[Dixielandjazz] FW: RedGorilla Music Fest seeks bands - Austin TX

[tcashwigg at aol.com]

Hi Jim:

Under normal working conditions and situations yes  however this is an 
example of how Bands are promoting themselves to bigger and wider genre 
music markets, if you wish to do that ant not all bands especially OKOM 
bands want to.

However since it has slipped so far down the ladder in recognition, it 
certainly could not and would not hurt the giging situation one iota if 
some really good OKOM bands actually did sign up and go there and play 
some kick ass OKOM and show the kids that there is more to music than 
Heavy metal and grunge rock.

Like Steve, if this event were in My city especially knowing how big it 
is and how many thousands and thousands of people attend it ant the 
adjacent SXSW festival I would go  and probably sell ten thousand 
dollars worth of Cds in two or three days.

This is a marketing and promotional type event for bands that are 
serious about touring and making a living from nothing but music.   If 
more OKIOM bands would get out and do this we might make some headway 
back up the ladder and create more gigs that paid well too.

This is a Hell of a lot more beneficial than hanging out at a Trad. 
Jazz society all day buying booze and waiting for a chance to play one 
or two numbers in a jam session.   Not to mention the educational 
benefits it would have on the younger audiences attending the event.

There are always exceptions to all our hard fast rules.   Understanding 
the enormous Publicity and promotional and advertising benefits of an 
event like this goes a long ways to helping a band , Any Band in any 
genre get paid work.

A band will never get bigger and more popular playing to the same 
audience one SUNDAY A MONTH FOR THIRTY YEARS, especially when you live 
in an area with 300 competing bands for the same 20 gigs a month.   
Which is why I don't bother, I go create my own marketplace and 
audiences outside the OKOM circuit which is already glutted with bands 
playing to the same ever dwindling audience at each event.

I do not subscribe to Pay to Play in relation to a Real Gig,  this is 
not a real Gig this is an advertising and Promotional situation or MASS 
Audtition as they used to be  sanctioned and called by the old 
Musicians Union.

Better to spend your own money a little of it and go play in front of 
several thousand potential bookers and buyers than doing it  once a 
week to a jive club owner to get a one night a month gig for chump 
change.   If your Hot your Hot and if you kick some musical ass good 
things will happen and you will turn the event into good money.  If you 
suck well back to the same old pizza parlor.   These events are not for 
the weak at heart or unsure of themselves bands without a real business 
plan for career advancement.


Again I respectfully and enviously reiterate that you and your great 
band live and operate in a different world, albeit a good one.

Cheers,


Tom


-----Original Message-----
From: jim at kashprod.com
To: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
Sent: Wed, 17 Jan 2007 2:37 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] FW: RedGorilla Music Fest seeks bands - Austin 
TX

    Following are little bits pulled out of an article Steve posted on 
DJML:
>If you are an artist who is interested in showcasing your music at the 
2007
RedGorilla Music >Fest, don't wait! Slots are filling fast.  Just fill 
out
an application and return it to RedGorilla along with your CD, a press 
kit
or bio, and the entry fee.

Yeah, we get that bit from time to time:  "well your band will be seen &
heard by many!"  My answer:  "ok, that's great!  But, you gotta pay me 
my
normal fee!"

I thought, due to previous discussions on DJML, that free-bees were
generally agreed to be a no-no.  Not only is this one a free-bee, but 
you
gotta pay THEM to perform!  Interesting concept.

Jim



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