[Dixielandjazz] Winterthur Gig

[Stephen Barbone]

Du Pont Corporation's 200th Anniversary Celebration.

Barbone Street was selected as one of 6 bands to perform  5 hour gigs at
this mammoth party. It was held outdoors at Winterthur, the du Pont
ancestral estate north of Wilmington Delaware. About 25 acres of the
rolling hills surrounding the grass horse racing course were converted
into a carnival type event.

Music was provided by Barbone Street (OKOM), an 18 piece Swing Band, a
Doo Wop Band, a Reggae Band, a Country / Western Band and a Pop Band.
Performances started at Noon, consisted of five sets and continued till
Five PM. Band venues were small tents, facing two very large tents for
the audiences, and one food tent. Each venue was separated from the next
closest one by about 200 yards. In our case, we were 200, 300, 300, 300
and 400 yards away. The sound guys did a great job in keeping the sound
at non-interference levels.

What a party!!!  Somewhere between 21,000 and 25,000 employees/families
attended. Once we started playing, our venue was crowded all day. More
so than any other. We had dancers, listeners, kids, old folks, you name
it. Even some fans from our brewpub and public park  gigs.

Other attractions?  Six tethered Hot Air Balloons, Miniature Golf, Sky
Dancers, Floral Displays, DuPont sponsored Race Cars, Vintage/Classic
Cars, a fashion show complete with anorexic models etc. And for the
kids, a whole host of neat stuff from the Moon Bounce to Photo Ops with
NASCAR drivers.

Our venue was 100 yards from the entrance, which was flanked by the six
tethered hot air balloons. So, the estimated crowd of 22,500 had to hear
us coming and going. And opposite our raised,  tented 30 x 40 foot stage
the two huge sit down tents, seated 400 each. Between us and the tents
was a food line, and an open space for loitering. The tents were full
for 4 out of the 5 hours and the food line continuously averaged 200
people during that time. Rough guess is 4000 people, maybe more who
heard us for 45 minutes or so. ("serious" listeners?)

We did our usual bead throwing and played 5 full sets (4 @ 45 minutes
and 1 @ 60 minutes). Our music was 100% OKOM and the crowds loved it. As
an aside, according to the producer, we were the only band that did not
have to repeat songs. Some of the others even repeated sets.

The program was produced by an event manager from Cincinnati, Ohio, 600
miles away.  We got hired because they sought a jazz band that could
relate to a broad, general audience. We were recommended to the
Cincinnati producer by the folks from DuPont’s home office in Wilmington
for whom we do about 5 gigs a year, by several family members for whom
we have played parties, and by the folks at Hagley Museum and Longwood
Gardens where we also perform on a regular basis. Hagley and Longwood
are former DuPont family properties like Winterthur which were donated
to the community by the family.

This day was certainly an affirmation that Dixieland has broad appeal,
among a mass general audience. We were exhausted by the program and the
hoopla, but I have to tell you that it was a blast. And when I picked up
the check at gig’s end, the producer was very complimentary as well as
curious as to whether we would travel to other events they produce,
albeit at higher pay rates.

We quickly said yes because the compensation for this one day local
event was TWICE what sidemen earn at the typical three day OKOM
Festival, required no travel time and the crowds were larger, and just
as appreciative.

So even if we only play for "Art's" sake and not money, our psyches are
massaged just as much, if not more, by crowds like this. ;-)

This is the future of Dixieland  . . . where the people are. That's it
for now, had a late brewpub gig last night, and have 2 outdoor park gigs
tomorrow with expected audiences totalling 6000 more. Not bad for us old
folks. Going to sleep right now!!!

Cheers,
Steve Barbone

PS. We had our own venue/stage manager and assistants who got food, ice
cream, water, etc., for us, what ever we wanted, whenever we wanted it.
etc., etc. Now that's the way to treat the musos. They made it very easy
to concentrate on the show.