[Dixielandjazz] Why kids don't download Dixieland or OKOM was Schools

[Steve barbone]

Bob Romans wrote that kids do not download OKOM, but rather all their
favorite music/rap/rock or whatever.

Bob is right. How would they know where to go to download OKOM? Or even know
where to go to hear it?

If we truly want to get kids to enjoy OKOM, in any form, then more OKOM
bands than mine or Kash's must do what we are doing.

What many of us on this list fail to grasp is that there is a resurgence of
MARKET DEMAND for "tuneful" music out there in the world. Forget all that
rap BS. It's already passe, like the Blue Hair Dixieland was by 1975. Hey
fellow OKOM band leaders, how about "leading", or becoming a change agent?
That's why you get the big bucks. Step one? Think outside the OKOM Festival
Box. Don't be trapped by the inbred view that the audience for OKOM is
limited to Festival goers. That's nonsense.

PLAY WHERE THE KIDS ARE.

I played 2 gigs today where kids were. (Wednesday Aug 24).

First: a two set gig in a public square in Philadelphia between 2, twenty
story office buildings. Audience was jazz oblivious young office workers on
their lunch hour. MANY SEXY LADIES. Plus 8 of our swing dancing band
followers appeared from buildings close by. Got two e mails tonight from new
fans there who went to our website to see schedule and asked about upcoming
gigs. It was pretty obvious that the YOUNG audience was digging OKOM. (And
that the band members were digging the office workers and swing dancers)

Second: the usual 4 set gig at the Showboat Casino in Atlantic City. Lots of
young people dancing up and down the aisles with the band Etc., etc., etc.

I play 100 gigs a year like those above live before more than 100,000
different people every year in Philadelphia Metro area. But, in the grand
musical scale of things, that is like pissing against the wind. IT SURE AS
HELL IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT MORE OKOM BANDS THAN MINE TO MAKE A REAL DENT IN
THE MUSIC MARKET OF THE USA.

That should tell you what my agenda is. :-) VBG.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone