[Dixielandjazz] My "take" on things.............

[Vaxtrpts at aol.com]

Roger Wade said:

"Steve and Tom, please note that of all the  posts generated by Mike
Vax's unfortunate critical posting, I noticed only  two that supported
his views of your contributions."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
My  inbox is overflowing with them - all sent offlist in order to dodge  the
inevitable truckload of verbiage which otherwise would have come  from
you-know-who.

Are all critical posts "unfortunate"? Or just  Mike's?

John Farrell

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thank you John!
My in box has been overflowing with posts supporting my  message, too.  
I guess it is a shame that all those people thought that  they had to support 
me off list, because of reprisals.
Now - to all of you who think that I am a "bad guy" for  saying what I did, I 
will answer:
 
Did I send my post to try to get Tom and Steve to leave  the list? 
NO!
If they felt that put upon, after some of the things that  I have seen them 
say to others, all I can say is "If you can't take the heat,  don't stand by 
the fire."
I will not apologize for my original posting to this  list.
Now -- did I enjoy some of the posts that Tom and Steve  sent, when they were 
not being critical, but sending information?
OF COURSE.
My problem has always been that they could have sent much  of the 
information, which was definitely useful, and done it in a different  manner, rather than 
making it sound like what they do is right and what others  do, somehow isn't.
Did I even agree with some of their attitudes about the  "trad jazz festival 
circuit?"
YES!
After all, I am one who can't seem to "buy" a festival  appearance at many of 
those festivals, because I am not "trad" enough for many  festival directors, 
or my band isn't "showy" enough for what they are looking  for.  
I actually have always enjoyed playing those festivals a  lot over the years! 
 The audiences are some of the best jazz audiences  anywhere!  I guess that 
if I worked harder at getting those bookings, I  could still play a few 
festivals.  My problem has always been (and here I  do agree with Tom and Steve) that 
the festivals have always booked too many  bands and paid all the musicians 
too little because of the "quantity over  quality" syndrome.  
I have to feed my family with my musical performing and  doing workshops in 
schools, as I don't have a "day job" like many of the  musicians who play in 
traditional jazz bands at the festivals. I have done pretty well in the music 
business, and I am VERY  thankful for the career that I have had.  Yes, I have 
done many of the  things that Tom and Steve talk about.  Yes, I am a salesman, 
promo person,  book keeper, secretary, band set up person, and anything else 
that it  takes.  I just don't slam that over other people's heads and say that 
they  need to work as hard as I do.  
Steve mentioned something about it was too bad that I  didn't do more of what 
he has done on this list, in the schools that I go  into.  How would he know? 
 He has never seen one of the music  business lectures that I have given in 
high schools and colleges all over this  country.
My other problem with Steve and Tom's postings was that  their view of 
today's music business, was NOT from the real world for many  musicians all over 
this country, playing ANY kind of music.  I am happy for  them that they get so 
much work.  I am happy that are great salesmen.   I am even happy for them that 
they probably do a lot better financially than I  do.
BUT - in the REAL world of the music business, it gets  harder and harder for 
anyone to make a living playing a musical  instrument.  Most musicians that I 
know have to subsidize their incomes  with teaching, working in a music 
store, instrument repair, or any one  of a host of other activities, or "gulp," 
even getting a regular day  job.  That is a sad thing, but it is true in today's 
"real" world of the  music business.
So - in conclusion.  Steve and Tom can do whatever  they want about this 
list.  To be honest, I think that there are people "on  both sides of the fence" 
as to whether they stay or leave.
Again, their leaving was not my original intent at  all!!!!
Mike Vax