[Dixielandjazz] The Worth of Dixieland

[Steve Barbone]

"Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis" wrote (polite snip)

>  That very same guy a year ago actually begged and showed up
> for a gig free just for a chance to sit in and play Dixie.

Changing the subject, but the lure of Dixieland does tend to bring out lots
of players who undervalue the music. I guess, because they want to play so
badly that their minds are clouded regarding what to charge.

We're seeing it here as more and more new Dixieland Bands form.

I just turned down an offer to play as a sideman in a Dixieland band where I
am first call clarinet. The date was May 24, 2008, 1 hour from 7 to 8 PM.
The pay was $75. The leader was shocked that I would turn down the gig. Why?
etc. Simple. That's the Saturday night of Memorial Day weekend. I value that
date at a minimum of $150 sideman pay for 2 hours or less, and have worked
that Saturday for the past 15 years, 8 of which were doubles. That one hour
at $75 could knock me out of a real gig or two.

Then today I just got off the phone with a trumpet player who said he has a
new Dixieland Band, but has 2 gigs this Saturday. Could my band take one.
Turns out we couldn't because we are booked at the time in question. But I
offered to help with my extensive sub list of players and asked the details.
It was a three hour gig for the local Optimist Club Dinner. Pay? $400 for
the band. 

I politely declined to call anyone on my sub list because $60 give or take
for a 3 hour gig on a Saturday night in the Philadelphia area is an insult
to the working musicians I know. And well below union scale. They would
rather sit home then play for crap money. And as far as I'm concerned, this
type of pricing screws up a very viable market.

Here there were 200 + people paying at least $25 for the food. Couldn't they
spare another $5 for the band and pay them $1000? Of course they could. But
the new Dixieland Band leader hadn't a clue how to price his offering. (He's
primarily a big band trumpeter where they do indeed give the music away)

Then I had a brainstorm. Hey why not call my bandleader friend who offered
$75 for Memorial Day Saturday and passed along that number. <grin>

Bottom line? When Philadelphia "Dixieland" musicians want to play so badly
that they get brain farts when it comes to negotiating a reasonable price,
they might as well move to California. <grin>

This music is not worthless, except perhaps in the minds of those who give
it away.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone