John Michaels

Professionalism, flexibility, and speed—that’s what I bring to every stage. After three decades earning my living from the keys, I can walk into an unfamiliar venue, take a set list handed over coffee—or even a few audio tracks on a USB stick—and be gig-ready by sound-check. Give me half an hour with the material and I’ll map the voicings, program the MainStage patches across my two-keyboard rig, and lock everything to the show’s arrangement with zero fuss. My armoury is deliberately varied: a road-tough stage piano for the classic sounds, a virtual-instrument powerhouse for layered synth parts, plus a spare board that slots in if the headliner’s backline hiccups. All of it travels in flight-ready cases, so I can switch from fly-dates to van tours without footprint issues. I carry my own in-ear system, spare leads, power distribution, and full liability insurance—so you’re hiring a player who solves problems rather than creates them. Vocally, I sit in the high-baritone/tenor pocket—ideal for tight thirds, fifths, and the occasional lead. Years of tribute work have drilled blend, timing, and diction into muscle memory, so I can deliver everything from Eagles-style three-part harmony to the airy pads behind modern pop hooks. If the musical director raises the key after rehearsal, I’ll have the new harmony sketched before we hit the downbeat. Reliability is why most of my diary is repeat business. I’ve stepped into last-minute theatre calls, covered holiday-park weekends needing four themed sets, and toured with tribute productions that flip from Frankie Goes to Hollywood synths to Tom Jones big-band piano in the same night. Living in that environment teaches you to stay calm, punctual, and ready to pivot when the set list changes ten minutes before doors. Off stage, I’m equally confident on the technical side. Serving as production manager on tours and cruise contracts has given me the wiring-diagram view of a show—RF coordination, power distribution, time-code integration, back-line troubleshooting, and the dark art of keeping front-of-house and monitor worlds happy simultaneously. If a desk throws a firmware wobble or a pedalboard goes silent, I’m already tracing the signal path while most people are still blinking at the LEDs. That know-how keeps the show rolling and saves everyone time, stress, and, occasionally, money. Travel-wise, I hold both UK and EU passports, keep a clean driving licence, and can load a van faster than most people find the kettle. My repertoire binder lives in the cloud, so if the vocalist decides the encore should be “Don’t Stop Believin’,” the chart is on my tablet before the crowd finishes cheering the previous song. Emails get answered promptly, tech specs arrive neatly formatted, and invoices never need chasing. In short, you’re hiring a seasoned keyboardist who learns fast, sings tight BVs, travels light, and brings production-manager savvy to every gig. Hand me the call sheet and the music will land exactly where it should—leaving you free to focus on the audience instead of the bandstand.