[Dixielandjazz] Cheap bookers

Tue Nov 29 16:04:07 PST 2005

Retirement centers here just about won't pay for entertainment.  I 
raised my price $25 per gig this past year and my bookings have dropped 
off.  They paid it once and then haven't called back.  They are a very 
tight fisted bunch.  There are a lot of them setting out there with 
literally millions in the bank pleading poverty.  I know a woman who's 
father was a doctor and left her with a pretty good estate.  She lost 
her husband and collected a hefty good insurance check She also got his 
entire retirement and she retired with 40 years teaching so that's about 
$3k a month.  She also got a settlement from the state for her entire 
retirement fund (as I did) that was worth about $75k plus her 
husband's.  This woman lives in a retirement home and calls me to fix 
her computer which is completely obsolete and she won't spend $500 to 
buy a new one.  I know another woman that collected over a mil on each 
of two husbands who thinks she has no money.  This is a universal thing 
it seems.

The "homes" that they live in are money making deals for someone so they 
won't spend much because they have all kinds of "civic" groups out there 
willing to entertain for free.  My trumpet player tells me if I ever see 
him in one of these places to kindly shoot him.

If you've seen the movie "The GIG" you will know what Mike and Steve are 
talking about.  Too many guys out there are just dying to play a real 
gig and get paid for it.  The customers are willing to take advantage of 
this "need", this 15 minutes of fame.

Hey, I just got aced by a guy willing to play for free.  The guy will 
get a lot of pats on the head and he will feel good that someone wants 
him.  He might even get a hundred bucks and will stand there saying "oh 
that's OK I enjoyed it" as he reaches out for the bucks.  The only 
winner here is the Doctor who is throwing the bash who by the way is 
well fixed.
Larry Walton.
St. Louis
 Bob Romans wrote:
> I got a call three weeks ago from a VERY retirement center close by 
> wanting to hire CB7 for a New Year's Eve  gig...I gave them what I 
> thought was a low "ballpark" price of $2000...for two hours...she 
> started berating me on the phone, and I hung up! THAT'S cheap for an 
> eight piece band on New Year's eve, in my opinion...to HELL with her!
> Warm regards,
> Bob Romans,
> Cell Block 7 Jazz Band
> 1617 Lakeshore Dr.
> Lodi, Ca. 95242
> 209-339-4676
> www.cellblockseven2002.net
> Cell 209-747-1148
> Because I play trumpet, I envy no one.
> """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: <tcashwigg at aol.com>
> To: <Vaxtrpts at aol.com>; <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2005 2:29 PM
> Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Cheap bookers
>
>
>> Unfortunately they are not kidding Mike,  and the reason they are not 
>> kidding is because so many bands have let themselves degenerate to 
>> this level of pay so there will be no shortage of takers lined up for 
>> this gig.
>>
>> I t breaks down to this on those kind of gigs:
>>
>> Leader gets $200.00, sidemen get $50.00 each if that, and goes to 
>> those guys just so hungry to play that they will play for little or 
>> even nothing.   The same lists has even more ads for musicians to 
>> DONATE their time for Holiday gigs and work for the good Karma, and 
>> wonderful feeling of sharing their talents, and sadly Every One of 
>> them will get filled. To make things even worse there are AGENTS who 
>> Book these B.S. Gigs and expect to make a 15% commission too.  :))    
>> These kind of gigs are usually filled by the same guys who go to BIG 
>> BAND Rehearsals every week for free for two - four hours (to keep 
>> their chops and reading skills up) for the two to four gigs a year 
>> they get with the Big Band for chump change money)   But Hey they can 
>> boast about being members of a BIG BAND. And every time they get a 
>> gig  they start talking all over again about How BIG BANDS ARE BACK.
>>
>> Some folks who actually get paid what they are worth should not 
>> complain about it. :))
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Tom Wiggins
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vaxtrpts at aol.com
>> To: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
>> Sent: Tue, 29 Nov 2005 01:31:39 EST
>> Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Cheap bookers
>>
>>
>> In a message dated 11/28/2005 10:10:07 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
>> tcashwigg at aol.com writes:
>>
>> Stars  Cabaret in Beaverton is looking for small Swing Band for New
>> Years Eve  Party. Looking for the band to play 10 to 12 songs through
>> out the night.  We will have a Speak Easy style night with gaming going
>> on also along with  our normal show. We are looking at spending right
>> around $400. Feel free  to contact me at 503.350.0868. Thank you  tim
>> this is in  or around Beaverton
>>
>>
>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>> Geez, are these people kidding?  Not even a self-respecting DJ would  
>> work
>> for $400 on New Year's eve, much less a "swing band" of ANY size.   
>> Even in
>> Oregon!
>> Mike Vax
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