Display Your Keyboard Logo On Stage?

[timwat]

TL;DR - Yes, it's a habit of mine. It cleans up the visual presentation, and I'm also pretty fastidious about cable dressing for my rig as well.

 

Longer version - I just finished a large video & documentary project over this weekend for a progressive rock band. Multiple cameras, professional production, full time makeup artist, the whole shebang. So it was important to present the visuals. Two keyboard players - my rig was Kronos, OB6 and CP4. All logos gaffed, all cables dressed. I've always preferred a clean look, and it became part of the focus of this project, for obvious reasons.

 

I started from my years of playing in church. Had nothing to do with advertising for a manufacturer, simply that it seemed wiser to remove large visual distractions where possible. I've only done a small amount of video / TV type work, and yes I gaffed over logos there too (for other reasons...I was told to).

 

Because I play a fair amount of "show band" stuff (weddings, corporates), I've learned painfully that audiences listen with their eyes. A clean visual presentation matters, more than I previously admitted. 

 

If one chooses to go this route, it's key to use actual gaff tape (rather than cheaper "duct tape" type product). There is a substantial difference in the adhesive - professional gaff tape doesn't leave a residue, Home Depot stuff does. The price, in this case, indicates you get what you pay for.

 

And if you don't want to and you think it's silly, no biggie and let's share a beer and laugh about it.

[SamuelBLupowitz]

So interesting to see so many strong feelings about this -- my only reaction is I get annoyed when I see bands with the logos covered on the keyboards, because I want to know what they're playing! I suppose that's not the typical audience member reaction...

[timwat]

2 minutes ago, SamuelBLupowitz said:

So interesting to see so many strong feelings about this 

I know, right?

 

Can't we all just get along and get back to berating guitar players?

[JamPro]

On 1/16/2023 at 12:38 PM, Reezekeys said:

I guess those of you against "free advertising" also remove or tape over the badging on your cars? 🙂 

 

Umm....if someone was paying me to get on stage with my car and entertain a crowd, I would most definitely cover up the car logo.  (Imagine the sad kiddies in that crowd: "I can't see what kind of car he has; now I don't know what to buy".)

 

I generally don't buy "branded" clothes: too expensive.  I do have a couple of t-shirts with Grateful Dead logos on them - I don't wear them when performing.

 

 

[Reezekeys]

2 hours ago, JamPro said:

On 1/16/2023 at 12:38 PM, Reezekeys said:

I guess those of you against "free advertising" also remove or tape over the badging on your cars? 🙂 

 

Umm....if someone was paying me to get on stage with my car and entertain a crowd, I would most definitely cover up the car logo.

 

You do gigs where you drive your car onto a stage? Or seen any such show? Do tell!

[o0Ampy0o]

If it has not already been said, here goes... if it has, sorry I am more interested in my beef, you beat your own and me to it.

 

I would wager that most of you have a dealership name on your license plate frames.

[elsongs]

No, because when I was growing up, I used to geek out on all the synth gear show on music videos. I always thought those British new wave bands looked cool playing behind something that had a big fat "Roland" on the back. 

Sometimes my gear would spark conversation or even a friendship. "Oh you play a _____? Nice!"

I've had one of my keyboards (Nord Electro 2) covered on the back with some cloth for a TV show appearance several years ago. Since it wasn't a permanent covering that didn't affect the keyboard one bit, I didn't mind. 

I dunno, if you're not an internationally-famous artist and want to cover up your gear logos, that just smacks of being snobbish for snobbery's sake. I mean if you were famous, and your music and actions would be that infiuential to people, then yeah, I'd totally get it. I mean, would you cover up your favorite sports team's logo on a jersey or T-shirt or cap unless they paid you? Come on.

Although back in the '90s, I did pull a Ron Mael by altering the "ENSONIQ" logo with some black electrical tape on the back of the Ensoniq EPS sampler workstation I had at the time to make it look like my first name, just to be funny.

[ewall08530]

Here’s my next topic. “do you ever disguise your keyboard to look like something you consider cooler?”  See pic….

 

  As far as this topic goes, I’ve never considered covering the logo and the only time I think about it is when I see someone else who has and if they’re not up on a big stage doing a big show, I tend to think “you should get over yourself.”    This topic has enlightened me somewhat as to why you would do it but it’s still not my thing.  
 

The keyboards that I have purchased and continue to use  in the last 12 years have been Casio and Nord.   It’s kind of pointless to cover up a Nord logo.  And Casio has given me the most bang for my $$, light, powerful and fun to play keyboards and the best customer service I’ve ever experienced.  

 

 

[JamPro]

13 hours ago, Reezekeys said:

 

You do gigs where you drive your car onto a stage? Or seen any such show? Do tell!

 

lol.  Here:

 

[drohm]

I can't imagine seeing Eric Clapton put tape over the Fender or Gibson (or other) name on the headstock of his guitar. Keyboard players can be so silly, me thinks. Besides, the only people looking at the keyboard player are the other keyboard players.  

[Reezekeys]

2 minutes ago, drohm said:

I can't imagine seeing Eric Clapton put tape over the Fender or Gibson (or other) name on the headstock of his guitar.

 

If he's an endorser, he better not put tape on it! I think a lot of the pros tape over gear logos because they're endorsing one company's products and using another's!

[drohm]

Just now, Reezekeys said:

 

If he's an endorser, he better not put tape on it! I think a lot of the pros tape over gear logos because they're endorsing one company's products and using another's!

Ridiculous! From this thread it sounds like it has more to do with vanity than endorsements. Otherwise, there would not be so many comments about taping over Casio but not other brand names. It's a personality type wrapped in self justifications. 

[JohnH]

Just no. I like my logos. The strangest thing I've ever seen was someone who went through the trouble of removing ALL the logos off their $100,000 Porsche. I've seen it a couple of times. That is really headscratching. So you just bought a status symbol  and it's one of the most iconic car companies on earth only to remove the logos? Don't get it at all. Definitely was not a car person. Looking forward to hopefully my fourth Porsche Rennsport this Sept, pending any big gigs that take place instead.

[Reezekeys]

21 minutes ago, drohm said:

Ridiculous! From this thread it sounds like it has more to do with vanity than endorsements. Otherwise, there would not be so many comments about taping over Casio but not other brand names. It's a personality type wrapped in self justifications. 

 

I was referring specifically to the comment referencing Clapton. Yea, you probably won't see him or any other pro at his level in this thread adding their comments!

 

Personally, I find it strange someone would choose to purchase a keyboard, then be ashamed of displaying its name, as you suggest. I'd guess it's more in the interest of a clean stage look than vanity but what do I know? I've never cared much about appearances, although maybe I should have? In my case it was showing up at gigs with a single, tiny 61-key controller; I really believe many musicians as well as civilians hear with their eyes and might take someone with that kind of setup less seriously. I know I got it overtly from one bandleader. That's another subject, maybe tangentially related if we're linking the display of logos to stage appearance.

[Docbop]

19 minutes ago, Reezekeys said:

I really believe many musicians as well as civilians hear with their eyes and might take someone with that kind of setup less seriously. I know I got it overtly from one bandleader. 

 

Yes, gearhead player friend go with you to a concert and later you talk about the concert and they can tell you about every piece of gear used that nice labels showing or not, but mention some of the great or unusual playing and they get the Trout Look.   

 

Yes hearing with their ears I know later in my bass days and started playing lots of Jazz I wasn't getting gigs and lesser ability bass players were getting the gig.    I asked some people I knew and they said you don't play upright, they said people these casuals the people just want to see an upright for Jazz gigs.    Guess it's the same thing with people gigging with a grand piano shell with a keyboard inside.   Then of course.... Honey can you leave your wig on tonight when you come to bed. 

[ABECK]

The only logo I've ever taped over is the Spider Pro logo on my stand.  It is superfluously large and looks like something on a stock car.

[EscapeRocks]

Here's another take:

 

I actually find it more distracting when I see logos taped over on stage.  It brings attention to that part of the keyboard they want us to 'not see'.

The only time I've had logos blacked out is on live tv.

[Lou Gehrig Charles]

If I'm expected to tape over a logo on my keyboard, I want to see every guitar, drum, cymbal, amplifier etc. taped as well.

 

[Jose EB5AGV]

5 hours ago, ABECK said:

The only logo I've ever taped over is the Spider Pro logo on my stand.  It is superfluously large and looks like something on a stock car.

 

Interesting, I have also one and never thought on covering it 😅

[Jose EB5AGV]

BTW, how nobody has suggested yet to tape the big CASIO logo sponsoring this forum? 🤣

[ProfD]

On 1/17/2023 at 9:10 AM, ITGITC said:

Steve Kessler....had a paper bag holding pedals and cables and such as that.  

 

Now one of my very best friends here on this forum cannot STAND Nord's choice of color and he reminds me of this every chance he gets.

 

(Hi ProfD!) 

 

But he's a helluva great friend and I will certainly overlook this gross misplacement of values. 

 

ITGITC? 

 

Brotha @ITGITC, they're still allowing me to hang out around here.👋🏿

 

Glad you decided to check in on the peanut gallery.😁

 

The kicker was SK pulling a MIDI KB controller and module out of that paper bag among the more elaborate KB rigs with uncovered logos and proceeding to blow the doors off the room. 🤣

 

On topic....I've never been asked or  bothered to cover up or alter or remove a manufacturer logo. I'm only going buy KBs I want to play.

 

I'm also aware that some folks enjoy being able to ID gear. The manufacturer still isn't making that much more money from me playing it.

 

That red KB mentioned above is a neon sign and it's digitally cold from this player's perspective. 😁😎

[MathOfInsects]

On 1/17/2023 at 9:20 AM, SamuelBLupowitz said:

So interesting to see so many strong feelings about this.

 

On 1/17/2023 at 9:23 AM, timwat said:

I know, right?

 

Can't we all just get along and get back to berating guitar players?

Yeah, I'm surprised at the passion behind some of the "no's." I would have thought "no" would mostly mean someone had never given it a second thought, rather than "the people who do that are atrocious!"

I will raise new ire by admitting that I also cover the lit-up apple on the back of my Mac. 

[AUSSIEKEYS]

10 hours ago, Docbop said:

I know later in my bass days and started playing lots of Jazz I wasn't getting gigs and lesser ability bass players were getting the gig.    I asked some people I knew and they said you don't play upright, they said people these casuals the people just want to see an upright for Jazz gigs.    Guess it's the same thing with people gigging with a grand piano shell with a keyboard inside.   

 

Simple just put your Electric Bass within an Upright Bass shell like the cool keyboard kids do. 😉

[Adam Burgess]

I just feel sorry for Casio after reading this whole thread! 

[o0Ampy0o]

19 hours ago, ewall08530 said:

Here’s my next topic. “do you ever disguise your keyboard to look like something you consider cooler?”  See pic….

 

 

Most people in the audience don't know one brand from the other. Chances are a few people could have personal experience with a Casio because Casio established itself with toy / beginner level products but that does not mean that the average audience member has any clue whether Casio makes pro level gear as well. On the other hand, any tiny red toy looking keyboard on stage will look like a tiny red toy to most people in the audience. Maybe construct a large patio bar facade out of cardboard and paint it black so no one in the audience sees that you are playing a dinky keyboard? 

[Spider76]

On 1/17/2023 at 1:03 AM, Anderton said:

I would do it, but it has nothing to do with advertising or whatever. I just think anything that minimizes visual clutter is worth doing, and those logos are often distractingly large.

The same for me.

I don't mind free advertising, as anybody mentioned we do it all the time, with anything we use.

But keyboards already are the less visually appealing instrument on the stage. Being covered in huge brand logos and writings makes them look even more like a pile of utility equipment, not a musical instrument.

 

We are not used to see huge names on grand pianos or Hammonds, isn't it? Even less on acoustic instruments, winds, violins, guitars, brasses etc. People see the instrument and (hopefully) know what it is, period. I want the same to be true for my audiences.

Especially in the age of digital stage pianos/workstations, when any keyboard can make every conceivable sound, who really cares about the brand? They all sound the same to the audience. It's not like people are going "Ooooh look, the guy's got a KURZWEIL!!! How unbelievably cool is that? I KNEW it, that sound is unmistakable!".

People will just say "OK, the guy's got a red keyboard, nice". Then maybe some keyboard nerds will know that it's a Nord, and then what?

[Iconoclast]

I have no problem displaying my keyboard logos on stage.  Probably because I have some really expensive ones and I think having say, an OB-6 on stage adds a little more cred than some blacked out box that could have said Behringer?  Yeah, who would sonically know the difference? But people do notice these things.

BTW, for guitar players, I frequently find a different dynamic. The guy who has a $5k 10-top PRS and an SLO overdrive amp is frequently THE WORST.

I think if I was a pro touring musician and I was in front of several hundred or thousand per week, then I'd expect some kind of deal with a manufacturer, and if they turned me down I'd send them a pic of me using, for example, a Nord Stage painted black with no logo, with a huge crowd in the background. Then it would make sense to me. And for the dudes I've seen up on stage with tape over the logos, that has made sense to me.

Otherwise I really don't care. I got logos on my clothes, my cars, my ski gear, my tennis shoes. I put stickers on every piece of travelling band schlepping gear I own.  Why I should dis one of the few brands that I actually thoughtfully selected? I don't know.

[Stokely]

11 hours ago, Adam Burgess said:

I just feel sorry for Casio after reading this whole thread! 

I've had the thought that if Casio changed their name they might have more sales.   Then again, for all I know they are drowning in sales!
Do I think this is right or fair?  Hell no, it's ridiculous.  If I heard someone run down Casio I'd make a point to mention they make some fine pro gear, right before I insulted their Mom.  And I don't even own a Casio! (but would if it met my needs!)

---

This thread reminds me of my first band, a bunch of dudes that couldn't play and who assigned instruments basically at random--none of us could play anything, so we learned the instrument we picked.  I could easily have been assigned drums....anyway, our "stacks" for the two guitarists/bass players (I played keys bass a lot) consisted of two Peavey Backstage amps.  Tiny solid state things.   Somewhere one of the guys found some Marshall logos or made them, I don't remember, but they took the Peavey off and changed them into Marshalls    At the time, Peavey wasn't as well-regarded as it became, from what I recall.  At the very least it made some low cost stuff like the Backstage and of course "real musicians" wouldn't use such gear!

[Adam Burgess]

25 minutes ago, Stokely said:

I've had the thought that if Casio changed their name they might have more sales.   Then again, for all I know they are drowning in sales!
Do I think this is right or fair?  Hell no, it's ridiculous.  If I heard someone run down Casio I'd make a point to mention they make some fine pro gear, right before I insulted their Mom.  And I don't even own a Casio! (but would if it met my needs!)
 

I was always proud to get my PX5 out. It was boldly white and said CASIO in big letters, and I was happy to make it sound good in front of actual people.

My other rig was a Nord Stage 2 and a Kronos 61.

And, I don't think anyone cared. But - I loved playing that Casio. Paid for itself in a week or so. Happy to advertise it for free just for that fact.
Musicians did ask about it and they were impressed with the lightweight beast. 

[timwat]

The respect earned when you have demonstrated you can play puts this conversation into its proper perspective.