[Dixielandjazz] Cheap bookers

Tue Nov 29 17:26:24 PST 2005

Oh absolutely but it 's the people that go in and entertain for free or 
at very low cost.  You know like a donation.  But that's not entirely 
true the people in the high end home do have some input.
Larry
St. Louis
Russ Guarino wrote:
> 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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>>>       
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