Petosa Mahogany Mute

[Ventura]

yes i thought maybe to go back and correct the number to 1100

simple story really.. we moved a lot so i had to get real jobs everywhere
until i could get enough gigs to pay the bills, and it was mostly in
the Music Trades. Big Ticket mall stores were the easiest, with
several stints in institutional sales both Liturgical and Educational.
Plenty of NAMM shows, but my key was travelling a lot and everywhere i
went would visit retail Music stores (not just accordion shops) and observe and learn..

from Sherman Clay to Sam Ash sea to shining sea and Seattle too.. then Europe
and Italy again not just castleFi, but Retail stores in Rome, Genoa, Milan, Frankfurt,
the list was very long..

then i repped fpr a bit too.. Jobbers.. and i was in the right spot when
Technics really went after the Music Market.. helped introduce Viscount to the USA..
i own the first DW-8000 Korg released to America.. helped put the FR7 on the map for Roland
here in the USA.. i got them into the Coupe Mondial and that was the real catapult..
sold all the big brands from Steinway and Peavey to obscure but awesome
Charles Walters and met with many of the movers and shakers as well
as the engineers behind the scenes.. i look deeply at products.. never sold
anything i couldn't believe in..

yes i did physically take apart that FR7 Roland gave me to use.. yes i did toss their
programming out the window and used my own from the very first event..
yes i did sign Rose Caccamise up as a dealer for Roland V-Accordions..

from my youth into Electronics as well, so took apart many keyboards trying to
stuff their guts into an Accordion.. i wanted MIDI so bad in our instrument because
the Organ Accordions were just like the Rolands.. almost there but never quite reaching
the potential that we all could easily see in them..

so my industry view is really broad, while the retail experience will always keep me
grounded on the side of the best/most honest Value and matching the right instrument
with the right person

then repeat as needed.. do everything my own way.. never used a tip jar for instance..
no need to because i give it all every time and for everyone in the house

 

[PhiliGol]

Amazing story of your (musical) life - thanks for sharing Ventura

 

[Tom]

yes i thought maybe to go back and correct the number to 1100

simple story really.. we moved a lot so i had to get real jobs everywhere
until i could get enough gigs to pay the bills, and it was mostly in
the Music Trades. Big Ticket mall stores were the easiest, with
several stints in institutional sales both Liturgical and Educational.
Plenty of NAMM shows, but my key was travelling a lot and everywhere i
went would visit retail Music stores (not just accordion shops) and observe and learn..

from Sherman Clay to Sam Ash sea to shining sea and Seattle too.. then Europe
and Italy again not just castleFi, but Retail stores in Rome, Genoa, Milan, Frankfurt,
the list was very long..

then i repped fpr a bit too.. Jobbers.. and i was in the right spot when
Technics really went after the Music Market.. helped introduce Viscount to the USA..
i own the first DW-8000 Korg released to America.. helped put the FR7 on the map for Roland
here in the USA.. i got them into the Coupe Mondial and that was the real catapult..
sold all the big brands from Steinway and Peavey to obscure but awesome
Charles Walters and met with many of the movers and shakers as well
as the engineers behind the scenes.. i look deeply at products.. never sold
anything i couldn't believe in..

yes i did physically take apart that FR7 Roland gave me to use.. yes i did toss their
programming out the window and used my own from the very first event..
yes i did sign Rose Caccamise up as a dealer for Roland V-Accordions..

from my youth into Electronics as well, so took apart many keyboards trying to
stuff their guts into an Accordion.. i wanted MIDI so bad in our instrument because
the Organ Accordions were just like the Rolands.. almost there but never quite reaching
the potential that we all could easily see in them..

so my industry view is really broad, while the retail experience will always keep me
grounded on the side of the best/most honest Value and matching the right instrument
with the right person

then repeat as needed.. do everything my own way.. never used a tip jar for instance..
no need to because i give it all every time and for everyone in the house

Thanks Ventura! Someday we need to get you on a zoom (if you’re up for it). I’m sure there are a lot of people here that would love to ask some questions…..

Interesting point about not using a tip jar because you give it your all. Even though I don’t “need” the money, it’s kind of part of the fun. And I do try to give it my all. Maybe next year I’ll try some without, see if it’s different.

 

[Ventura]

yeah the tip thing issue is just one of my weird quirks..
it works for the vast majority of musicians after all

but it is nice to be able to "laugh" when some greedy club owner
tries to get the Musician/me to come and gig at his place because
"you can really make a lot in tips"

umm.. no i can't, and i refuse to be in competition with your Wait staff and
busboys who rely on tips for their actual livelihood Dude !
hire me and pay the price or keep movin'

on Strolling gigs of course occasionally someone may kindly offer a tip,
but i always deflect it to
"please tip the Waitress generously if you liked the Music"

plus i just have an aversion to Whales who throw money around
and expect everyone to kiss it and fawn all over them.. not me.. not a chance..

meanwhile my friend Gene did piano bar gigs on his Technics ensemble
at Mino's Greek place for years and years.. first thing he set up every
night was his huge Cognac shaped goblet salted with his own $5, $10 and $20's..
before he turned the equipment on.. before he played a single note..

 

[Tom]

yeah the tip thing issue is just one of my weird quirks..
it works for the vast majority of musicians after all

but it is nice to be able to "laugh" when some greedy club owner
tries to get the Musician/me to come and gig at his place because
"you can really make a lot in tips"

umm.. no i can't, and i refuse to be in competition with your Wait staff and
busboys who rely on tips for their actual livelihood Dude !
hire me and pay the price or keep movin'

on Strolling gigs of course occasionally someone may kindly offer a tip,
but i always deflect it to
"please tip the Waitress generously if you liked the Music"

plus i just have an aversion to Whales who throw money around
and expect everyone to kiss it and fawn all over them.. not me.. not a chance..

meanwhile my friend Gene did piano bar gigs on his Technics ensemble
at Mino's Greek place for years and years.. first thing he set up every
night was his huge Cognac shaped goblet salted with his own $5, $10 and $20's..
before he turned the equipment on.. before he played a single note..

Good morning and thanks for this insight Ventura. I see your point about the tips for the wait staff, very nice.

No solo or stroller accordion gigs here. Occasionally I hear history, “so and so used to play at such and such,” but this was back in the day. If next summer goes well, and I am sufficiently organized, I’d like to try again. I tried way back before I was ready, didn’t go that well.

 

[Ventura]

well one you might try is like your Farmers market gig..

i did the Maryland Wine Festival and Wine in the Woods
for years and years.. was even their "poster boy" on the
billboards and flyers one time..

so it is like the Market, nice and outdoors and low-pressure,
but you really have to go to each tent for a few tunes and
make the rounds.. can't just play for the one you think tastes best !
so it combines strolling with what you are already comfortable doing..
dunno the cottage Wine industry in your area, but you might find one
in the Fall nearby

i took my bright red Serenelli for those.. not too heavy.. nice projection..
i did leave my Stool at the Lowes tent and started and ended playing
"Skylark" for Bill's wife

 

[Tom]

well one you might try is like your Farmers market gig..

i did the Maryland Wine Festival and Wine in the Woods
for years and years.. was even their "poster boy" on the
billboards and flyers one time..

so it is like the Market, nice and outdoors and low-pressure,
but you really have to go to each tent for a few tunes and
make the rounds.. can't just play for the one you think tastes best !
so it combines strolling with what you are already comfortable doing..
dunno the cottage Wine industry in your area, but you might find one
in the Fall nearby

i took my bright red Serenelli for those.. not too heavy.. nice projection..
i did leave my Stool at the Lowes tent and started and ended playing
"Skylark" for Bill's wife

Good idea, thanks! Yeah, in this tourist area the wineries and breweries have taken over from the galleries and craftspeople. Many of them do have musicians, and this could be a good opportunity.