Some KB players have accepted the role of band technobot, limited stage real estate and no camera time, even during solos.

Rock and Jazz KB players even in support roles are among the most legendary and influential.

Yet, Yanni, John Tesh and OMBs (one-man-bands) i.e. leaders are Rodney Dangerfields of the KB world.

Personally, I think KB players should be comfortable in their own skin whichever avenue they choose to pursue.

Skills (programming), chops (playing) and an air of confidence (attitude) go a long way too.

Personally, I believe KB players should take the lead even in bands.

Beyond musicianship, a Tyson-esque hook or uppercut commands respect as well.

Fellow KB players, provide tips to aspiring musos that might increase their chances of gaining respect i.e. avoiding Yanni-itis.

When I figure out how, I'll let you know. Don't hold your breath.

Don't gig with a Casio.
Don't play with more than one guitarist in the band.
Don’t listen to what guitarists say
Don’t wear keyboard ties or t-shirts.

Musically speaking:
Take risks.
Right or wrong, commit to your choices.
Don't apologize.
The only respect that matters is self-respect.
+1 on the keyboard ties and t-shirts.

sing

Yeah mayne, sometimes I really wish that I could do that. At this point, I'm not willing to invest the time in it.

Besides, SK, Carlo, Dave Ferris, B3-er, Kanker and Linwood remind me of how much I don't know about the instrument I do play.

Book the gigs.

...play the Hammond while standing up and flip the half moon switch no handed....

W3rd.

dB

Keyboard pants are cool though...

Keep telling yourself that, kanker.

Don't gig with a Casio.
Don't play with more than one guitarist in the band.
Don’t listen to what guitarists say
Don’t wear keyboard ties or t-shirts. {QUOTE)
----------------------------------------------
As a guitarist in a band led by a keyboardist:
He BETTER listen to what I say at least once in a while, because he is somewhat absent-minded and forgets what key the rest of the band is doing the song in! (He's got a great ear and can play them in ANY key without thinking about it!)

Get a Zen Riffer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE2WO1Kb_GQ

OK, geek alert - those look kinda cool

I don't think all such keyboard-playing leaders qualify as Rodney Dangerfields (although I certainly take no issue with the fact that Yanni and John Tesh do).

I would offer up Ben Folds as one current example of a keyboard-playing bandleader who definitely gets respect. Another example is a guy like Tim Rice-Oxley of Keane. He's not the singer in his band, but he's definitely the leader and a respected one at that (at least in pop music circles, if perhaps less so among hardcore, chops-focused keyboardists/pianists).

Other examples in the pop world include John Ondrasik (aka Five for Fighting), Trent Reznor (aka Nine Inch Nails), Vince Clarke (aka Erasure, Yaz), and Alicia Keys. There's also the obvious guys like Elton John, Billy Joel, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Jerry Lee Lewis, Keith Emerson, Dr. John, Bruce Hornsby, etc. -- all keyboardists and respected "leaders" (albeit to varying degrees, obviously, depending upon your taste in music.

I guess my point is that it's certainly possible to look past the John Tesh's and Yanni's and identify well respected band leaders who are also keyboard players.

Noah

Not gonna get you any respect until you disembowel the closest person laughing at you on the gig.

(with only slight apologies to both Mr. Rudess and the creator of this Klingon-inspired instrument of melodic death... )

PD:

I just realized that I never really answered your original question, so here's my lame attempt to do so:

The way to avoid "Yanni-itis" is to be true to yourself. Be authentic. Identify your unique musical voice and make every effort to project that to the world.

This is definitely NOT a recipe for success (whether measured in money, popularity, whatever), but it is a recipe (I think) for ensuring that if/when you do "arrive," you'll be respected when you get there.

Noah

Noah, I kinda lumped the aforementioned cats in your post with Jazz and Rock KB players.

But, you're right, those folks defy the stereotypes and are well-respected.

Still, it is interesting that Yanni-itis exists when he is being himself, projecting to the world and satisfying KB GAS more than a little bit.

I don't think Worf would have any problem doing that!

Don't play guitar parts on keyboards with guitar sounds. Either reshape the part for a keyboard sound, or strap on...(a guitar).

For some reason, strapping on a guitar seems to engender an unearned amount of respect. So I strap on a 12 and an electric.

Most of the audience doesn't know my real 2nd instrument is bass!

Fair point. I know the problem, though: Douchebag hair. You can't get respect if you have douchebag hair. And both John Tesh and Yanni definitely qualify.

Noah

I bet Yanni and John follow this advice as well.

I am the leader of one of my bands. I have 2 hats, MD (musical director) and BA (band a$$hole). Both are interchangable.

Hey, go easy, guys. I did say up front that I was only offering a lame attempt to answer PD's question . . . .

I find that to be true as well, or anything else that gets us out of the boxes people tend to put us in.

And I'm not limiting "us" to keyboard players. The best response I ever got at an open mic, where I usually play acoustic guitar, was when with one tune to go I broke a string with no replacement handy, so I sang Merceded Benz a-capella.

The best response I ever got at a blues jam was one day when there were so few guitarists I borrowed the MC's strat and did Rocky Mountain Way. Thank God nobody had a slide, because it's been years since I'd used one and it woulda been awful! Forgot the lyrics and mixed up a few stanzas, but it didn't matter; we were having a blast and rocking out amidst what had become a rather uninspired blues session.

I think most people respond more to your attitude than to your playing. In both of the above, my technique left a lot to be desired, but I sure was hanging it out there.

I put my thinking cap on and came up with another way to avoid Yanni-itis and Tesh-itis:

Don't play shitty music.

Noah

Note the wink. In any case, your advice is absolutely correct. It's just no antidote.

And the flip side is, no matter how much we may loathe certain popular musicians, we have to admit that they have *something* that makes them connect to their fans, and respect that if nothing else.

That would certainly go a long way!

But you can't possibly get any respect. After all, that keyboard you play is red!

Nope.

For the "Certain Popular Musicians" category...

They're idiots.

They're audience? - well, they're idiots too.