And that is why I put this message in this section...gig reports...

I like to improvise on the stick...I'm not a person who like to learn covers...

So, what I did is record (I just looked at it) 14 small videos where I give an example of what I like to play and put it on Youtube. After I put an ad on FB to see if a restaurant would be interested in this music...ambiant mainly. I have to say that I'm in Cabarete, Dominican Republic in winter. So...a guy contacted me and told me he was interested. I've been to his place, a small but very cute restaurant in a small hotel and played there for the first time on Friday January 25th. They are 3 persons involved in that restaurant. They loved it and asked me to do it again. The first time I didn't have a very good sound...I don't have a car here and not easy to transport my gear. But, last night, I was paid a bit better and decided to ask someone to transport my stuff for me...of course, I had to pay that person. But...wow...with a beautiful tone, sound in general...I was feeling so great. It was also easier to feel better and play with subtilities. They loved it again so much that they want me to continue every Fridays...I'm alone and play freely...I can play with my mistakes this way...lol. And when you use this technique, nobody can hear these "mistakes"...I just play with it and transform them in something logical. Well...what I can say about this experience...some musicians can think it's "elevator music"...but the difference is (and I was surprised about it) that people who are there to eat (excellent food by the way) applause after each improvisation. What??? I've never seen people applausing within an elevator...lol. Yeap...they listen at the same time they enjoy their meal. Am I not lucky?

If you want to see the YT channel I used to put these short videos...nothing I worked hard on it...I recorded all of them in 3 or 4 days, no more...well...it's here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP3eSM ... 7RQWdvegZw

N.B. I forgot to say that another restaurant asked me to play on Saturday Feb 9th...hoping the results will be similar...we'll see...

beautiful! I love it. I am sure you will get plenty of gigs if you want them. Easy listening is a better term than elevator music. All Chapman Stick players are "lucky", but if you take into account all the hard work that goes with it, i think its more perseverance, love, and dedication than luck. Rock on.

Very Good! I like what you are doing.
Creating your own sound, is very satisfying.

That is awesome, Alain!

Thank you guys for your comments...

ReyStick... Easy listening is a better term than elevator music...you're right...bad translation...but at the same time it's a sarcastic way to qualify this kind of music by some musicians...I prefer yours...lol.

I'm just trying to have fun, to get more experience in front of a public with the stick, etc...

Really cool Alain. Really cool!


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That is cool. I wish I could come down and hear you. You are doing what I’d like to do some day.

Really great story Alain, I love that approach.
As for musical styles, elevator , easy listening or whatever, I don't get the critics. If music makes you feel good , so be it. Seems your audience were simply enjoying the sounds & sights of the Stick, not wishing for Progressive rock in odd time signatures I hope you do much more , I'm a bit inspired being on a similar kind of path at present with performance.

Thanks Bruce...it was so fun to play this way. Normally we put drums or percussions and we practice or play with it...which is really fun too. But this time it's an ambiant sonority they asked me to do. I had some perc on my looper but they asked me not using it. So...I had another idea and I'll try it this coming Friday...I put on my looper ambiant sounds like the ocean, rain, forest, city sounds, monastery, etc...and I'll play on top of it...whatever comes to my mind...lol. Hoping they like it. If they don't...no problems, I'll continue with the stick only...