[Dixielandjazz] JazzSea Cruise

[Judy Eames]

Steve,

 I read your email  just before I went to bed and Ginny has covered a lot of 
points while I was sleeping:-)

Tony and I went on the recent trip ... not intending to be musicians but 
simply to have a holiday; attracted by the late bookers' discount, the 
wonderfully strong pound (well it was then!) and the certain knowledge that 
there'd be no disco music to bombard the senses.  In the event, given the 
choice of trumpet practice in the bathroom or playing with jammers, we chose 
the latter and we're glad we did. We met some great people and made new 
friends very quickly.  We could probably let our house and live free for a 
year with all the invitations we had:-)

You seem  to be suggesting that in order to be allowed to play anywhere 
people should be pros.  A lot of the jammers just play for pleasure, some 
are very good. a few play in regular bands, others would probably never be 
good enough to do that.  Making music makes people happy and no-one should 
be "derided" for the way they choose to do it.  The jammers aren't taking 
work away from others in this case.


To compare the pro bands on board with the crew is just silly.  The crew, 
predominantly Indonesian and Filipino work all day every day (now here I did 
feel uncomfortable as if anyone's being exploited, they are!) and their 
wives and families are left at home for up to 11 months a year. If Ginny is 
correct, and I'm sure she is, the bands bring partners for free, they have a 
reasonable schedule and, apart from the requirement to play, are cruise 
guests. No-one is made to do these trips and for those without a 
"significant other"  it probably wouldn't make sense.  As for the $10 a day 
tip,  you can't have it both ways: take a cabin in the bilges (I don't know 
if the crew get a cabin each), eat in the crew's canteen, and be paid to 
play or be treated like a guest and tip accordingly.

I entirely agree that commercial ventures should pay for music but now that 
Ginny has explained the deal the bands get, it seems pretty fair; especially 
at a time of year when, in the UK anyway,  gigs can be thin on the ground.

Bob and Carol have indicated their intention to invite us to appear on a 
future cruise, deride us if you like but if we're available, we'll be there 
like a shot.  Top hotel service and comfort, great food,  the chance to 
visit new places not to mention meeting some wonderful people. It beats 
playing a commercial gig where you're lucky to get a beer and a sandwich any 
day!

Jude


Judy Eames
Kaminsky Connection
Aston, Oxfordshire
UK
www.judyeames.co.uk
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stephen G Barbone" <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
To: <jude at judyeames.co.uk>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 9:53 PM
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
>
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