Practical MIDI

I’ve written several columns previously on how MIDI files can enhance a solo performance or help replace lost band members when you’re not quite ready to call it quits yet. I’ve explained how MIDI files can help in the composing and recording aspects of your music. I’ve even shown you how to broaden your audience with different types of MIDI files. Those columns have all shown MIDI files in somewhat of a professional light.

This column, I’m afraid, takes you to the other side of the coin—the side I never meant to show anyone at all. Here’s the story in a nutshell. I recently booked myself into a swank yacht club to provide music for a wedding reception. The booking was still two months away and I figured I had plenty of time to bone up on my “wedding” songs, if you will. But in between when I booked the job and when I finally played the job, something unexpected happened. My jaw was feeling sore and tender to the touch so I visited my dentist to see what the story was. Turns out I had three abscessed teeth that needed immediate attention. Suffice it to say that I ended up with surgery on my jaw that resulted in 7 stitches under my lower lip to hold my gums in place until they healed.

Now what? The wedding job was just a week away and my face felt like The Hell’s Angels all took turns smacking it with pool cues. Singing was going to be a real chore and to makes matters worse, the father of the bride called me at home to remind me not to play any of that rock and roll music. After all, this was a posh place with overflowing decorum and we couldn’t have the likes of CCR and Santana ringing out through those hallowed halls. Oh, great. My song list just went from a hundred fifty songs down to about thirty—not nearly enough to cover the four-hour gig.

I had to scramble but I quickly logged on to my favorite MIDI site—Cybermidi—and took advantage of my membership by downloading songs that I wouldn’t normally perform in my rock and roll act. These were more easy listening, soft rock and classic oldies files and I have to tell you, they pulled me through a tight spot. It’s just a good thing that Cybermidi had such a vast library of different styles to choose from.

Normally when I download a Cybermidi file I mute the melody tracks because I’m usually singing that part on a live job. This time I left the melody tracks in since I was in no shape to sing that night. Well, these folks at the reception were so busy milling around and talking with relatives that no one noticed that the background music for the night was just that—background music, melody line and all. They thought I was just the greatest thing since chilled caviar and I made a killing at the end of the night. I made three times my usual fee PLUS a generous tip from the bride’s father.

“Great music,” he told me as he handed over the cash. “I’ll be sure to recommend you to my friends. Thank you.”

No. Thank YOU, Cybermidi for helping me pull off a near impossible job to everyone’s satisfaction. Great music. I’ll be sure to recommend you to my friends.

©2004 Bill Bernico for CYBERMIDI.com Downwind Publications