[Dixielandjazz] Do subs de-legitimize a band?

[Larry Walton Entertainment]

I understand that a band wants to maintain a sound.  I think most band 
leaders try to keep the same people / sound.

Union contracts and my contract specifies only numbers of musicians not who 
they are.  Just why should the leader and the other side men suffer because 
one or two guys can't make it.

The leader is under contract to supply X number of musicians and he can get 
sued if he cancels out at the last minute.  I have never met a single leader 
that would cancel out on a contract.

A musician that does that very often should be replaced.  I think that the 
ire at band leaders is misplaced.  Side men are often side men because they 
don't have the organizational skills of leaders which means that they double 
book and /or don't show up.  I got a gig a couple of years ago when a leader 
called the sax player a couple of hours before the gig and he was in New 
Orleans.

Some leaders double book all the time.  Musicians unlike a shoe store can 
only make a sale one time for a particular date.  There are some dates that 
this is almost routine like NYEve.  Leaders should, and do often, have a 
back up list of musicians.

If my cornet player books a gig I get someone else and if I book a gig that 
he has me on, he gets someone else but then again I have a couple of players 
that I can call on that are very good.

Bands that rely solely on head charts are looking for trouble if a key 
person can't make it.  I would think a leader would have a plan B.
Larry
St.L

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Kashishian" <jim at kashprod.com>
To: "Larry Walton" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2011 2:27 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Do subs de-legitimize a band?


>
> A band should have its own sound.  The name of a band doesn't make the 
> band,
> it's members do. They give the band that particular sound that makes the
> band what it is....something different from other bands.
>
> One, several, or all members of a band may lend that "special" sound which
> denotes that band from others.  Obviously, bandsmen sometime need to miss 
> a
> gig, but if that special sound disappears, especially in the case of 
> several
> key members being gone, then the band is no longer what it is announced 
> as.
>
> If a band chooses to have a non-distinct sound, and is happy with whomever
> they can get for a particular nite, then it shouldn't matter who or how 
> many
> subs show up.  But, if a band has a "known sound", then it has to be 
> careful
> as to how it presents itself to its public.
>
> Jim
>
>
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