Comments on: Question: Should Jazz Players Ever Play for Free? http://pdfjazzmusic.com/blog/question-should-jazz-players-ever-play-for-free/ For jazz players and jazz enthusiasts Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:43:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: garrydeb http://pdfjazzmusic.com/blog/question-should-jazz-players-ever-play-for-free/comment-page-3/#comment-59325 garrydeb Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:51:50 +0000 http://pdfjazzmusic.com/blog/question-should-jazz-players-ever-play-for-free/#comment-59325 Jim, I am a trumpet player in Arkansas. I currently play with 4 Big Bands and 1 combo. For the most part I get paid when we have gigs. The combo pays around $150 a man. 1 of the Big Bands pays at least $200 plus travel. One Big Band has a regular once a month gig at a hotel in Hot Springs, AR. It takes me 2 hours from home to get there and we usually get about $15 a man. So in essence that's a free gig when you pay for gas. The other 2 Big Bands don't pay any money...yet. They are working on it. So even in Arkansas there are places to play for pay. Thanks, Garry Jim, I am a trumpet player in Arkansas. I currently play with 4 Big Bands and 1 combo. For the most part I get paid when we have gigs. The combo pays around $150 a man. 1 of the Big Bands pays at least $200 plus travel. One Big Band has a regular once a month gig at a hotel in Hot Springs, AR. It takes me 2 hours from home to get there and we usually get about $15 a man. So in essence that’s a free gig when you pay for gas. The other 2 Big Bands don’t pay any money…yet. They are working on it. So even in Arkansas there are places to play for pay. Thanks, Garry

]]> By: Mike/Delta Brass http://pdfjazzmusic.com/blog/question-should-jazz-players-ever-play-for-free/comment-page-3/#comment-59290 Mike/Delta Brass Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:37:47 +0000 http://pdfjazzmusic.com/blog/question-should-jazz-players-ever-play-for-free/#comment-59290 SOMETIME ITS JUST A MATTER OF PLAYING FOR A REAL (AS OPPOSED TO SPOUSE, NEIGHBOR, LOCAL WINOS) audience. There are a couple monthly gigs around here that ask for volunteers for a couple hours once a month. We have done these with a placard in front of us, a stack of business cards and a comment to the audience that we play bars, clubs, goat ropings, Bar Mitzvahs, weddings, funerals, beer joints, and other posh, up scale gatherings and we mention our fee is verrrry reasonable. We regard free gigs as advertising. We are not shy about passing the hat or putting my tuba case out front with a bit of seed money sprinkled in it so they don't think we're just untidy. We have akso played a few church gigs. These are a suprisingly good place to pick up paying playing gigs. As we all know, the difference between the Baptists and the Presbyterians is that the Presbyterians will speak when met at the liquor store. The Baptists by in bulk though and have more opportunities to hire a band. They don't dance. Having sex while standing is too close to dancing so you got to watch for 'em on the floor. Thanks for the forum Big Jim! SOMETIME ITS JUST A MATTER OF PLAYING FOR A REAL (AS OPPOSED TO SPOUSE, NEIGHBOR, LOCAL WINOS) audience. There are a couple monthly gigs around here that ask for volunteers for a couple hours once a month. We have done these with a placard in front of us, a stack of business cards and a comment to the audience that we play bars, clubs, goat ropings, Bar Mitzvahs, weddings, funerals, beer joints, and other posh, up scale gatherings and we mention our fee is verrrry reasonable. We regard free gigs as advertising. We are not shy about passing the hat or putting my tuba case out front with a bit of seed money sprinkled in it so they don’t think we’re just untidy.

We have akso played a few church gigs. These are a suprisingly good place to pick up paying playing gigs. As we all know, the difference between the Baptists and the Presbyterians is that the Presbyterians will speak when met at the liquor store. The Baptists by in bulk though and have more opportunities to hire a band. They don’t dance. Having sex while standing is too close to dancing so you got to watch for ‘em on the floor.
Thanks for the forum Big Jim!

]]> By: pwhassler http://pdfjazzmusic.com/blog/question-should-jazz-players-ever-play-for-free/comment-page-3/#comment-58177 pwhassler Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:22:54 +0000 http://pdfjazzmusic.com/blog/question-should-jazz-players-ever-play-for-free/#comment-58177 Hello there: I'm a 67 year old drummer who has done the whole yard stick of music over my lifetime. I've jobbed around with small trios, quartets, and many other gig musicians throughout my lifetime. In 1991, I joined a group "A Band for All Seasons" with which I played many jobs pro-bono so to speak. In about 1994, I was asked to join the Roland Cumberland Orchestra, an outgrowth of the Tall Cedars organization and played for many Masonic organizations in Washington, D.C. area. Some were again pro-bono and others paying jobs. Roland, sorry to say, passed away in 2011 and we lost a great leader and Mason. I am presently playing with the Rockville Swing Band which is associated with the Rockville Concert Band in Rockville, MD. Most of what we do is pro-bono for the community and nursing homes. Any money we earn goes to purchasing new music and supplies. As with any groups. There is always the question of getting paid and being professional. Most community sponsored groups don't have that many professional jazz type musicians, but try hard to learn the music and the style. It's quite intimidating for many, but teaching concert musicians about Jazz is also tough. Getting them to listen to each other rather than just playing notes is themost difficult. Getting gigs is tough also. Most places want either R&R, or Blues or Country that offer booze to sell. They are low paying and most likely you'll get a meal for free. Paying gigs usually are in the Country Club set and are top shelf requiring good music with great looks. Paul W Hassler, Rockville, MD. Hello there:

I’m a 67 year old drummer who has done the whole yard stick of music over my lifetime. I’ve jobbed around with small trios, quartets, and many other gig musicians throughout my lifetime. In 1991, I joined a group “A Band for All Seasons” with which I played many jobs pro-bono so to speak. In about 1994, I was asked to join the Roland Cumberland Orchestra, an outgrowth of the Tall Cedars organization and played for many Masonic organizations in Washington, D.C. area. Some were again pro-bono and others paying jobs. Roland, sorry to say, passed away in 2011 and we lost a great leader and Mason. I am presently playing with the Rockville Swing Band which is associated with the Rockville Concert Band in Rockville, MD. Most of what we do is pro-bono for the community and nursing homes. Any money we earn goes to purchasing new music and supplies.
As with any groups. There is always the question of getting paid and being professional. Most community sponsored groups don’t have that many professional jazz type musicians, but try hard to learn the music and the style. It’s quite intimidating for many, but teaching concert musicians about Jazz is also tough. Getting them to listen to each other rather than just playing notes is themost difficult.
Getting gigs is tough also. Most places want either R&R, or Blues or Country that offer booze to sell. They are low paying and most likely you’ll get a meal for free. Paying gigs usually are in the Country Club set and are top shelf requiring good music with great looks.

Paul W Hassler, Rockville, MD.

]]> By: ganigustama http://pdfjazzmusic.com/blog/question-should-jazz-players-ever-play-for-free/comment-page-3/#comment-57616 ganigustama Sun, 22 Jan 2012 01:14:03 +0000 http://pdfjazzmusic.com/blog/question-should-jazz-players-ever-play-for-free/#comment-57616 hii jim . i m 21years old, indonesian , n i work at police music military . i m sorry be4 , i still learning english :-D . i tell u situation right there,, our headmaster wants to make some commercial group like a chamber orchestra, wind orchestra, symphonic band , or a big band . so ,, he push us to upgrade our skill became a profesional player . He wants to make us as him moneymachine . Cause in my country,, jazz are famous n very expensive there . come to my country jim . so many jazz event right here . did u know about 'java jazz festival' ?? haha ,, i have a dream to show there somedays,, _justadream_ thanks jim . . hii jim .
i m 21years old, indonesian , n i work at police music military .
i m sorry be4 , i still learning english :-D .
i tell u situation right there,,
our headmaster wants to make some commercial group like a chamber orchestra, wind orchestra, symphonic band , or a big band .
so ,, he push us to upgrade our skill became a profesional player .
He wants to make us as him moneymachine .
Cause in my country,, jazz are famous n very expensive there .
come to my country jim .
so many jazz event right here .
did u know about ‘java jazz festival’ ??
haha ,,
i have a dream to show there somedays,, _justadream_

thanks jim . .

]]> By: Gord Munn http://pdfjazzmusic.com/blog/question-should-jazz-players-ever-play-for-free/comment-page-3/#comment-55437 Gord Munn Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:51:05 +0000 http://pdfjazzmusic.com/blog/question-should-jazz-players-ever-play-for-free/#comment-55437 Hi Jim, interesting question and I can see from other replies that we are all in the same boat,things aint what they used to be. I am in 3 big bands, playing 4 or 5 times a week, mainly rehearsals, and subbing in others so I have got a good feel for the scene here in Toronto. The bottom line here is not many big bands are paid for gigs and if they are it is usually $20 to $50 each. Small groups on the other hand are paid double that amount. The other problem here is that there are so many bands that you take what you can get or you dont play. Some people are content to rehearse but others like myself enjoy the reaction from an audience. One thing that seems to make a difference is having a manager who has the interest and the talent to get out and advertise and be able to talk to people face to face. To answer the question, no we should not be playing for free unless it is for a charity, we are professionals and should be recognized as such. Thats my rant for the day, thanks Jim. Gord Munn Hi Jim, interesting question and I can see from other replies that we are all in the same boat,things aint what they used to be.
I am in 3 big bands, playing 4 or 5 times a week, mainly rehearsals, and subbing in others so I have got a good feel for the scene here in Toronto.
The bottom line here is not many big bands are paid for gigs and if they are it is usually $20 to $50 each. Small groups on the other hand are paid double that amount.
The other problem here is that there are so many bands that you take what you can get or you dont play. Some people are content to rehearse but others like myself enjoy the reaction from an audience.
One thing that seems to make a difference is having a manager who has the interest and the talent to get out and advertise and be able to talk to people face to face.
To answer the question, no we should not be playing for free unless it is for a charity, we are professionals and should be recognized as such.

Thats my rant for the day, thanks Jim.
Gord Munn

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