[Dixielandjazz] Uniforms & Agents - Redux

Sat Jun 26 16:31:16 PDT 2004

>>Could you cite which article of the Consitution specifies that as an
impeachable offense?

      Nothing in the constitution that I know of, Bill;  I just thought it
was a good idea :-)

       Pat Cooke


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "WILLIAM HORTON" <WILLIAMHORTON at peoplepc.com>
To: "DJML" <Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>; "Patrick Cooke"
<patcooke at cox.net>
Sent: Friday, June 25, 2004 11:38 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Uniforms & Agents - Redux


>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Patrick Cooke" <patcooke at cox.net>
> To: <TCASHWIGG at aol.com>; <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
> Sent: Friday, June 25, 2004 18:38 PM
> Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Uniforms & Agents - Redux
>
>
> > Uniforms are for identification...usually to identify the wearer as a
> > menial.
>
> Like Admirals or Generals or the Pope or Priests or Nuns or members of the
> NY Yankees or the Oakland Raiders???
>
>  >This notion was crystallized for me back when Nixon had some snooty
> > get together at the white house
>
> "Snooty"?  You mean it wasn't an old t-shirt beer blast out in the parking
> lot?
>
>  >and had the band dressed up in some
> > ridiculous 'student prince' type costumes mainly so the guests wouldn't
> > mistake them for another guest.
>
> Ah, the old mind-reading act with the crystal ball!
>
>  >They should have impeached him for that and
> > we would have avoided the Watergate debacle!
>
> Could you cite which article of the Consitution specifies that as an
> impeachable offense?
>
> >
> >    Pat Cooke
>
> Bill "I didn't vote for Nixon, but" Horton
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: <TCASHWIGG at aol.com>
> > To: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
> > Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2004 12:36 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Uniforms & Agents - Redux
> >
> >
> > > Hi Steve:
> > >
> > > I worked a few jobs for an agent like that,  how do you think I got
all
> my
> > > uniforms, ha ha.
> > >
> > > Everytime this schmuck called he wanted something different,
> > >
> > > A gospel Show with GOLD Choir Robes for the band and twenty singers.
> > > I could not rent them so I made him buy them which I now own and use
for
> > the
> > > Daint Gabriel's Celestial Brass Band and the Pearly Gate Singers Show.
> > > Cost his client some big bucks for that day too.   It was actually a
Big
> > > Funeral/Life Celebration affair for some wealthy guy that died in San
> > Francisco.
> > >
> > > Same agent booked us for a 4th July Parade and insisted we wear some
Red
> > > White & Blues Uniforms,  Not a problem charged him $250.00 per man
extra
> > and went
> > > out and bought them.   They have paid for themselves many times over
and
> > have
> > > gotten us more Television coverage around the world than I can even
keep
> > track
> > > of.
> > >
> > > I have another custom made set with Uncle Sam on the back in Red White
&
> > Blue
> > > as well, we also do a Red White & Blues Festival show.
> > >
> > > We do however refuse to wear so called Dixieland attire of straw hats
> and
> > > striped vests, for much the same reason as you guys,  We don't want to
> be
> > > catagorized as one of THOSE old timey cheap bands from the pizza
parlor.
> > >
> > > We also have Pierre Cardin Long Tailed Tuxedos in White, and Maroon
> which
> > we
> > > wear with White Baseball caps and Red & White or Blue and White Tennis
> > shows
> > > which I use for Really special occassions and Rich funerals,  I charge
> an
> > extra
> > > $100.00 per man for cleaning of them after every show.  They also are
> very
> > > colorful mixed or matched.   We also wear our own Custome made T or
Polo
> > shirts
> > > in Red White or Blue with them, NO tie .
> > >
> > >
> > > I think this is what the Union used to call Grotesque costumes and
made
> > the
> > > clients pay more to humiliate the musicians by asking them to wear
them,
> > in
> > > stead of the regulation Blue or Black suit.   I know a few old timers
> who
> > are
> > > still wearing the same Blues suit forty years later to every gig, and
> some
> > of
> > > them have Never even been to the Cleaners.
> > >
> > > One old tuba player still wears his witht he mustard stains on the
right
> > knee
> > > where he wiped his hands after eating a rather messy Hot dog at
> > intermission
> > > on a gig in 1968, :))
> > >
> > >
> > > Sounds like your Agent guy is listed in the Events Planner category of
> the
> > > yellow pages, or maybe the country fair agencies under circus acts.
I
> > just
> > > love those kind of sophisticated talent buyers.
> > >
> > >
> > > I do however like uniforms for bands, it sets them apart form the
> audience
> > > and actually gives them professional Class when folks can walk up to
> them
> > and
> > > talk after the shows and feel like they have met some special people
and
> > > celebrities in show business.
> > >
> > > This can also be done without the uniforms but usually not until after
> > like
> > > Barbone Street Jazz Band has played around enough to establish a
> > reputation as
> > > great entertainers and musicians.   It works for you guys, and Willie
> > Nelson,
> > > but at the same time the Uniforms put my group on the International
Map
> in
> > > 1990.  We like looking special and sounding special so we Dress for
> > Success.
> > >
> > > By the way the uniforms do not have to match nor even be the same
thing,
> > just
> > > clothes that set the act out as something different and or special.
> Now
> > I
> > > am sure Barbone Street  dresses fine but looks like a group of Doctors
> on
> > their
> > > day off playing a little music for the neighborhood Bar B Que Party.
> > > Nothing wrong with that either especially if the Bar B Que is for
10,000
> > people and
> > > sponsored by the City.  :)))
> > >
> > >
> > > Now on a serious note:   I supply all the uniforms and maintain them
for
> > the
> > > band for several reasons besides the above mentioned ones.
> > >
> > > 1. It  saves a lot of excess baggage charges for the band,   They
don't
> > have
> > > to bring three suitcases of clothes per man on tour.   I collect them
> all
> > > after every show and have them laundered and or cleaned.   We carry
> about
> > four
> > > different sets on tour and can mix & match most of them for a
different
> > look
> > > every day or even every show.
> > >
> > > 2.  I have a predominately Black American Band, and Black American
> players
> > > like to look good and dress a bit on the Flashy side.  They actually
> like
> > > uniforms because it has proven to get them respect from some folks who
> > normally
> > > would not have any respect for them, but do respect the uniform as a
> > symbol of
> > > success.  I think we learned that from the Military training, ( you
may
> > not like
> > > the man wearing it but you better salute the uniform) especially if it
> > shows
> > > higher rank than you have achieved.
> > >
> > > 3.   It has also broken down some pretty rigid racial barriers for us
in
> > some
> > > places, from folks who are less tolerant of Black Folks in their
> > communities.
> > >
> > > 4.    It helps me keep track of my guys on the road in Train depots
and
> > > airports and even at large festivals, where they are easier to find in
a
> > crowd,
> > > when we are on the road we have to operate as a team and stick
together
> > and look
> > > out for one another's back.
> > >
> > > 5.   Great for Television coverage and looks really good in Living
Color
> > on
> > > the front page of the Newspapers and Entertainment magazines as well.
> not
> > to
> > > mention six feet tall posters all over a city when you arrive.
Instant
> > > recognition and a great attraction before you even play a note.    I
> can't
> > tell you
> > > how many times people have walked up to us and said "wow you guys look
> > great, I
> > > can't wait to hear you play".
> > >
> > >
> > > Cheers,
> > >
> > > Tom Wiggins
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > >
> >
> >
> >
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