[Dixielandjazz] Playing For Free

[Steve barbone]

Tricky issue.

Sometimes it is just fine to play for free, or for reduced rates. IMO, the
test is: "Does it undercut the existing musical market"?

If no, IMO, then free or cheap is often OK. Some Examples:

1) For a charity event where everyone has donated their services. Barbone
Street does this a couple of times a year. However, I always pay the sidemen
out of my leader fees earned on previous gigs and donate the band. By
spending "my" money, I am sure to carefully evaluate the situation.

2) Where OKOM has never appeared before and a "NEW" gig is created. Some
years back, a well known local OKOM band (not mine) booked a gig into
Ortliebs Jazz Haus. Ortleibs is a famous Philadelphia venue for modern jazz.
Way back when, Bird, Monk, Dizzy et al all appeared there. NEVER any OKOM.
The leader booked a 7 piece band there for $350. He subsidized the sideman
pay out of his own pocket so that several "stars" would come from NYC to
play in the band. It was a GREAT BAND.

Big hue & cry was raised by some other OKOM bands in the area. Like, "man,
he is cheapening the market for OKOM bands there. Now we'll all have to work
7 piece gigs for $350."

That was. IMO, specious reasoning. Because OKOM never had appeared there.
The leader CREATED A NEW GIG for OKOM and did not undercut the existing
market for OKOM gigs since there were none there previously. And nobody was
holding a gun to the other bands heads and forcing them to play there.

Playing fees vary widely with venue, event, etc. In a small jazz nightclub,
you can't make a fortune with a 6 or 7 piece band. Simple economics. If only
50 people come out to hear you, or the venue only seats 100, you have to
work cheap.

The raison d'etre for these cheapos is that you usually book weddings,
corporate events and other higher paying gigs through club dates. And jazz
nightclub dates are usually the most creative and the most fun.

The NYC OKOM scene is a perfect example of that. The TOP players in NYC
often work for a mere pittance. ($25 to $50) Why? Because that's where the
market is. 

You have Dave Ostwald's Gully Low at Birdland playing for the gate. When
damn few fans show up, they play for coolie wages.

But then there's Woody Allen at the Carlyle where the cover and drink fees
are BIG. I suspect that band gets reasonably good money.

Ask the others why they work cheap and they will tell you that they do it
because they have to pay their rent and every $25 helps.

It is a tricky issue. The working pros usually have to take all the gigs
they can get in order to keep up. They're running as fast as they can just
to stay in the same place. Some are lucrative, some are not.

Bottom line? Just don't undercut the market or it will get worse. And focus
on the development of that "New Audience", not giving away the music to the
"Existing Audience".

Cheers,
Steve Barbone