One man show... piano / keyboard, non-vocal... any thoughts?

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Hey guys. Have been tossing around something in my mind, not sure if it's viable or practical. Thought maybe I'd just toss the idea out and see what you guys might think.

Was in a trio for the past 2 years. Short version of the story, drummer / leader died a couple of weeks ago. No more trio. The other guy hasn't wanted to continue. So, it's just me trying to figure out what comes next.

One thing that's possible is "background" for restaurants, parties, that kind of thing. Very doable. But I have one other idea.

Anybody remember Victor Borge? I was a fan. I loved his show. He usually played a few actual tunes. He fooled around in comical fashion. He told jokes. He sometimes had other people that would play minor roles. And he put on a "show".

I'll never be a Victor Borge. But I have wondered whether I might be able to put something like that together (?) and make it work for, say, a 1 hour show. I'm really not a singer, though I potentially could do a number or two. But I'm pretty good at being on a stage. Did a tiny bit of acting and MC'ing years back. Clowning around wouldn't be that hard to do. But most of that was 40+ years ago and I'm not so sure we live in the same world anymore.

I tend towards jazz standards if just sitting down to play but can throw in some fun or more recent stuff as well. And I'm pretty good at throwing out things maybe not unexpectedly... like last week just jammin' with my nephew... playin' "Ain't Misbehavin'" and somehow ending up playing "Rubber Duckie". LOL! (I've got more.)

Another direction I could easily go, I played church music for half a century and have a lot of offertories in my brain from stuff I've done over the years. Could easily do an hour or more of that kind of thing with a few stories to go with, some perhaps amusing. Different genre, for sure, but easily under hand. (I don't think this and the more secular show would actually mix, but might be a different show.)

Seriously, what do you think? Silly idea? Or maybe something there worth exploring? Any examples come to mind of people you've seen that you could share? Dunno, maybe there just aren't many people doing things like that. I know there are not around here. Around here, there are dozens who do "classic rock", "county", "Elvis", stuff like that, and a dime a dozen. I don't have much interest going down that road. But I do know that the jazz trio was doing pretty well competing with all of that.

Anyway, glad for thoughts if you wanna share, good or bad. Have nothing invested yet so nothing lost if I finally decide it's a stupid idea. LOL!
 

Rayblewit

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It's a personal decision. You need to sort yourself out. ONLY YOU! (The Platters lol!!)
It depends on your victims. Er! I mean audience.
What age group? What intelligence level?
If you had a regular gig or time slot, you could run a different theme each session.
Week 1 . . Jazz tunes
Week 2 .. comedy show
Week 3 ... country
That sort of thing.
OR
Find another Drummer and guitarist and/or vocalist etc .. form a new band.
 

happyrat1

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Seriously though. Do you have the stones for standup comedy?

Starting with Steve Martin and Gary Muledeer all the way up to modern comics (who shall remain nameless) the trick is to make people laugh while entertaining them with some simple music.

I've seen a lot of British and Australian acts where either a single guy or a duo write little nonsense songs and perform them on a crappy little Casio while wearing a banana hat or somesuch nonsense.

BUT !~. Here's the big BUT!!!

Do other people think you are a funny guy?

There was a. scene once on Newsradio where Phil Hartman wheeled an upright piano around the station and sang terrible little ditties about Watergate. It was a fun gag but standup comedy is bloody hard.

Critics are everywhere.

What sort of material do you aim at? Long hair music theory? Politics? Bodily functions?

Can you write and perfect that sort of routine in a reasonable time frame?
 

happyrat1

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One other thing. Are you willing to hoof it all over the country? Play every toilet and drive in in Tuscaloosa and beyond?

I can see the same musical artist perform over and over and it won't get stale, but comedy EATS MATERIAL. You'll constantly be booked in every state of the union living in hotel rooms and you'd better not travel with any keyboard more expensive than that crappy Casio you can toss in a luggage compartment.

Victor Borge was a genius and a master of the genre but the days of the 3 channel universe are long gone.

Comedians like Adam Sandler and Dan Akroyd do a movie very 5 years or so now, because people get tired of the same old shtick waved under their noses for too long.

Comedy, like visitors, like fish, begins to stink after 3 days.
 

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