[Dixielandjazz] New year's Eve:

[Stephen Barbone]

Just some random thoughts.

Doctors, Dentists, Plumbers and most other highly paid folks do not
normally work on Saturday, Sunday or Holidays such as New Years Eve. So
comparisons are invalid. I suspect if they were forced to do so they
would find a way to charge more. (We know plumbers, electricians etc.,
do just that)

Club owners, Restaurant owners, and promoters all raise their prices for
New Year's Eve. That same meal costs twice as much because you get a
glass of cheap Champagne and . . . Entertainment.

Therefore, IMO the entertainers have every right to charge higher prices
for New Year's Eve. In fact, they are damn fools if they don't. And lets
face it, we all charge more on Saturdays, then on weekdays. Because it's
an overtime day. At the very least a Holiday such as New Year's, or
Christmas should be triple time.

Those Doctors and or Entertainers who have steady gigs with a facility,
e.g. the local Hospital or Disney or Casinos in Vegas, Atlantic City or
elsewhere should be fired if they refuse to work New Years Eve. If
that's where one makes one's living all the other days of the year, then
one should be there on the Holiday. It's not like the musos in that
situation can't take outside gigs on their off time every other day of
the year. You can make a pretty good living that way. However, by the
same token, Disney et al should pay a higher rate for Holidays and New
Year's just like other companies do, no?

If they don't, well, complain to Disney CEO MIchael Eisner. He only made
about $80 million of so last year and he probably didn't work New Year's
Eve. ;-)

Cheers,
Steve Barbone