[Dixielandjazz] Re: Multiple Band bookings, same date

[Stephen Barbone]

TCASHWIGG at aol.com wrote: (polite snip)

> Why does he multiple book Barbone Street?  There could be a couple of
> reasons, but I suspect that the primary reason is because all the
> other OKOM band
> leaders in his market are sitting on their asses waiting for him to
> call with an
> extra gig rather than going out and trying to book their own gigs.

List mates:

Why do I book simultaneous Barbone Street Dates? Tom is partly right.
And on dates like Fat Tuesday, we've had the market cornered for the
last few years. Some great OKOM bands have been unable to book in our
primary territory because people wanted "Barbone Street". The rest of
the answer is really very simple. Because of customer demand for the
product that Barbone Street delivers.

I do not seek multiple gigs. In fact, at this point, I rarely seek out
new gigs any more. 90 percent of our band business is either REPEAT
and/or WORD OF MOUTH. I only promote to those extra special venues that
have not booked us yet, that we'd like to play. (not too many left) Or
if things look slow 6 months in advance. (I'm evaluating January 2004
bookings now.)

The biggest multiple date we have is Fat Tuesday. A local restaurant
chain with 3 locations and a single owner asks us to play all three
locations at the same time. So, we certainly are not deceiving the
client are we? Being no fool he also insists on "Barbone Street" being
at the locations.

On my web site schedule I clearly list them and suggest people contact
me for band line ups. So those customers who regularly check my schedule
know what is going on. They are not deceived. And many regulars like to
hear a band where I am not playing to a) get a taste of something
different and b) because they can hear the Steve Barbone led version
about 100 times a year anyway.

On my fan email and snail mail program mail outs, I clearly list them
with the same admonition and so approximately 1000 people are notified
whether they plan to come or not.

We also book at least one private party on Fat Tuesday. The client wants
"Barbone Street".

Bottom Line?

Understand very clearly that in this neck of the woods, "Barbone Street"
is very much in demand, regardless of who is in the band. It has taken
approximately 10 years to get to this stage of local recognition.

Understand very clearly that the reason "Barbone Street" is very much in
demand is because no matter who is in the band, no matter who leads it,
a  band under the name "Barbone Street" always delivers the BEST OKOM
PERFORMANCE that is available in our performance territory. Personally,
I wouldn't have it any other way.

Understand very clearly that sometimes I have turned down last minute
multiples because I could not field a line-up that met my criteria for a
performance. All the great musos were working. That happened last July
4th when I had to turn down a gig at one of those extra special venues
that I've been trying to book for years.

What can I tell you? We are professionals, always delivering what the
client and his/her audience wants. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Not only that, but we are having the time of our lives in doing so.
Nobody in OKOM, repeat nobody has more fun, imparts that fun to a mass
audience and gets the kind of audience reaction that we do.

We are a bunch of fun loving improvisational JAZZ MUSICIANS
communicating love and excitement through our instruments. So it doesn't
get any better than that.

Is that so difficult to understand?

Cheers,
Steve Barbone