[Dixielandjazz] Handing out cards -redux

[Stephen Barbone]

Interesting views of "ethics" on the list. Not sure since I have deleted
them, but do the opinions kind of fall in two categories? Those musos
who do, or have made their living in music, or are band leaders, or play
a lot of gigs, despise those who seek to hand out cards on a leader's
gigs. While those who see nothing wrong with it are more casual players
and mostly sidemen?

As Jim Beebe mentioned, the American Federation of Musicians has rules
against it. But then, why should we need rules to do what is right?

Take another hypothetical: You work as a salesman for Selmer
instruments. A music store says they don't want Selmer, they like
Yamaha. So you make a private deal with Yamaha and sell Yamahas to the
store. Is that ethical? Of course not. You took Selmer's money to
represent Selmer. To sell a competing brand is UNETHICAL. In my day gig
years, I have fired people for that, just as I fired the muso who did it
a few years ago.

And when it is done, on the gig, as in Bob Romans' example, it is little
better than attempted robbery. Those working musos who attempt it in the
New York - Philadelphia - Washington DC corridor quickly find themselves
not working.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone