[Dixielandjazz] pidgeon holes, names & descriptions

[Richard Stevens]

Hi All,
I clipped a recent article regarding just this, I have only saved it as a
PDF which is a 415kb file but it's a good document to refute the age factor
Sure the largest purchasing group is the under 35 , but the second largest
is the over 5o's. Problem is advertising doesn’t work as well on the older
group because they are less likely to change brands. So it APPEARS to
promoters, band bookers and young people that all consumers are under 35. We
put on a show that over 5o's just love. That's why we get our booked out
shows on quiet nights during the week! 
If you want the article I will send it to you off line, it's in my promo
folder all the time!

regards,
Richard Stevens
www.thejazzfactory.net

-----Original Message-----
From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
[mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com] On Behalf Of
TCASHWIGG at aol.com
Sent: Monday, 23 August 2004 4:02 AM
To: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] pidgeon holes, names & descriptions

Hi Jim:

After 37 years "If it Ain't Broke Don't Fix It"

You guys made the right professional decision 37 years ago, hope it keeps 
working for you another 37 years.

In this new age of so called Specialist in the professions in America 
everyone is a self proclaimed EXPERT in one field but many know very little
about 
anything else, therefore they drastically limit their employment
possibilities, 
not to mention professional growth.

A professional musician in my opinion should be able to play almost any
style 
of music someone is willing to pay them to play with some exceptions of 
course and the freedom to choose not to play certain styles, which would
leave the 
employment opportunity open for someone who does want to play that style. NO

problem.


We must remember again as has been discussed many times on this list that
the 
audience and the purchaser of live music is more often than not far less 
sophisticated about the music and the styles than most musicians and usually
just 
start off with a thought pattern of  "We should get A band"   then they
start 
asking around and looking for a band to play for their event, often with no 
particular style of music in mind at all, much less being asked to make the 
decision of whether they want Dixieland, Trad. Jazz, Be Bop,  New Orleans
Jazz, 
Swing, or whatever is popular and it is being called this year.

  Band leaders can lose many gig opportunities that they could otherwise 
accept by limiting their style of music offered to only what they personally
want 
to play.  It is professional to be able to play a variety of styles to suit 
the variety of tastes of the audiences and employers you expect to pay you. 

 It is All about THEM not YOU, we are in a service business and it is our 
duty to serve those who hire us and expect us to provide the kind of musical

services they think they purchased, to do otherwise is misrepresentation and
will 
certainly lead to fewer gigs as your reputation for baiting and switching
gets 
around, and you can bet it will.

The major Record labels have always wanted a name for music to hype it and 
exploit it which has been the major contributing factor in so many different

styles of overlapping music genres.  They exploit and promote and market it
as 
long as it is selling in sufficient numbers to make them substantial
profits.  
When it falls off they have another style to exploit to the next audience of

music buyers (commonly believed to be between the ages of 13 & 25 years
old).  
The major record industry still is of the idea that nobody buys recordings 
after age 25 but rather spend their disposable income on things like diapers
and 
jogging equipment, ski equipment and other such adult toys.

They certainly do not believe anybody over 45 will buy a recording which is 
why they stopped making 8 Track cassettes :)   As far as they are concerned
the 
old folks can buy used records if they can find them, but more than likely 
they already have all of them they bought when they were between 13 & 25 and

ever wanted to buy anyway.

 

Cheers,

Tom Wiggins
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Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
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