[Dixielandjazz] Here's an even better job offer

[Dixiejazzdata]

 Stan: 

 Just my personal opinion, but I think perhaps the reason that Duke Ellington Societies may be losing their audiences and membership could very well be because they are not doing the proper outreach for new membership of the younger people just like the Dixieland or OKOM Societies for the most part.   There are tons of college kids out there in all the colleges studying and playing Ellington music daily.  You guys should go over to UCLA  and any other S. Cal. colleges with music departments, and pass out "hip colorful flyers" ( like the Rock bands do) and invite the music students to your events, invite them to come play at them etc.  They too are looking for places to play the music and this music is timeless but it has to be taken to the masses by US  they have no clue where to find it.   Some of these younger players in California are forming their own Ellington Tribute bands and creating their own gigs and followings of loyal paying fans.

 
So many well meaning organizations just dwindle down to private clubs of friends and when they die off over the years they are not being replaced.  I realize that as we all get older some do not have the drive and energy to go out recruiting but someone has got to do it or all the newer genres of music will crowd us all into obscurity.   

Playing music for a living is hard non stop work, and promoting it and attempting to develop and keep an audience for it is also very very hard work and often thankless work too.   A bit of modernization can go a long way to keeping old Traditional music alive and viable.    There is nothing wrong with folks who wish to be Mouldy Figs as some on this list like to call themselves or each other, but not embracing some change in some music forms is going to drive away potential younger audiences who might actually embrace the Traditional if brought into it and nurtured a bit to like it.   If we can't hear this music on the radio today, neither can all those younger folks, so it behooves all of us to get out there everywhere we can and self promote our kind of music.

Cheers,

Bart.


 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Stan Brager <sbrager at verizon.net>
To: 'Bert Brandsma' <mister_bertje at hotmail.com>; dixiejazzdata <dixiejazzdata at aol.com>; dixielandjazz <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Mon, May 16, 2011 10:01 am
Subject: RE: [Dixielandjazz] Here's an even better job offer


I fully agree with you, Bert. You present the reasons why so many of the

"Dixieland" jazz festivals are changing their mix of musical styles and even

their names. The reality is that the market has changed or, rather, evolved

away from the music to which many of us danced or enjoyed in our earlier

days. The niche it now populates grows ever smaller.



As a board member of the local Duke Ellington Society in Southern

California, our membership has fallen quite low and most other Duke

Ellington Societies have reported the same. 



Like the Dixieland followers, we're struggling to maintain our organizations

at a time when our music is losing its audience at an ever increasing rate.



Stan

Stan Brager



> -----Original Message-----

> From: Bert Brandsma [mailto:mister_bertje at hotmail.com]

> Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2011 12:01 PM

> To: dixiejazzdata at aol.com

> Cc: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com

> Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Here's an even better job offer

> 

> 

> I don't agree that it is the fault of the hobby bands that the

> situation for live jazz or also other styles is different now. The

> total music world is changing rapidly thanks to internet. One aspect of

> that is that it is much simpler to find bands. They can travel easier

> then say 50 years ago, so people just can try to get it cheap. It is a

> free market after all. When I buy a TV or a new computer nowadays, I

> just do the same, buy on internet, lots cheaper. A pity for the local

> dealer, but that simply is the new time. What you have to do is to have

> a band that plays quality music AND is a pleasure to watch, and the

> requests still come in. All my gigs are still paid well enough.When

> someone is not willing to pay our price, well no problem, find another

> band. I really don't care, go ahead. There are still enough people that

> want just our band.

> Another part of the problem is that OKOM music is not very popular

> anymore these days. It so often is presented as old peoples music.

> Logical consequence is that no younger audience is found.Look what is

> hapening in pop music. How many time and effort is invested in

> presentation? While watching the videos and pictures from bands in the

> heydays of the swing era look how good that aspect was in the

> succesfull bands. Take the Jimmy Lunceford band. They had great music

> but also a fantastic show. Compare that with what the average OKOM band

> nowadays has to offer..... good music alone seldom was enough on it's

> own.

> Kind regards,

> Bert Brandsma

> 

> 

> 

> > From: dixiejazzdata at aol.com

> > Date: Sun, 15 May 2011 00:46:54 -0400

> > Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Here's an even better job offer

> > CC: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com

> > To: mister_bertje at hotmail.com

> >

> >

> >  This is what amateurs and hobby bands have done to the live music

> industry and many of you on this list really wonder why OKOM is dying

> Some of you have been Killing it for many years just by playing for

> these kind of gigs.  And these are Your so called Preservers of the

> music and those who really really love it,  just not enough to pay for

> it.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Marching Band Wanted

> >

> > Thisevent is in Camby, INwith a budget of $100-300.Approximately 50-

> 99 guests will attend.

> > Eventdate: Jun-18-2011

> > Eventduration: at 4:00pm until 9:00pm

> > Eventtype: Birthday Party

> >

> > 5-14-2011

> > 40thbirthday party maybe an hour of performing, really looking for

> performing rightbefore doing cake and a little after that

> >

> > _______________________________________________

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> >

> >

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