[Dixielandjazz] Too Many musicians, not enough gigs

[Steve barbone]

"Elazar Brandt" <jazzmin at actcom.net.il> wrote (polite snip)
 
> Shalom Jazz fans,
> 
> IMHO, the premise of the title of this thread is seriously flawed. What, if
> there were fewer musicians, then there would be plenty of work for them (us?)?
> Or if there were only more gigs, then there would be plenty of work for the
> existing musicians? Something is wrong with the logic there somewhere.

Dear Elazor:

Sorry for the confusion. The premise is that that are not enough gigs for
the amount of musicians that are out there driving cabs, working in
MacDonald's etc. I did not mean to suggest that fewer musicians would create
more gigs for those that are left. No doubt the law of diminishing returns
would result in even less gigs if there were fewer musicians because those
remaining musicians would not do much to develop any more.

I agree with you completely, that we (MUSICIANS) must create more gigs, we
must develop a new audience, we must, like you and I do now, play where the
people are. And the vast majority of the people are all around us. In many
places other than OKOM Festivals.

My point since I joined the DJML several years ago has always been that we
need to create our own success. (read gigs). Most of us do not do that, but
rather wallow in self pity because the world is not giving us a living.

This year, I will do over 200 gigs, ALL OKOM. Most created by me, some
others because of me. I don't mean to brag but that is the way it is. And
I'm 71 years old and "retired". And if I can do it, there are a lot of
better clarinet players, band leaders, jazz musicians out there, that can
easily do it too.

What is the "it"? CREATE MORE GIGS. Just do it.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone