[Dixielandjazz] Why guitar and not banjo?

Tue Dec 26 12:30:49 PST 2006

Sort of Tom - Whenever a job presents its self and there are X amount of 
bucks available the band leader has choices to make if it's less than he 
wants.

Your choices:
1. turn down the job
2. refer the job to another band leader hoping that guy will pay you back.
3. Take the job at less money

What are the reasons you might turn down the gig?
1. Artistically you want a sound that can't be produced with a smaller group
2. hope that they will come up with more money next time.
3. you have a lot of work and you will most likely book that weekend
4. you are a hobby musician with a good full time gig and you live for your 
art.

Take it at less money:
1. Take the job and take a smaller leader cut
2. Take the job and ask the side men to take a smaller cut
3. Everyone takes a cut.
4. reduce the size of the band to increase the individual pay
5. you are a hobby musician with a good full time gig and you don't care.

Why take it
1. jobs are too far between and the band wants to work.
2. The band isn't booking enough work at their price.
3. without work there is no reason to have a band.
4. playing for people is more fun than practicing in a garage.
5. to keep the chops up.

I submit that most band leaders will bargain with the customer either for 
multiple bookings, take less or cut musicians.  Is that good? Hell no but I 
think that's the way it is.  I might add that almost the same choices 
present themselves to sidemen when taking jobs.

The economics of bands is a giant free for all.  I also think that this is 
the reason for Unions taking it in the neck.  Too many musicians with too 
few jobs.  It's economics 101.
Larry
Yikes! it's every man for himself.
St. Louis

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <tcashwigg at aol.com>
To: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Monday, December 25, 2006 6:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Why guitar and not banjo?

>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: larrys.bands at charter.net
> To: barbonestreet at earthlink.net; cellblk7 at comcast.net;
> dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> Sent: Thu, 25 Dec 2008 3:57 PM
> Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Why guitar and not banjo?
>
>   I really don't think you are entirely wrong Bob. IMHO I think it has
> everything to do with volume and money.  The larger the crowd and if
> you are
> outside or not determines the volume you need.  Non amplified
> instruments
> have a limit and certain instruments have the ability to punch through
> naturally.
>
> Each instrument commonly used has a lot of punch.  Instruments
> with no punch, like the flute, are never used.  As crowds got larger
> the
> guitar and upright bass couldn't compete outdoors and of course didn't
> fit
> into street bands very well.
>
> That was probably only because they had no wheels for the piano yet
> Larry,
> or long enough extension chords for the guitars :))
>
> There is another factor that still plays a part today and that's
> economic.
>
>
> As things got tighter with a banjo player you could drop off the
> drummer and
> you could lose the piano too especially outdoors.
>
> Yeah right!  well not in My band you don't get away with that,
> We have FOUR DRUMMERS and two of them are also great piano players
>  which come in handy when we get off the streets at night and move
> indoors.  :))
>
> Two fewer people in a
> band even makes a difference today.
>
> Yes it makes them closer to a DJ and a lot less than anything
> resembling a band,
>
> Money is not everything folks, and that situation only exists because
> so many bandleaders,
> (no make that sidemen who wanted to be bandleaders) often
>  undercut the bandleaders price just to get a gig, and that is how many
> a
> Great Traditional Jazz or Dixieland band ended up being Dixieland
> Trios, Duos and solo acts.
>
> Sorry guys but THAT AIN'T NO Band in my not so humble opinion.
> I don't care how many of the sidemen you have in the BOX.
> It ain't the same and never will be.
>
> I think it made a lot of difference if the band was a street band or a
> dance
> band as to what they used.
>
> I tend to think more street band when I think  Dixieland Band.
>
> Probably pretty close on that one Larry, :))
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Tom  Ratta Tat Tat  Wiggins
>
> Boom crash splat clang pop, snap.
>
>
>
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