so are cds necessary?  why?  why isn't it simply based on how well you play?

cds are stressful for me.  i know it's unlikely i'll capture my best perfomance, so it will be an inferior representation of who i am.  but the playing field  is sort of leveled on this one.  most people play/sound better live - unless they inherently suck and use a studio to "sound better" yada yada...

i have found though that my cd, as lame as it is to me, impresses folks - they somehow feel i'm an "artist" because of it.  to me it's like a business card with the added benefit of people paying you for it!  so, suck or not, i'm glad i did it.  i will be doing another this summer.

marketing is a whole nuther ballgame - kind of a catch 22 - you play gigs to sell cds, you sell cds to get more gigs...

the other side - money.  i did  cd release party at a place that held about 180 people.  i had to sell it out to break even - a lot of fun, but way too much  work for nothing - i did all the promo myself (thank god for email)  now i could have shaved some expenses, but i wanted to treat everyone right.  i had 9 people work on the concert with me - i paid each $200...now i didn't make any money, but the next time i call, they'll be glad to work for me...

the answer?  larger venue, or higher ticket price or both??? :)

bottom line - scot - you need to do a cd -t is an incredible education and magnifying glass for yourself :)  

good luck, and let us know when we can buy one :)
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Jazz Piano Notebook Series
Scot Ranney's Jazz Piano Notebook, Volume 1 - jazz piano tricks of the trade

Volume 1 of this educational jazz piano book contains 15 jazz piano exercises, tricks, and other interesting jazz piano techniques, voicings, grooves, and ideas Scot Ranney enjoys playing.

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Scot Ranney's Jazz Piano Notebook, Volume 2 - jazz piano tricks of the trade you can use today
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Tim Richards' Jazz Piano Notebook - jazz piano tricks of the trade

Volume 3 contains 12 jazz piano exercises and explorations by the acclaimed jazz piano educator, pianist, author, and recording artist Tim Richards.

Tim wrote the well known "Exploring Jazz Piano" and "Improvising Blues Piano" books and has several others to his name.

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Volume 4 is by Jeff Brent, a jazz pianist, composer, teacher, and author of "Modalogy" and other acclaimed jazz theory and education books. In this book Jeff shares detailed analysis of transcriptions of live performances. He covers everything from the shape of the songs to the tricks and licks he uses in improvised lines to the ideas behind his lush chord voicings.

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