The Great Falls Balloon Festival Part 2: MaineStream

After I left the stage fresh from a Jeroba Jump performance, I packed up the guitar and amp and got my keyboards onto the stage. My setup for keyboards is such that I can stand up and play 3 keyboards on a double-tiered stand with a side stand for my mini-Korg. I usually have the top keyboard slanted so I can see the screen and play it easier with my lower digital piano, but tonight one of the techs made it flat and I only found out when I started playing (and I didn't want to risk moving it with one hand while playing a song).

 We opened the show and the sound was not there-- at least not for us through the floor monitors. The audience possibly received a good sound, but as a performer I can tell you that performing on a keyboard that sounds like a tin can makes you play differently. Knob changing and button pushing didn't help. The bass player mentioned that after Jeroba Jump, we sounded like half of a band. Of course, in reality we are missing members. I can only play so many keys at once with two arms!

 Here I am at the controls questioning patches and how to make a bigger sound every step of the way!

I left the stage that night tired and melancholy. The 80's band rocked and the pop band was less so. We can't play dance pop without legitimate dancing and audience participation... we had a small audience and very few dancers.

I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that 2 weeks of craziness is now over. There were highs and lows but I made it through. I look forward to more gigs with better planning. I will keep all readers informed.

Thanks!