[Dixielandjazz] Musicians as Guests?

[tcashwigg at aol.com]

Hi Guys:

  So many many musicians have developed these bad habits over decades 
that they are no doubt hard to shake and unfortunately they have passed 
this kind of unprofessional behavior down to many others who think it 
is the normal situation for all gigs.

  If you WORK at any other job other than a BOOZE Testing person you are 
simply not allowed to drink alcohol on your job and can often get fired 
for doing so. The only legal exception that I know of is the Cooks & 
Chefs who are allowed one beer if I recall in the kitchen.

  Even Bartenders are not supposed to drink alcohol while tending bar on 
their shifts. Even though many of them do so, especially the owner 
bartenders that open a joint just to have a place to drink with their 
buddies. They also often destroy their own businesses by over doing it 
as well and driving away more paying customers than they can keep 
coming.

  I of course am not against anybody having a drink or two, so long as 
they keep control of themselves, and do not show up drunk, or get drunk 
and make an ass of themselves on a gig that I did all the work to 
secure etc. etc. It is also important that they conduct themselves 
appropriately after the gig around the client and customers to maintain 
the professionalism of the band and our business relationships.

  With rare exceptions, NOBODY wants the liability of hiring a bunch of 
Drunks or drug addicts who can destroy everyone else's hard work with 
one foolish maneuver or statement at the wrong place and time.


Musicians having a couple of drinks has been accepted for decades, 
unfortunately still many abuse the situation and therefore threaten 
their employment opportunities over and over again, and sometimes it is 
even the band leader.   Provided the person is not loading up before 
the gig from a flask and then having a  reasonable drink a set they 
usually do not get into any situations that threaten anything.   Most 
people can handle one drink an hour on most days unless they are 
drinking heavy duty 151 proof hard stuff to get hammered.    It's those 
sip sip sip all day long guys that can develop problems, although some 
of them can function and usually maintain  themselves because they 
really work at it.   Some folks do have a problem with booze, some 
control it and others just simply fly off the handle and lose it, 
unfortunately you never know  when it will happen to any of them.     
You wouldn't want your airline pilot nipping on his transatlantic 
flight now would you, or your brain surgeon having cocktails during 
your surgery  oops!   whadddayameanooops nursey wursey,, oh sorry my 
bad  can you just tie that artery back together and maybe nobody will 
know, hey anesthesia guy! give me another  little hit of that laughing 
gas, I''m losing my edge a bit.  Did you say this guys was a Piano 
player oh my too bad his finger bones on that hand are no longer 
connected to the hand bone, damn these knives are sharp today. :))


Cheers,

Tom Wiggins

  Elazar, your points are well taken. However, hear is my point as it 
relates to you. 
  
  If you were not invited by the host to go to the bar and drink his 
booze for free, and if you were not invited to eat, especially with his 
guests, I don't think you, or your musicians, would do so anyway? 
  
  When hired by a client, would you muscle your way up to the bar to get 
a free drink? Or sit down at one of his tables and expect to be served? 
Or grab a plate and go through the buffet line uninvited? 
  
  I hardly think so. However, unfortunately too many so-called 
professional musicians do this. 
  
  They also drink to excess, either the client's booze or what they 
brought with them. 
  
  It is correct to schmooze a client, and if appropriate, schmooze his 
guests. But by the same token if the time and situation is not right, 
then it is wrong to do so. 
  
  A good professional entertainer can tell when and when not to do these 
things. And as Tom Wiggins has mentioned several times, too many 
musicians can't tell, or just plain don't care. 
  
 --Bob Ringwald 
  
  
  
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