[Dixielandjazz] karaoke and parades

[TCASHWIGG at aol.com]

In a message dated 7/10/03 12:33:34 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
meggraf at hotmail.com writes:

> Hello, listmates:
> 
> The comment on karaoke led me to reflect on the 4th of July holidy.
> I played in a polka band [don't kick me!!] in a parade that was the biggest 
> one within a 100-mile radius.  Our band was the ONLY live music in the 
> parade.

  Several > floats had music blaring from boom boxes, but that was all.
> 
> I think we need more live music in our lives, not less, and not canned.
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Meg and Big George
> 
> Somebody is not doing their marketing homework to book their bands is all I 
can say, I could have taken 1/2 a dozen parades around here, but none of them 
had enough money or would pay enough to get our show and Parades are a 
specialty for New Orleans Brass bands.   But they did hire several smaller groups to 
play on trucks, and in the parks after the parades.

   You need to go sign up on every committee you can find and get on the 
board of directors for chambers of commerce and organizations that put these 
events together, network with the business people and start lining up paying 
sponsors well in advance and you will be surprised at how many gigs you can find 
just sitting there waiting for someone to contact them to play them.

These events are usually presented and put on by volunteers who do not have a 
clue how to find or book a band, you have to go to find them they will almost 
never find you.

Kind of like the folks looking to book a 3 piece Dixieland Band, for less 
than a Karaoke singer gets.

Tom Wiggins