[Dixielandjazz] Million Dollar Question

[Stephen Barbone]

List mates

Perhaps there are too many bands and not enough festivals?  I've never
produced a festival. but have to think that the producers must pay
attention to the bottom line. Which means hiring bands that the audience
will pay to see. And that means the more popular bands will be called.
Whether or not they play real jazz. (however you care to define it)

And part of that equation must be to get some local bands, that will
cost less, to fill up the program. It may also be that the "hard core"
festival attendees are the same people, migrating from festival to
festival. Haven't some list mates stated that they go to more than 5
festivals a year?  And see mainly the same bands?

Also in the equation is the passage of time which thins out the ranks of
the OKOM festival goers. As the older folks die off, they leave a gap in
attendance because there is not an adequate supply of young people to
replace them. The laws of supply and demand become more pressing. (Large
supply of bands, smaller demand from OKOM festivals as most shrink)

That drives price down and so like business all over the US, the folks
putting up the money must either cut expenses or get more attendees to
boost top line revenue. So the bands made up of non working musicians
(those who do not make a living at it) cut their prices in order to
play. And some bands, made up of musicians who work steadily playing
jazz (like Barbone Street) are not attracted to the festival circuit
because they can make more money playing quality jazz at home to broad
based enthusiastic audiences.

The million dollar question is "What Are "Jazz" Festivals Going To Do
About it?"

My guess is that some will fade away, some will shrink down and
economize and some will realize that they are not in the Jazz Festival
business after all, but rather in the Musical Entertainment Business.
And like the Montreal Jazz Festival, (1.6 million visitors to that city
during those two weeks), and/or The Sacramento Jubilee, they will expand
their presentations to include various kinds of music for everybody. In
strictest terms, neither is now a "Jazz Festival"

The view that all one needs do is produce the best OKOM festival, with
the best bands, etc., will not cut it in this environment. Just like
making the best buggy whips didn't cut it any more after the automobile
was invented. The product became irrelevant very quickly, no matter how
good.

Where does that leave the OKOM bands?

Well, you know my take on that, attract young people. Play where they
are. But then, you've heard that song before. Hey, it works for Barbone
Street. Find the mass audience, not the so called literati. We've got a
mini Dixieland jazz renaissance in our territory, and it is a paying
proposition for us.

Stay tuned for a post next week about a fantastic mass audience gig we
are doing this Saturday. Unfortunately some "non disclosure" contractual
provisions have prohibited me from talking about it in advance and we've
had it booked for a year. Hint: It is a private gig which will have a
one day audience of 22 to 25 thousand people. And since most are local
(in our territory) that's "real" exposure as well as long green dollars,
at least 2 festivals worth, in one afternoon.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone