[Dixielandjazz] Musicians as guests

[David Dustin]

The view of you superstars on the Olympian heights from down here, circling
the 7th Level, is breathtaking.  It¹s thrilling seeing how the other half of
the OKOM performance world lives.  Most of us keeping the flame alive in
rural/unsophisticated situations can only dream of what it must be like to
have the kind of talent, personally and band-wide, to get high-society gigs
whether on the Philadelphia Main Line or in Marin County.  I think it¹s
wonderful that OKOM monster players can obtain that sort of business and are
able to ³testify² about it so the rest of us duffers can come away with a
little inspiration and (perhaps) added ambition.  But from where I sit, and
possibly where a number of others on this list sit too, that fabled steady
gig at a Shakey¹s Pizza Parlor looks pretty damned good, even if we have to
wear funny hats, striped shirts, sleeve garters, AND help clear tables
between sets for a $10 share at the end of the night.  It IS all about the
music, and these days if any of us OKOMers are fortunate enough to scare up
a paying gig where our ensemble can be heard, that¹s saying quite a bit and
I don¹t think we¹d worry about too much else. Regardless of whether we get
to shmooz with the clients or send their kids wedding gifts.

Still, in the immortal words of Max Bialystock, ³IF YOU¹VE GOT IT, FLAUNT
IT, BABY!!²

David Dustin