[Dixielandjazz] Working for Free was Stumptown

[ross anderson]

I agree with Steve on this (and most other things).

Somebody once said,quote" Jazz Musicians Are Their Own Worst Enemies" !!

Ross Anderson,
"New Melbourne Jazz Band."
Phone/Fax, 61-3-98012237,
www.newmelbournejazzband.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stephen G Barbone" <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
To: <rossanmjband at iprimus.com.au>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 02, 2008 8:53 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Working for Free was Stumptown


>I think it is very funny that we castigate the marketing Exec who asks  
> if Stumptown will play free. Especially when there are so many bands  
> around that do play for free. And even a few of our own noble OKOM  
> Jazz Societies have eagerly presented bands that  play free for their  
> concert programs.
> 
> I applaud the marketing exec  for asking. That's his job. I deplore  
> the comments we direct at him for doing his job. The dialog should be  
> between the exec and Stumptown.
> 
> On the other hand, I have nothing but contempt for bands that play for  
> free. If they didn't do it, we wouldn't have folks asking for  
> freebies. And along that line of reasoning, I deplore the bands that  
> play on OKOM cruises for room and partial board. Of course, alcohol is  
> not included, nor are the mandatory tips to the crew ($100 per person)  
> and so you are paying to play. That cruise operator whose butt you  
> kiss, profits mightily from your stupidity. And now there are cruises  
> where musicians pay full price, just to get a chance to play. (imagine  
> 40 banjos on the most recent one)That's even worse. Who among us will  
> write to the cruise operator and raise hell?
> Or to our friendly musicians who facilitate this stupidity?
> 
> Stubby Heist had the right idea. He was contracted for money to play  
> music. Anything beyond that sucks.
> 
> I agree with Scott that we professionals should be outraged, but I  
> also think there are plenty of musicians  who should also be taken to  
> task. "We" (musicians, that is) are just as much to blame for the  
> sorry state of playing for pay/paying to play as anyone else.
> 
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
>