[Dixielandjazz] Business conditions - was New Year's Eve Gigs

[Steve barbone]

Sheik wrote: (polite snip)

> Band biz is bad around DC. This year

Funny how things go. Business next door in Baltimore also reportedly slow.
So I offered one of my 5 band gigs at various Iron Hill Brew Pubs on Fat
Tuesday (Feb 8) to a Baltimore Band. This one for the Newark DE branch, just
across the border from Maryland and about 60 miles from Baltimore.

Gig is 3 hours in restaurant from 6 to 9 PM. Conversation like this:

"How much does it pay".

"625 total"

"Gee, that's a pretty far drive"

"Yes, I know, but I figured I'd offer it to you guys before I lay it off
here locally because business is slow there."

"Well, err, um, I'll talk to the guys."

Calls me back:

"The guys don't want to do it at that price."

"OK, work it with a quartet instead of the 6 piece."

Calls back again.

"No, they won't do it."

So I placed the gig with a local Dixieland Band. They insisted playing it
with 6 just because they want a full band sound. I am also doing another
location with 6 for the same reason with my A band as are the other bands I
jobbed out working under our name.

Bear in mind that many of the Baltimore guys are not working on Fat Tuesday,
or much of the other time either. I thought I was trying to do some musos a
favor, yet was made to feel as if I was short changing them when it was
over. Even though they often work local gigs in their area for $40.

Go Figure!!!!!

Cheers,
Steve Barbone

PS: Guy called back two weeks later and says "we'll do it", but by then, it
was too late. Guess who won't get the call in 2006.