[Dixielandjazz] Oh Yeah Day in Wilmington Delaware USA

[Stephen G Barbone]

We had a great concert at Dravo Plaza on the Wilmington Riverfront.

The music was mostly about Armstrong's All Stars Years and still  
recognizable by US audiences these days. We played a two set concert  
and had 2 "Oh Yeah'" tags during each set. Audience of about 400-500  
really got into it. We prepped them by playing the ending 8 bars to  
the songs we were going to tag, and then adding a vocal Oh Yeah from  
the band. Then had the audience do it. Then we played the songs during  
the set.

During the last set we were getting mass "Oh Yeah's" from the audience  
after solos, and at the end of each song, whether tagged or not. When  
500 people get involved with the band in an outdoor setting, it is a  
lot of fun. We were fortunate to have Sabion Sound of Wilmington  
amplify us as there was no way we could have been heard given the size  
of the Plaza which was narrow, and long. We had to reach out 100 Yards  
to get to the folks at the rear. All of Sabion's sound techs are  
musicians. What a concept eh? I sent them a stage plot which they used  
to hook up mikes in advance. They were able to set us up and check  
sound about 15 minutes after our drummer assembled his kit.

Songs tagged were: What a Wonderful World, Someday You'll Be Sorry,  
I'm Confessin and Saints.

Tamas's marketing suggestions are excellent. We used to publish a  
newsletter etc. For the first 10 years of our band's existence we  
marketed as Tamas suggests. And we grew our audiences and the number  
of gigs. Mostly one shot concerts as opposed to club dates. That was  
much more profitable as well as very fulfilling.  However as we age,  
we are trying to cut back on the number of gigs we do. And so, in  
effect, we are demarketing these days and just having fun (albeit  
profitably). All we do now is put our schedule on our website and send  
monthly announcements to our e-mail list members. Plus direct mail  
solicitation to prospective venues every September-October.

What happens now is typified by the event planner at Dravo Plaza. As  
the concert got underway, she announced to the crowd that we were  
there again by popular request and they roared approval. She also  
booked us for next year wondering if we would play on Saturday night  
Aug 4. I said we would, if the money was right, but if their budget  
for a Saturday program was tight, then put us there on a weekday close  
to Aug 4 and we'd do "Oh Yeah" all over again with different songs.

We did get some photos of the event and I will look at them tonight.  
Also, someone videotaped the entire event and I  have asked for a copy.

Our next "Oh Yeah"concert is Wednesday August 11 from 6:30 to 8:00 PM.  
Bellevue State Park band shell.

Cheers,

Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband