Valerie Borman Blog – Going Solo

This month, I’ve booked a few solo gigs in my home state of PA. It’s been a while since I’ve performed as a single, but it’s quickly coming back to me how I do the job. While there are SO many single acts everywhere with a singer and an acoustic guitar –especially in Nashville – that’s not what I do. I wish sometimes that it was – it seems like it would be so much easier.

For years, I have worked with sequences and tracks. As the keyboardist for The Starlites, I spent years actually recording the sequences myself. Now THERE’S a time-consuming job!!! I started back in the days of my Ensoniq SQ-80 which only had 8-note polyphony. Graduating to Cakewalk and a sound module was a dream – and a nightmare – as cover tunes became more and more complex. (Do we really need 48-tracks of stuff going on??) I finally conceded to purchasing the sequences to make my life easier. But just having the sequences isn’t the whole deal – I spend a lot of time re-mixing the tracks, adding tracks and assigning outputs to get the best sound I can from this canned material.

If I had my choice – I would always play live. But the economy and my need for versatility put a damper on that option. As entertainment budgets tightened through the years, sequences gave our band the option to continue working with fewer band members on stage. I know – it sucks!! And as a single, I can work ANY room, gig, event, etc, because I am not limited to the type of material I can perform. So the setlist for my show includes country, rock, hip-hop, adult contemporary – and, YES! I will do all those genres in one set. Why not? I can – so I do!

ADDENDUM:

So far this month, I’ve packed my venues with friends and fans. Again, I would rather be performing live, with a full band, and I will be doing so in the coming months (it’s fair and festival season!!!) But the bottom line is I WANT TO BE ON STAGE. Singing with sequences allows me to work – so if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! I’ve got to get to work!

See you at the show!

Valerie