United States

So I was playing a reaaaaaallly nice keyboard at GC.
I think it was a Korg, I am really not sure. All I know is that it was way out of my price range. (A couple of thousand bucks)

I was waiting for a friend of mine so I was just jamming on this thing.
I got a nice weird ass rotary organ sound with some really awful cosmic noises to back it up. I started to play and went off!

I just learned some basic doors music and I was going through "come on light my fire". Just playing lightly and enjoying myself when I heard a cough.

I turned around and there were a bunch of people hanging out listening to me play, some were even dancing.. (gasp) (stop dancing) lol

I jumped because it scared me and I wasn't ready for that. (I had been facing the wall)
Next thing you know, I get a pack of older dudes asking me if I'd be willing to play keys for their band.

I explained slowly that; I am not really a keys player, have no keys equipment and no real desire to fill that spot.

Long story short, I had to leave. They followed my out to my truck and I literally had to lock my door and start to drive off. I thought the one guy was going to jump into the back of my truck to avoid me leaving the parking lot.

LOL

All I can say is that there must be an incredible shortage of keys players in this area.

Short answer . . . yes.

Cool story

Scott sounds like some zombies found you and you had the last drop of blood left in the world!

Funny you mention this... (at least to me) I've completely given up on finding another git player... so I was thinking of trying to find some piano/keys instead. Who knows maybe I'll get some responses if I change things up.

I was talking to someone last night and he said the same thing.

"If you play keys, you just opened the door to about 50% of the bands that wouldn't have you normally".

Keyboardists/bassists/vocalists/guitarists/drummers, in order of difficulty to fill slots. When you do a few things, you become slightly more valuable.

All I have to say is the day that I consent to play keys on a regular basis is the day that I get a chance to play with George Harrison.

(I'm not holding my breathe) lol

There must also be a shortage of keys players where I live as well. And of course, the ones that do are already playing in gigging bands or have a job teaching music, when I'm trying to find the ones who play by themselves and are just your average guy making their way through college, and/or who have some other job. Add to the fact that I'm looking for someone who knows how to use mixing and recording software as opposed to someone who does a lot of live performances.

Earlier in my search when I thought I wanted to form a band and was looking for a guitar player, bass guitar and/or drummer, I got quite a lot of responses, but when I started looking for a keys player, responses just stopped coming.

Same here Cliff . . . but I gotta keep looking.

Same here Cliff . . . but I gotta keep looking.

And I've pretty much ran out of places to post ads. And the places that people promised would work, ended up becoming duds later on. The main problem with my search, (unlike most of you guys here) is that everybody wants to work or do gigs, and the music styles I cover are not very popular amongst guys around my age. They just want to play heavy metal, old classic rock tunes from the 60s, hard rock/heavy metal hits from the 80s, and some 90s metal and grunge. Nobody's into AC ballads, dance-pop, or singer/songwriters, or any of my favorite artists from American Idol.

It also doesn't help that I'm currently not in college, and don't have a job, and choose to stay away from the bar/club scene. And also most churches in Baton Rouge ban most forms of secular rock and pop.

Also using Google, I can't seem to find a good selection of music showcase sites similar to this one, which have people on them willing to share ideas, and discuss their experiences so I can get back into my search properly.

I am a keyboard player. Yes, there are less keyboardists with gear than there are guitarists, bass players and drummers. However, for a working four or five piece rock band adding a keyboard player means 20% to 25% less per member. Add to that the fact that most metal bands do not have keyboard player which means that a major genre has a very limited number of gigs available. So keyboardists have fewer opportunities for paying gigs.

Yeah but you have to agree that a band with a keys player adds a little more artistic validity than usual.

For a good keys player with good equipment than can actually play, I'd sacrifice more than 20%. It's more than worth it to me, but the guy has to play like mad. (I love a cranked, rotary speaker sounding keyboardist that's loud as hell). lol

PS: Hey Matt glad to see you made it from Craigslist here...

Yeah but you have to agree that a band with a keys player adds a little more artistic validity than usual.

For a good keys player with good equipment than can actually play, I'd sacrifice more than 20%. It's more than worth it to me, but the guy has to play like mad. (I love a cranked, rotary speaker sounding keyboardist that's loud as hell). lol

PS: Hey Matt glad to see you made it from Craigslist here...

I'd second that.
If I actually got paid . . . there is just so much, even a guitar driven band can do with a competent man on the keys.
We've been looking for some time.
A good friend of our bassist came to visit. As it turns out he's a cracker jack, educated, professional keys player. We had a great impromptu jam.
Too bad he lives in Tenn.

lol Offer to help him relocate..I would...especially if he's really good.

(tee-hee)

lol Offer to help him relocate..I would...especially if he's really good.

(tee-hee)

Actually with some family dynamics in the mix, it is a remote possibility.

But oh my . . . according to Eric, this gent lives in the country, I one of the most beautiful parts of Tenn.

That's how I got the gig with the (now defunct) Beatles tribute band. They had been advertising for a keyboard player, then one day I get an email from them - they had seen that I had keys as a second instrument, and one of the guitarists they already had also had keys as second instrument. It actually worked pretty well that way.

So, yes, there is a shortage of keys players most everywhere.

I think it's too bad that a lot of bands today don't have a keys player. So yes I guess there would be a shortage. In the past I have seen keys players fill in for a missing bassist. Provided the player is 'two handed' and is hooked up with a subwoofer out- the sound is awesome. It's a matter of opinion but I think a band with keys has more potential. Just a personal opinion.

I'd add one comment to the keyb discussion - it is not the same as adding a rhythm guitar player - it changes the basic sound of the band.

My feeling after playing in boring cover bands with boring keyb players is no thanks. But I played in one hot little outfit with a real shiner and that was outstanding. But even with a shiner - it is no longer a guitar band. I don't mind - some do.

So just go get an outstanding guy from among the no keyboard players!

For more useless advice just call my agent.

Talbot