[Dixielandjazz] Subject: If I could play an instrument

[tcashwigg at aol.com]

Dan me esteemed mate:

This has a much deeper meaning and influence than OKOM  it encompasses 
all genres and forms of music and this situation has been going on for 
decades and has become the normal thought pattern of almost all Music 
buyers.

Heck the ROCKERS ARE PAYING CLUBS TO LET THEM COME AND PLAY FOR 30 
MINUTES, AND THEY NEED TO BRING FOUR OTHER BANDS with them to fill out 
a four hour gig that all of us could play in our sleep.

The music industry has been overrun by unrealistic amateurs who think 
that all those Super stars they see on Television really only have 30 
minutes worth of material less commercial time :))

And even the Symphony players are viewed as only having one hours or 90 
minutes worth of music prepared so why should they make so much money?

We have met the enemy and he are us   ( Pogo)   this is almost entirely 
the fault of lakadasical musicians and lack of business acumen for 
decades.   This came about when we organized and unionized as laborers 
rather than Professionals.

Now don't misunderstand me here Dave Hanson,  this is not a slam at the 
AF of M  only the thought process behind it that did not change with 
the times and or when they should have realized that their membership 
was no longer considered a profession but laborers in the same class as 
janitors,l and chamber maids and busboys in the Unionized Hotels.

They basically shot us all in the foot and probably never even realized 
it at the time, and why do you suppose that happened?  because we had 
musicians running  the union and not astute business people who knew 
better.   It is not a big secret that most musicians hate to take care 
of business or even go anywhere near it.

Now this should stir the pot a bit and give ya'll something to talk 
about for a few days.

Personally guys and gals :  I have already sent that article to several 
people soliciting for bands for charity events and BS gigs in the past 
few days and you would not believe the hate mail I have gotten back,   
But on the good side, I after five heated emails back and forth with 
one of the so called non profit directors got a great gig out of them 
and for more money than he might have had to pay for the same event, 
guilt works sometimes :))

The fine art of negotiation, and not being afraid to state your case 
realistically and with numbers and expenses to back it up actually does 
often turn on the light to them.   There are simply far too many board 
members on non-profit groups that have brother in laws who have a band 
or kids or whatever and hey we can get them cheap or for free.   This 
crap has gone on for far too long and it is costing all of us a living.

I hope this turns on the light for some of you friends on the list who 
hate Steve Barbone and I for always  preaching about the economics of 
the business and treating it like a real business, we do not hate any 
of you who do it for a hobby, but this should explain a little better 
why we all suffer from these problems.

I have to leave yo now I have three Brain surgery gigs to do this week 
on my off days and I need the $300.00 I will get for the surgeries.

I do still however do Free mamagrams every wednesday as a community 
service, but I hire a banjo player to entertain the ladies.  :))

Just kidding Bill :))

Cheers,

Tom Wiggins



-----Original Message-----
From: DWSI at aol.com
To: Tcashwigg at aol.com
Cc: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
Sent: Wed, 4 Apr 2007 1:21 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Subject:  If I could play an instrument

    While I fully empathize with the author's desire for OKOM musicians 
to  make
more money as professional performers, I must add one critical issue 
left  out
of the article. The article said...

"The  sad thing is that the purchaser is in the music business to make 
money,
but  somehow, they
don't want to pay the people who make the music that  makes the money."

Yes,  the purchaser wants to make money, or more money, that's why the 
word
"business"  is in the phrase, "show business." But the market is 
defined by the
  most "popular" tastes in music--and that, by definition, at this time 
and
place, is sadly, not OKOM. Why is this basic concept so difficult for 
some to
grasp?

Dan (backup piano man) Spink







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