[Dixielandjazz] Playing For Free and Other Sorrows

[TCASHWIGG at aol.com]

Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
Success in this business does indeed come in several categories and  degrees, 
what guys like Steve Barbone and I are simply trying to point out to  the 
general list is another way to move up the ladder as you do get  better.   The 
constant resistence to what we have freely offered to  all is very frustrating.
 
Even when other bandleaders have come on the list and thanked us for  showing 
them some things tahat drastically increased their performance fees and  
quality of the gigs they are getting now.
 
And guys like Larry in St. Louis who hustles and works it like a business  
and freely shares his ideas and sucesses with everyone, as does Elazar in Israel 
 who had to start it all on the street against far worse odds than any of you 
has  shown that doing things our way does pay off over time even under the 
often dire  circumstances that he has to deal with in an often hostile  culture. 
 
All we are trying to tellyou is that if you continue to play for free, the  
only gigs you will be asked to do are free ones because eery time you play on  
you are promoting your fee and your perceived worth.
 
There is a better way and us loud mouthed arrogant bastards have been  trying 
to show you for years.  SO you don't have to believe it but don't  come back 
here and attack the good messengers who tried o help you.  That's  what is 
called Biting the Hand that is trying to Feed You. :))
 
Cheers,
 
Tom Wiggins  who was not born with any silver sppon in his mouth or  ass 
either, but had to earn it all the hard way and often while trying to  compete 
with free bands giving it all away.



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