[Dixielandjazz] Why Bands should have Myspace pages.

[Stephen G Barbone]

For years I've been preaching that bands should take some  
responsibility for the lack of OKOM gigs and that we should play where  
the kids are etc. I'm not going do go through that here again, but  
will offer a way for DJML bands to get gigs.

One way to get gigs, or leads is through myspace and/or facebook.  
Larry Peacock's recent posts on the DJML confirm that. First he asked  
Dixieland Bands to contact him in Portland OR, as he wants to book  
OKOM bands for swing dancing. Then he asked for information about OKOM  
Festivals.

Who is Larry Peacock? Well, at 30, he is a part of that young audience  
for Dixieland, that some of us old folks say doesn't exist. He is a  
mover and shaker in the West Coast swing dance genre. Why is he  
asking? Because precious few OKOM bands are contacting him on their own.

I first met Larry on Myspace. We are cyber friends. He heard our music  
on our page. He offered to book Barbone Street in Portland if we were  
ever touring out west. He knows more about me, who is not actively  
seeking left coast gigs than he does about most of the Left Coast  
bands that are seeking gigs.

The swing dancing scene is a good place to get gigs. In my own  
experience in talking with swing dancers and bands like The  
Boilermakers who actively play that circuit, there is strong swing  
dance activity in: LA, Frisco, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver Canada,  
Phoenix, Austin, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, New York City, Philadelphia,  
Washington DC/Baltimore. No doubt in many other places also.

How do you connect? When I joined myspace, I connected with friends  
and other bands that have friends who have friends, etc. Suddenly you  
see folks like Larry Peacock  http://www.myspace.com/westsideswing.

And then you'll start to make friends with fans who'll list you as  
their favorite band along with Asylum Street Spankers, Nine Inch Nails  
Social Distortion, The Beatles, David Bowie and others <grin>  (See  
Catherine on my page)

Point being is that there is a huge unfilled need for good OKOM bands  
to play for swing dance functions. And that these swing dancers will  
attend OKOM festivals, or other events. All we need do is meet the  
kids halfway.

First step should be for bands to join myspace and facebook. It is  
FREE and a great way to network among the kids, getting gigs. Larry  
Peacock's post should be a lesson to us all. MARKET YOUR BAND.

He shouldn't have to come to us, we should be going to him.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband