[Dixielandjazz] Musician vacations

Tue Apr 11 15:03:56 PDT 2006

I could just be getting senile, but I thought this country was founded 
primarily to get away from Taxation from England however it seems like 
the country fathers quickly figured out what a good business Taxation 
was to pay themselves and feed their various voracious appetites for 
the finer things in life that the working man should naturally pay for.

They obviously never anticipate the proliferation of those pesky 
avoiding musicians slipping thru the cracks, and in an out of the Back 
door.   "There oughta be a Law "  :))

Personally I avoid England like the plague since the money offered 
there is always less than the cost of the air fares not to mention the 
costs of hotel rooms and food and don't even ask about the costs of 
Booze,   If you want to drink in England I hear it is cheaper to drive 
over to France and buy a drink and drive back home :))   But I never 
found any cheap drinks in Paris either,  the Meridian Hotel "Lionel 
Hampton Room" charges $80.00 for any drink  water, coca cola or Whisky 
whatever.  But they are kind to you the second one only cost you $40.00 
  but hey there is NO Cover Charge for the music.   Even in a regular 
watering hole I got charged $16.00 a shot for Jack Daniels and $7.50 
for a beer.    However there is a good selection for Cheap French wine 
in the local grocery stores.
 Cheers,

Tom " The new Age Wino"  Wiggins

-----Original Message-----
From: George Thurmond <gthurmond at stx.rr.com>
To: DJML <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Tue, 11 Apr 2006 11:56:50 -0500
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Musician vacations

        Someone explain to Zenith the difference between avoidance and 
evasion,
and the repercusions of each.  Don't worry - I ain't no snitch.

George Thurmond

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Zenith @ ANS" <zenith at ans.com.au>
> To: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
> Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 6:14 PM
> Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Musician vacations
>
>
> > Hi List,
> >
> > Our experience after playing some 30 or so countries over the last 
15 or
> > so
> > years, suggests that paperwork can usually be avoided by simply not
> > mentioning you are a musician and going through customs separately. 
 In
> > the
> > cases where your passport actually says 'musician', if questioned, 
you
are
> > on holiday and/or "now retired" with "hobby" playing only.  As far 
as
the
> > tax man is concerned even musicians are allowed to go on vacation.
> >
> > We always sign our UK declarations saying our fees never exceed our
> > airfares
> > from Sydney.  We usually try to visit more than one country and 
contra
> > total
> > travel expenses against each country we visit if necessary.
> > (Did I really give that hot tip out loud and for free too? - Hope 
Bob
> > Ringwald does not have any taxmen/inland revenue people on this 
list)
> >
> > Any CDs can be labelled "not for sale" and/or "promotional 
material".
We
> > always travel with stacks of unassembled CDs on each musician 
without
> > jewel
> > cases, artwork being located elsewhere and carried by another so the
> > product
> > is not immediately saleable on one person.  We have heard of a case 
in
> > Germany where they confiscated CDs but they were returned again upon
exit
> > from the country.  However I think my friend Bill Haesler would know
this
> > yarn better where one band member did a Hitler goose march/salute 
past
the
> > customs officers and this was the main reason for the Australian
> > contingent
> > having a problem in Germany.  We always pre-purchase a few hundred 
jewel
> > cases in each country we visit although in Montreux Switzerland we 
sold
> > them
> > for more money in 'back-up' slim plastic sleeves when we ran out.  
At
the
> > Portland Oregon Jazz Festival in USA we actually sold out of all 
the CDs
> > we
> > carried that year (2002 I think).  When entering/leaving USA, for
example,
> > we all split up and ignore each other when going through customs 
instead
> > of
> > looking like a group or band.  We also travel with a few partners 
who
tend
> > to make us look less conspicuous and more like seniors on vacation. 
 So
> > there you have it, one good advantage of being an older OKOM person.
> >
> > However, I do admit that the 9/11 new restrictions by the Dept of
Homeland
> > Insecurity, will make things a little more difficult for us in USA 
now.
> > If
> > any agent/festival promoter will do a deal with us we can play for
"free"
> > (and/or expenses) but we would charge a one CD entrance price per 
person
> > to
> > hear the band play.  If engagement probabilities arise I would 
arrange
to
> > have the CDs produced locally.
> >
> > Playing in UK July/August - Advert coming out soon.
> > Gospel service with Big Al Carson from New Orleans.
> > Tom (blatantly looking for 2007 gigs in Europe/USA) Wood
> > www.sydneyzenith.com
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
> > [mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com] On Behalf Of Robert 
S.
> > Ringwald
> > Sent: Saturday, 8 April 2006 8:29 AM
> > To: DJML
> > Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Re: Problems for travelling musicians
> > Larry Walton wrote:
> >> You guys seem to think that no one can tour this country.  Not
true(snip)
> > Larry,
> > I don't think anyone said that no one could tour the country.  I 
think
> > what
> > was said was that the new restrictions by the Dept of homeland
Insecurity,
> > has made it much more difficult.--bob Ringwald
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> > http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz
> >
> >
> >
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> >
>
>
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