[Dixielandjazz] Tom's different World

[LRG4003 at aol.com]

Has it occurred to any of you well paid pro's that people who play for less  
than your standards aren't always bastardizing the market but could be growing 
 it?  That expanding exposure and interest in OKOM will lead to people  
seeking it out in other venues?  
 
People who play for the joy of the music are possibly playing the music  
better on many nights than the well paid pro's who are reading charts and going  
through the motions for the 30th time this year on another tiresome gig.
 
I love Vince Giordano but when I saw his band playing in NY a few  years ago 
I watched one player talking on the cell phone in the middle of a  number.  
 
The music comes out and at us from all directions.  Somebody who hears  a 
street corner group may seek out the music in other ways---buy CD's, find a  gig 
where the band is being paid, track down music on the Internet.  
 
If the only bands playing OKOM in the U.S. were the one's playing by the  pay 
me what I think I'm worth Tom Wiggins standard,  then, IMO, the  music will 
die with the aging crowd that's willing to pay those bucks to see  it.  Or the 
dwindling number of corporate sponsors who are paying to  present Dixieland 
because it's the right thing to do.  
 
Look, I respect the people on this list and respect both opinions---free  
play vs. pay play.  And I know I'm going to get nailed for posting  this.  But I 
don't think there's a helluva lot of gigs being lost  because street corner 
performers or groups who play an old folks home are  ruining the opportunity for 
the purely pro bands.
 
Sure, we can operate our bands with more business sense.  And we can  also 
end up playing most of our gigs in the privacy of our own homes.  
 
When people who love the music are playing it, and the crowd gets enthused,  
then it's selling the music.  And potentially selling other bands who  play 
the music.  I wish we could all make more money at it.  But  I only know a 
handful of musicians in Kansas City who aren't  doing a second gig of one type or 
another--music or otherwise.
 
Teaching mostly.  Working at the music store.  Part owner of the  bar in 
which they play.  Retired with a pension and/or social security  coming in.
 
Is it a sin to play for free sometimes?  Only in the eyes of the  musically 
arrogant.
 
There.  Put the target on the back of....
 
K.C. Clarinet
(Larry Garrett)
 
 
 
 
 
 



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