[Dixielandjazz] Musicians Get What They Deserve.

Sun Apr 27 11:48:37 PDT 2008

Sadly this is the pattern.  The old "you'll get exposure" line seems to work 
on each succeeding generation.  People want to believe in things and often 
have a greater opinion of themselves than others have.  It looks so easy to 
hit the big time if only...................  Young musicians are all out 
there trying to grab the gold ring.

I think I was fortunate in some ways because I never had that illusion and 
always had an idea of my place in the grand scheme of things.  I simply had 
to make money and couldn't fool with the nonsense.  Many young (and a lot of 
older) musicians just don't understand how they can be used by people who 
use the same line or some variation of it to trick them into providing 
services for free.

It's all a grand illusion.  The general public doesn't understand that the 
kids are being used and generally think they are being paid and maybe even 
being paid a lot.  When I tell people I don't do these things because there 
isn't any money in them I more often than not get a deer in the headlights 
look like they can't comprehend it after all who would spend all that money 
and work for free?

I think a lot of the promoters of the fairs and other venues actually think 
they are doing the bands a favor but they are really stealing services 
through deception and the kids are just too naive to know that they've been 
had.

Some years ago when $50 was really $50 a church lined up four bands for a 
battle of the bands.  My wife's brother who was about 18 at the time was in 
one of the bands.  Each band put up a $50 entry fee and the band that got 
the most votes got a $200 prize.  Note $50 of it was their entry fee.  Now 
lets see if I have this right.  The bands put up the money and the church 
gets free music.  They charged the kids a couple bucks admission and 
absolutely packed the place.  All four of those bands and probably all of 
the musicians have never been heard of since.  I have always been upset that 
a church would do that.

Unfortunately my Nephew is knee deep in this "scene" right now and desperate 
to play anywhere he can.  The worst thing about this is that young people 
get into it and put off education or other useful pursuits (like real jobs) 
because they think they are going to make it big.  99.9% of the time they 
end up getting kicked in the teeth and grow up a little.
Larry
STL
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "pj.ladd" <pj.ladd at btinternet.com>
To: "Larry Walton" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
Cc: "jazz" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2008 11:39 AM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Musicians Get What They Deserve.

> couldn't believe how many bands offered their services....FOR FREE! I  >>
>
> Hi Steve,
> I have a young relative who runs a band. They don`t play what I call 
> music, but they are apparently well thought of, have a small following 
> seem to get a fair number of gigs. Nowhere near giving up the day job yet.
>
> I asked how much they get paid. THEY HAVE NEVER HAD A PAYING GIG  When I 
> asked what the hell they did it for, having never had a non paying gig in 
> my life, I was told `Its the Ezposure`.  It seems that they play as second 
> , or support band for some group who had `made it`. All in the hope that 
> they will collect a few more fans themselves or that someone will pick 
> them up and promote them.
>
> I told them they were nuts, but that seems to be the accepted scene now. I 
> had a few gigs when we were paid in beer, which was about what we were 
> worth but I have never played for nothing.
>
> Cheers
>
> Pat
>
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