[Dixielandjazz] Decline in pay

[PHIL WILKING]

Whether it's true or not, I do not know; I certainly am not going to 
participate in any such scheme.

I have been told there are now saloons where the management wants to hire 
musicians on a contingency basis. No, not to play for the gate. This scheme 
is that the musicians should sit around the joint - OFF the clock - and then 
play if enough customers come in to make it worth while for them to get on 
the bandstand. Pay: $5 a set, IF you play.

My reaction when I heard about this was to wonder: if you asked very nicely, 
would they let you clean the lavatories too?

Phil Wilking

The New Orleans Banjo Rendez-Vous
May 14, 15, & 16, 2009
Visit www.nolabanjo.com for info

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stephen G Barbone" <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>


> In 1952, the prevailing wage for a sideman at Jimmy Ryan's was $125 a 
> week. What would that be in today's dollars? To find out, go to:
>
> http://www.buyupside.com/calculators/purchasepowerjan08.htm
>
> Wow, today that $125 has the purchasing power of $989.15. Anyone make 
> that at a jazz club these days?
>