[Dixielandjazz] Working for Free was Stumptown

[Stephen G Barbone]

Ginny, Gluetje1 at aol.com wrote: (polite snip)

> Those that I talk to from the working bands look forward to going  
> each year.  I have different info that you on the compensation.   
> Free airfare and free balcony suite or better lodging for the  
> musician and spouse or partner.  They tell me they feel they are  
> getting a free vacation.

No doubt that's what they tell you. However they should be paid in  
addition to room and board. Just the same as if they were working at a  
resort. The Captain gets paid, the crew gets paid.  Why is it that the  
musicians, do not get paid. (except for a very, very few) The rest of  
them play for nothing and that is stupid because if they demanded fair  
wages, they would be paid fair wages. We musicians have created the  
image that music is fun, we do it because we love to play, and we will  
play it on the cheap.  A few of us, especially the professionals who  
earn their living in music, resent that image and those who have  
created it.
>


> Don't mind being judged stupid and deplorable when I'm having such a  
> good time.  Actually that's probably how some folks were judging me  
> during Gaslight Square heyday, and the Goldenrod Ragtime Festivals  
> too, so it's a familiar judgement.  Actually I look at these cruises  
> as investments that make me musically smarter every year while I  
> enjoy myself.

You are not being judged in any way Ginny. You are not playing with   
"working" bands on these cruises but taking a vacation. If that is  
what floats your boat (pun intended) pay the money and go for it. I am  
commenting on the so called "working" bands that give their music  
away, not semi pro or amateur musicians who go on cruises with their  
peers to jam.

Or to get back to the original thread, compare it to the proposed band  
at the baseball stadium.  If musicians pay to go to baseball games for  
personal enjoyment, why then shouldn't they play for nothing at the  
ball park if they get in free, get great seats,  a free hot dog and a  
Coke? Following the cruise band logic, that would be justifiable. So  
what then, was wrong with our baseball marketing guy asking Stumptown  
if they would be interested in doing so?

Cheers,
Steve Barbone