well if this happend last year, you may be experiencing a MIDI life crisis this year.... ;D

[alpina]

If you need to know anything specific please ask away....

Well. deep breath here goes.
I think I may have some sort of learning disorder as I forget more then I learn

This is what I dont know ... not in any order.

How many songs for a 90 min set?
How do I know what key the midi is in ? I have to transpose for the sax.
Where on earth do I find standard Jazz midis from ?
My roland midi player sometime gives an error message "nop" to some midi files (for example the midi file "All of me by count bassie downloaded from midi mart."
How on earth do I organise a set from the beginning to end?

Reading through this again gives the impression that I am in a negative frame of mind, but I am not ... just very overwhelmed.

I played some midis from midimart through my pa and they sounded great. Indeed the guy at the top of my street was shaking his fist in time with the music ... class

As I said before guys any input would be great.

Midi life crisis.. lmao

[lucky1950]

Hi Alpina !
In the beginning it's very important to know for what kind of public You'll play , older audience will dance almost to all type of music , younger audience want more disco and songs with good rhythm .before You start singing in gig will much better if you can recorded at home and listen with some friend how it's sounding , maybe will good or maybe not .In that situation You have try play on sax many songs not only jazz , because it can be boring for audience ,You can mixing many Latinos melodies with jazz and then play pops .I think that on gig 90 minutes You'll need about 22 till 25 songs , it's very good if You'll play in different tempos , beginning slow f.ex. " Sail along silvery moon" and then " all of me " then " " Lucky lips " then " Amor " or " Quando Quando " . That example only show the possibilities how to build repertoire in so long gig .
About which key just play Your Roland player , You'll need any keyboard to check or maybe You can see in function , i don't know nothing about that type of player .
About searching jazz midi file - I'll give You address

www.manythings.org/midi/search.html
just write name of song and You'll find it thousands .

NOW another site with jazz :
perso.wanadoo.es/studiomaster/midisjazz.htm
www.popularmidi.com/jazz/jazz-n.htm

I'm only afraid that You start with preparing midis little to late , just two week before gig it can be too short time to do be really ready .
Anyway i wish You good luck , Many regards - Lucky .

[themd21]

Hi Alpino

Have you a software sequencer installed on your computer?
You'll certainly need one to modify the midis (ie Transpose to suit the sax).
I usually use a piano/keyboard or guitar to sort out what key a file is in.
Lucky hit the nail on the head with his estimate of around 25 songs for your gig.
What kind of gig is it? A restaurant gig playlist for example would feature a lot more easy listening laid back tracks as opposed to a dinner dance where the playlist brings in the more uptempo genres like Disco, R&R and contemporary modern material.
Hope this helps a bit.

Best Wishes

[alpina]

Hi Guys many many thanks for the great reply's. I will try to do them justice.

Lucky....
Great links ...Thanks. . My gigs dont begin untill April 1st next year so I have a little time to get a set organised etc.

Jimmy G ....
I have downloaded the Jazz sequencer tonight , still yet to figure out what it does lol.

The venue I am going to be gigging at is quite interesting. It is a large Recreational complex with different users. My brief is as follows:

" We want you to play every second Sat night for 90 mins to the guys in the lounge area . A lot of the are in thier 60's and like to dance. ( Hence the standards I mentioned).

Also Sunday luchtimes in the restaurant on a sunday night.
And once midweek for the holidaymakers in peak season. There is a caravan site attached.


Yes I agree about the mixture of songs that I will need. I quite like the idea of playing different genres.

I think that maybe this would be a great project for the forum as a whole

Keep them coming guys

[nevnbron]

OK, you've got your 25. Those will get very old very quickly, if not to the regulars then to you. You will need at least three of four times that many to keep the whole thing fresh and interesting. My advise is to keep adding and subtracting; you, your crowd, not to mention the staff, will appreciate it, but don't put in underdone tunes just for the sake of it. If a punter has a request and your iffy on it, it will destroy a moment for them and you if you persist. Remember at all times that less is best. These midi's are sensational and they do most of the work for you. Be kind to your crowd - they mean you no harm, so don't make them suffer, play, and even more-so, sing, within your skill level. I'm 54, so neither you or I are going to turn the world upside down anytime soon, but we can leave 'em with a song in their heart, and dance in their toes, and a smile on their lips. Merry Christmas - Nev