I often wonder about bands/singers that have been performing the same songs over and over for thirty years? Do they have a little voice inside screamin at the audience: “Hey assholes, pick a new song!” or are they so thrilled that everyone loves the song that they can’t wait to sing it each and every time? That’s a question I’ll have to remember next time I talk to a Sting.
I sometimes think about just being a songwriter selling my songs to people who can sing them better. And then I change my mind and go back to my breathing exercises, hoping that they’ll eventually allow me to sing everything I write. I guess I can get discouraged but then I go right back to it.
The big issue now is I have to figure out how in the hell I’m actually going to play this upcoming gig. As a general rule, one should never trust the pianos at venues. In this case there is no piano at all. So I have a choice: I can turn down the gig or I can spend close to a grand buying a digital piano that can not quite do everything I can get from a real grand piano. I’ve been putting off looking for the digital kind for the last two weeks. I know I need it, but with Christmas gifts and various other expenses, this musician’s pockets just can’t handle the strain.
Some of you may be thinking that I can rent one. True, I can, but what quality would I be getting out of it? Being a classical pianist, I can easily tell when something is amiss with a keyboard. So would I be putting myself in a bad position playing an instrument that, at least to me, sounds not quite right, thereby giving a shitty performance? Probably. Also, the money that I put toward the rental might as well be used toward a purchase. So, that leaves me once again to either buying my own or not doing it. And all this strife in my head is leading to some pretty poor practice sessions.
I’m pretty sure that within the next few days, I’ll suck it up and get the thing. After all, money in the bank is worth less than my own musical satisfaction, right? (Please tell me I’m right.) Now the question is, what kind will I get? Yamaha is a trusted brand (I own one and so do my parents), but Korg will give me more options in terms of sounds. Then again, I want something that feels like a piano, so maybe Yamaha is the right decision. Clearly, I’m confused. Within the next week, I’ll have to buy a keyboard, learn to use it, and play my first show.
So in the coming weeks my next column might be filled with brilliant tales of me making the audience cry. Or it may be filled with tales of me crying, after making an ass out of myself and falling off the stage with my brand new can’t-pay-my-rent-this-month, digital piano. So stay tuned and I’ll let you know how it all progresses.
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