[Dixielandjazz] Gig pay

[Stephen G Barbone]

Hi Jude )

Your figure is close. Figure a couple of hundred dollars less.  But  
then that includes my leader fee which is double sideman pay on these  
gigs. It was for two corporate gigs. We get a few like this every year  
and some weddings in this range but they are not the norm.  
(unfortunately)

Unlike most bands/leaders on the List I am a professional in the sense  
that my band is composed of professionals who work as performing  
musicians for their living. They include some of the top jazz  
musicians in the Philadelphia area and/or those who know how to please  
the general audiences that attend our functions, and/or hire us.

Monetarily we often work at rates well above what the average OKOM  
band in the USA gets because we are in the real music world, playing  
jazz for general audiences, private parties and weddings in addition  
to lesser paying gigs in restaurants, for jazz societies, retirement  
homes etc. Our average pay per gig is high enough for me to be a major  
booker, if not the major booker, of jazz musicians in my territory.

We also know what our music is worth and  how to negotiate. Some on  
the DJML do also. For example, my pal Tom Wiggins booked a great  
vacation for Paul Grant (my  1st call trumpet) and me in Israel last  
year with his Ambassadors of New Orleans. We got 4 days at a resort in  
Eilat on the Red Sea, All Meals, All Travel, door to door including a  
limo from JFK airport home etc. No out of pocket expense. (and we  
drink  ) Lots of US bands/musicians would have made that gig free  
figuring it was a great vacation. Not Wiggins. Paul and I also got a  
low 4 figure paycheck for a contract total of 2 hours playing time  
because Tom knew what the music was worth and how to negotiate.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone


"Judy Eames" wrote:

Steve said,

> Funny you should ask. Last week I played 2 gigs that would cover a
> vacation cruise for my wife and me should I choose to take one.

I can only estimate as I don't know flight prices but if what Steve  
says is
accurate each of his gigs must have paid him personally somewhere near
$2000................... wow!!

Jude