[Dixielandjazz] How do they get these gigs?

[Stephen G Barbone]

> Dixiejazzdata <dixiejazzdata at aol.com> (Bart) wrote (polite snip)
>
> Neiman Marcus opens a Big New Store in  downtown Walnut Creek,  
> California  and Look who is playing the Grand Opening !!  Our old  
> list mate
> Tom Wiggins /Saint Gabriel's Celestial Brass Band,   they must be  
> popular, they keep showing up in the high rent districts with good  
> gigs and 8 to 13 players in the band.   Maybe Big Bands ARE Back !!

Hey Bart:

If you see Wiggins, tell him hello from me.

How does he get those gigs? Probably because he asks for them and  
realizes that his competition in not other Dixieland Bands, but  
entertainment in general. As well as all genres of music. For example,  
see the below list of bands playing the 25th anniversary series of  
summer concerts at a local state park. Audiences average between 800  
and 1000 people. Last year we drew about 1000.

June 13  -  Newark Community Band  -  Classical. Marches
June 20  -  Runaway Train  - Country
June 27  -  Barbone Street Jazz Band  -  New Orleans Jazz, Dixieland
July 4      -  Philly Party Band  - Party Music
July 11   -  Glimmer Twins  - Rolling Stones Tribute Band
July 18   -  Sin City  - Americana
July 25   -  The New Direction Band - Reggae
August 1 - Zydeco A Go Go - Zydeco
August 8 - Gas Money - Rockabilly & Honky Tonk
Augu 15  - Skyla Burrell - Blues
Augu 22  - Robert Eric - Billy Joel Tribute Band
Augu 29 -  Ray Rodriguez & Swing Sabroso - Latin Jazz/Dance
Septe 3  -  Dennis McCaughey & Tropical Soul - Beach Music (Buffet /  
Marley etc)

We'll do about 30 of these park concerts this year, having  
"discovered" concerts in the park about 15 years ago. No doubt Wiggins  
has found his working band niche as we have ours.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband