Playing Gigs with Backup Tracks?

Dom Franco · From: Beaverton, OR, 97007

For many years I looked down on performers who played to background tracks (Karaoke) I felt it was like cheating or something...
I prefered to hear an honest solo act or a simple guitar accompaniment to the lead instrument or vocal.

But since I have been doing a lot more solo gigs on Steel, I began recording TRAX in my home studio, and I am having a blast playing all the other insruments.

I recently visited Disneyland and the New Downtown Disney area. All up and down the street they have lots of solo musicians playing to background tracks.
So I convinced myself that if it's good enough for Disneyland it's good enough for me.

(Several years ago this would have been a big no no. Disneyland has always hired the very best musical entertainers, all at union wages, and it was a great honor to play there.)

All that being said: I still feel a bit "cheap" playing to TRAX, but finding one guitarist who could play all the songs I know, is very difficult, much less a bass, drums etc...

What do you guys do? Any play solo gigs?

Dom Wink

James Cann · From: Phoenix, AZ

I've been using Karaoke and BIAB tracks for a while now and have done some solo gigs (and wouldn't mind a few more). To keep things from getting overdone, I make liberal use of solo with BIAB, letting other instruments share the ride.

However, don't forget whatever schmooze, patter, gift of gab, etc., you can come up with to share between numbers.

c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

been doin it for 30 yrs. Average once a week, play for two hrs, avg $150. gettin so I like it better than the band gigs. Don't have to bail the piano player out of jail, don't have to scare up a guitar for the guitar man, etc. cc

Bo Borland · From: South Jersey -

As soon as I stop getting asked to play with bands, I'm gonna get me a laptop and some tracks and try to book some gigs at the beach area.

Twayn Williams · From: Portland, OR

For me, the whole point of playing ensemble music is to interact with other musicians. That give and take, that locking together, that's the stuff!
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Ernie Pollock · From: Mt Savage, Md USA

I have been using tracks for quite a while, I make some of my own with my 4 track & computer, some I have bought over the years. I play just about every week with just the tracks & a girl conga drum player & another girl that sings harmony with me. The girls sing several songs without me & I get to do the backup with my 72 MSA S-12U. We have a blast doing it, & it would be lonesome without that bass player & rhythm guitar & violin section on the tracks. It may be cheatin' but around this area, if you are waiting for a band to hire you, you got a long wait. I do drive 70 miles to a gig in Pa, once a month with a live 6 piece band, I don't do any singing with them, just steel guitar, that too is still fun!! Hell, I am 64 years old & have no plans to quite playing, singing, and teaching steel guitar.

Ernie Pollock
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Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I would love to play with a bunch of musicians but in my neck of the woods they are impossible to round up.
I am forced to rely on backup tracks via BIAB.
I have a separate rack unit just for the tracks and I get a great sound from it.
A lot to set up but well worth it. Very Happy

John Macy · From: Rockport TX/Denver CO

I like how Mike Smith does it--he uses multi track mixes from his laptop--he can either play solo with just the tracks, or mute whatever instrument(s) that are playing live with him...lots of options... Smile

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Tim Harr · From: Dunlap, Illinois

Who wants to share BIAB tracks with me..??

I have a bunch to share....

perhaps we can trade..?

who has a list of their tunes?

Thanks!

John Walden · From: Simi Valley, California, USA

Hi Dom, When Karaoke first came out, it made me sick. Get drunk and sing, makes me cringe. But as popular as it became, and club owners, not willing to pay for decent music, I turned it around to work for me. As a guitar player, vocalist, bass, and now steel player, I find I can put on a good show, by myself, and keep it interesting. The trick is, for me, to be able to take requests, and usually I can pull it off. Yes, lot's of equipment to set up, but, it can be most enjoyable. The good news is, there are no issues with other musicians showing up for rehearsals, on time, making it to the gig on time, and no issues with poor attitudes. The band, ie tracks, are always in tune, and it always sounds good. If you are going to play 4 45 minute sets, you don't want the same tonality on every song. With tracks, every song sounds like the original artist. All I am really doing is embellishing the song with a live instrument and a vocal. Changing from steel, to an acoustic, or my strat., I pull it off. Playing live is great too, but certainly requires a certain amount of rehearsal time. I wish club owners could pay us what it is worth, to entertain, but I doubt that will ever change.
Regards, J. W.
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Brian Kurlychek · From: Maine, USA

When I went to Delray Beach last month, it seemed that every musician I ran across used a pre-recorded backing track.

One guy with a guitar and his computer.

I saw a reggae band and they had no drummer and no base. Just press play.

I guess in Florida this is widely acceptable.

Here in Maine, I had never ever seen such a thing. Nobody does that. If you don't have a drummer, then, there is no drums.

I suppose that maybe either the club is saving money because it only has to pay one guy, or the one guy is making 4 times as much since he doesn't have to split his take with the rest of the band.

It does seem there is something missing when you use a back track live - at least visually. To the ear, however, it sounds virtually the same.
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Karen Lee Steenwijk · From: Pennsylvania

John, Ron and I do the same thing, for the same reasons.In our area its hard to get bookings with a band.I have an all original show called "Heading Back To The Country".We do all the background here at the studio the same way.He plays the steel live. and it gives me some freedom to get out with "The Crowd" and get them involved.We do not have to worry about the band members showing up on time,or mistakes. I mainly do "Stage Shows". I have twenty songs that I do in one hour, and do three sets.I have just enough time in between to say something, and then on to the next song.
The advantage to this is we represent country music with class..I wear "Country Gowns" and Ron wears a "Country Suite" with a hat. It looks professional. First impression means everything!The older folks in the audience.. like to see a show that is clean cut.
When I had my band I had to buy the outfits and wash them iron them ect..to make sure everyone was dressed up.No more of that!
One thing that comes to mind is the fact,,of The Union and the saying "Say It with Live Music" . I went through a lot of controversy over that..they said it was not live..it was taped.So, I pick up my guitar from time to time, and the steel is live. never the less all the background was done by two union musicians,,go figure!
And thats all I have to say about that!! Laughing

We make a buck the way we see fit!! Wink

Karen
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Les Anderson · From: The Great White North

I have had the displeasure of playing at a couple of wedding gigs where the bride or groom have presented me with backup tracks that they wanted me to accompany.

Evil or Very Mad

Those things do not give a player any latitude what so ever. Maybe I am the old fashion type of musician; however, I just don't want to turned into a trained monkey.

Mack Quinney · From: Texas, USA

Yep, been doing it this way for three years. My wife and I sing, then I play guitar, mandolin, or steel with the track. I record every track and play every instrument on the recording, mix the tracks and burn to a CD as a set. This also keeps my chops up on all of the instruments and allows me to play the song the way I want to.

I have the same problem as others with putting a band together; schedule conflicts in practice times, people not showing up to a gig, people showing up late to a gig etc. is just not worth it. Not to mention the personality conflicts.

The good and the bad is that you have to play the song the same way each time you perform. No long solo! Sad

Clubs are hot and cold on this. Some say "we want a band", but then in the next breath they don't want to pay for five musicians. Private parties tend to be the best. I can keep the cost down and provide a good show. (Good value) I haven't figured out how to do requests yet.
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b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

The best performances are by live musicians.
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c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

really?

Twayn Williams · From: Portland, OR

I won't go see a performer that uses backing tracks. I've walked out of shows when I see a laptop on stage. This is not just me being a snob, I think it sounds bad. However, to each his/her own...
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John Walden · From: Simi Valley, California, USA

Karen Lee, sounds like you have it dialed in. It is about how you present yourself. The way you look, does count for something. All depends on the gig. It also depends on your presentation of each song. The first thing an audience notices, is the sense of honesty, and realism, there is to the performance. Whether they know it or not. Balance is critical as well. The live performance has to have just the right balance, with the tracks.

b0b, I agree, and when I play with tracks, I am very "live", and after just a few songs, the sweat on my face, must be removed !

J. W.
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Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Twayn Williams · From: Portland, OR

Karen Lee Steenwijk · From: Pennsylvania

Great topic!Mack nice to meet you...as per "request" What I do is this...I usually go out into the audience before the show and ask if there is a certain song somebody wants to hear, most of the times they are old standards.I have those on a "separate track.. of one song at a time.If I do not have it I pick up "My Washburn" and do it solo. I then add the song to my show when I record again. This gives me a "great library" because I get a list of "most requested songs".The most requested songs that I get are ones by "Patsy Cline". If I get a request for something that is not in "My voice Range" or "Something that I can not do" I just say...I am sorry I do not do that one..But I do this one..That seems to work out ok! People in general are usually fine with that especially when you sing the song right to them. There is nothing better than when you spotlight someone that comes to see ya!
It makes them feel good...and It shows that they are important to me for coming to the show.
Live...or background we do this because we love it!
Having a "great time" while were doing it makes it even better. As for a "live band" I love the idea..nothing better! But, for now my feet are still in "music" and my lil hearts still in "country". Now,,if I could only learn this steel and not be afraid to play it on the show..it will be an added bonus.But then again.."Ron" will half to sing!! Whoa!

Karen
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Scott Henderson · From: Camdenton, Missouri, USA

Singles and duos is the only way to make a living around our neck of the woods. I play in a duo but we don't use tracks. My partner in crime has a Soldono rythm machine. It frees us up to do requests which I think is a big seller for our show.(And it sounds good too!)The nice thing about tracks or rythm machines is they are solid. I never heard a rythm machine rush or drag, get drunk, or cause problems. I have another friend who I record tracks for. I think it's all good if you love what you're doing and can make a little golf money. Guess it's all in what you want.
One last thought....
If it's good enough for Buzz Evans it's ok by me!
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Louis Vallee · From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

I think that the performers who play with background tracks (Karaoke/Midi) It's a cheating, and it promotes cheap labor.

I agree with Bob,

The best performances are by live musicians...
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Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I want to go on record as stating that I most certainly favor a performance from a live musician as opposed to a "dead" one.
Just no comparison! Rolling Eyes

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