[Dixielandjazz] Re: THE REASON for Dixieland's decline

[Stephen Barbone]

> BudTuba at aol.com wrote (polite snip)
>
> In a message dated 7/26/03 4:05:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time, csuhor at zebra.netwrites:
>
> > 10. Your call. I'm flat out of speculations...
>
> The discussion of reasons for the decline of Dixieland seemed to miss the
> real reason, and that is, music as an entertainment outlet is TOO COSTLY to be
> feasible.  Our band has played in two monthly gigs for several years and for
> that we take $200 plus the pot for one of the gigs, and $100 plus the pot for the other.
>
> In trying to talk up the lower paying proprietor, he explained, "I love having you guys
> play here and the folks love it, but I can make more money by just
> turning on the sports TV and taking the crowd I get without your band."
>
> What has the trend been in music (of all kinds)?  etc.

Bud's points are well taken. The trends in ALL MUSIC are down.

However, I respectfully submit that economics and trends are not THE REASON for the decline
of Dixieland. They are only the symptoms, not the disease.

Too expensive a form of entertainment?  I don't think so. Folks spend a TON of money on
entertainment. If the proprietor of the joint in which a band is playing can't afford the
band, then you are in the wrong venue.

As I posted, BSJB just returned from a weekend gig in Rehoboth DE. At a JAZZ CLUB. They
charge a $10 cover for bar patrons, no cover if you have dinner. Because the place only fits
250 people maximum throughout the night (including  turnover). The band cost is pretty steep
for such a small club. Plus, they feed us dinners, and they put us up in a "band" condo on
Friday & Saturday nights. (This is a beach resort town and cheap rooms go for well over $100
a night, most over $200)

Why do they hire a six piece group when other weekends they use duos or trios?
Simply because we draw a crowd. Bigger than they normally get. Why is that? Because we
entertain the audience better than anyone else.

Does that mean we're clowns? Not necessarily. For some of the audience, it is the music that
entertains them. For others it is the repartee. For others it is the butt wiggle, for others
it is the chance to see the "old" guys play like kids and flirt with the girls. But make no
mistake, it is all, about entertainment. It always has been. If Dixieland is to die, than
the killing disease will be "Entertainment Thrombosis"  which rapidly degenerates into
"Audience Shrinkage." It is a slow and painful killer.

If a venue says we are too expensive, we find another venue. In order to make a go of it, we
know our band must draw customers over and above the existing customer base that the venue
already has. That's an economic fact of life in any business. There has to be a bottom line
benefit for the club and/or restaurant. Heck, that is one of our main selling points.
"Yessir, Mr. Businessman, we know you have to make a profit and we will increase the net on
your bottom line."

Recently we had 500 people spend $30 to see us in concert with The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
One set each. Shortly at Rehoboth we will have 500 customers pay $35 to see us alone, with
free snacks, but a cash bar. We routinely play in venues where the music cover is anywhere
from $6 to $14, just to get into the joint.

It didn't come easy, or all at once. We did our share of cheap gigs in the beginning, but we
slowly and surely brought the prices us as our popularity grew.
Any band, anywhere can do the same by focusing on entertaining and growing their audience.
And that means, get to the new generations by taking some "Band Viagra".

The entire concept of entertainment has changed with the advent of TV, MTV, Peter Paul &
Mary, Elvis, The Beatles, Yanni, John Tesch, Bruce, The Three Tenors, et al. Take a tip from
Tony Bennett. Change with it.

Cheers,
Steve

PS to John Farrell. Notice anything left out? ;-)