[Dixielandjazz] Let's clear up a couple of things

[Edgerton, Paul A]

Steve ably speaks for himself.  I believe I understand him, and even
agree with much of what he has been saying.

I suspect that neo-swing has jumped the shark*, and the more dedicated
dancers prefer *real* swing to the Louis Jordan proto-rock those
so-called swing bands played.

There is a marked difference between the preferences of the young dance
crowd and the older festival crowd.  A band can certainly serve both
markets, but probably not at the same time and in the same place.  The
two types of people simply prefer to socialize within their own group
and do not feel comfortable around the other.  Steve has chosen to focus
on the younger crowd.  More power to him.  

Many others focus on the older crowd.  Quite a few of the latter
complain loudly that their audience is dwindling.  The funny thing is,
they've been saying the same thing for decades.  This has proven to be a
tough market to kill off! (vbg, as Steve often says) The funny thing is
that these folks always seem to be in their 60s and 70s -- kind of like
how the Peanuts gang were always children.  I don't have any hard data,
but I suspect that with the aging of baby boomers, their number is
actually increasing.

So my take is that we'll always have kids and we'll always have older
folks and both are viable markets -- but each requires a tailored
approach.  I can almost see some of you nodding in recognition.  You
know who you are, because you've been doing this all along, without
having to be beaten about the head and shoulders.

Reports of the death of OKOM have been greatly exaggerated.

-- Paul Edgerton


* "Jumping the shark" <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumping_the_shark>
  is a term which may already have done what it denotes.