[Dixielandjazz] talking about gigs

[acjspres at aol.com]

As far as talking about gigs ...... many of us are working so much and are  
so busy that we really don't have time to opine on the DJML. I had 25 gigs in  
Feb and March is shaping up to be a 16 gig month. The reason I don't spend  a 
lot of time talking about these gigs is that many band leaders don't want to  
do what I do (I understand that) plus the fact that I have a key contact in 
the  college age swing dance scene here in Arizona. (my son)
 
What works for me may not work for you because our bands are not the  
same...the style and the musicianship vary so much from band to band. Most of  our 
gigs are repeat business and if you are not being asked for return  engagements 
than you need to focus on what your band is doing musically rather  than 
looking for new business.
 
On Steve's point about beads.....they can be fun and we use them  
occasionally but for a Lindy Hop crowd they don't work. It is impossible to  dance the 
Lindy Hop or Balboa or Collegiate Shag wearing Mardi Gras beads. The  kids try 
it just once...then they get rid of the beads before someone gets  hurt.
 
The way we get weekly gigs that end up lasting a couple of years at a club  
is to agree to play a couple of weeks for free....I know that by doing that the 
 dancers will follow us and fill up the joint. It works for me....I have seen 
it  tried by many others in this town and when no one shows up you 
immediately lose  the gig.
 
Develop an e-mail distribution list so that you can let your fans know  where 
you are playing. It has proved to be a powerful tool for us....the clubs  
won't advertise so we must.
 
Thats enough for now......I have a dixieland gig at the Mesa Performing  Arts 
Center and must leave. By the way, I simply phoned the center and asked for  
the person who books the entertainment .... she was thrilled to learn I had a  
dixieland band and booked us immediately ( I wish it was always that  easy).
 
"We are  confronted with insurmountable opportunities"....Pogo

Joe Hopkins
AZ  Classic Jazz Society Vice-President
Jazz Clarinet...52nd Street Jazz Band  602-810-5888 or 480-396-6798
_www.azclassicjazz.org_ (http://www.azaclassicjazz.org/)