[Dixielandjazz] Cheap bookers

Tue Nov 29 16:10:12 PST 2005

I don't think it's the folks that set the rules, it's the corporate office.
At least that's my experience.

Russ Guarino
Clarinet Maverick

Larry Walton Entertainment wrote:

> 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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> >>
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> >
> >
> >
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