[Dixielandjazz] Pay for Play

Thu Jun 7 10:11:04 PDT 2007

Well actually you hit on some things we can all do.  Yes they like Kitchen 
Bands - funny you should say that because I have been seriously thinking 
about getting a washboard and the junk that goes with it for a tune or two 
and / or a pogo cello.  These guys have the old "show biz" and action on 
their side.  Goofy - yes but people crave the interaction of other people 
and they like to watch people play instruments.  This happens with older 
people especially and especially if they are off in a home somewhere.

Since this is getting to be a major business slice with me I watch what's 
going on around me.  One of the better banjo players around does a single 
act - Dressed as a Clown -   He works these places all the time.  He also 
sells real estate so can get away to pick up a hundred bucks or so in the 
afternoon.  Does that make him a better banjo player or just a better clown? 
There is a friend of mine who plays trombone and has one of those little 
purple pocket cornets.  He dresses up as Horny the clown.  I would use him 
but then he would figure out that it might be a good thing.

It's show biz and while the cool guys think this is crap and they are right 
it's a buck and I intend on being a major player in the game if that's what 
it takes.

People like action,  we are addicted to it,  when a commercial comes on how 
many grab for the clicker and start surfing?  Before TV and the clicker we 
all could sit and quietly watch something now you need to prance around the 
stage dressing like who knows what.  No one makes it dressed in a normal way 
and there has to be a lot of action.

That's a tall order for an old guy but knowing that I try to be as colorful 
as possible,  I don't play endless solos that last forever but rather play a 
lot of shorter tunes and I DJ my tunes.  There is always room for 
improvement but I know what sells.

Now about poor quality entertainment.  There is no excuse for that and a 
good act with some kind of action and show biz approach should be able to 
beat out the Kitchen Bands but if you don't have those things then don't be 
surprised if you get beat out sometimes.

For all those reasons no matter how good or colorful you are they will still 
hire the others.  Why? Because people today crave change.  While you and I 
may go back to hear the same group over and over they don't.  It's like me 
and Blue Grass music.  I love it for 15 minutes then I get a sudden itch to 
do anything else in the world except listen to Blue Grass.  This is where 
bands lose out to DJ's.  Bands sound pretty much the same all night and a DJ 
can change things off every couple of minutes with great variety and the DJ 
talks to the people and has flashing lights and sometimes smoke machines and 
strobes.  It's the action thing and the desire for people to have that 
action.

Reflect on the past 50 years of music.  Today Elvis and the Beatles look 
quaint and just pretty much stand there then look at today's groups prancing 
around thrusting their guitars like shovels with fireworks and big sets 
which has pretty much become the norm.  They also do a lot of camera 
changing too which gives it a semblance of action.  Things have changed a 
lot with technology.  The wireless mike gives the musicians and singers full 
range to do about anything they want so far as action goes.

So I think a little color and a little action goes a long way even though it 
might not be "cool".  Even as early as Glen Miller this was having an 
effect.  That band would stand up and wave their horns around pointing 
trombone slides etc and the big drum solo started happening.  It's action 
and movement that's in.

Another thing is eye contact with the crowd.  That's important too.
Larry
St. Louis

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Dustin" <postmaster at fountainsquareramblers.org>
To: "Larry Walton" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2007 6:39 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Pay for Play

Somebody wrote:
The other piece of "education" is to try and help the person engaging the
group to reflect on what they are "doing" to their audience when they
inflict
poor quality entertainment because it's free; subtly suggest how this
reflects
on them.
==================
We can never forget that there are people out there < I know many will be
shocked to hear < who get a sincere kick out of Okitchen bands¹ or acne¹d
high school students banging away on guitars.  OPoor quality entertainment¹
is doubtless discernable to many, but in some locales and in some markets
few can tell the difference, or care. Either they are camped in front of
their TVs at night, or when they do go out and about, they are more than
happy to listen to Aunt Tillie¹s Kitchen Band for a few minutes, especially
if the players seem to be having a good time or are brazen enough.  It¹s a
question of serendipitous immediacy: if it¹s there, it will get watched, as
with a horrendous car crash. People are drawn to it for various reasons,
such as horrific fascination or comedic entertainment.

David Dustin
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