Re: [Harp-L] Age discrimination-add 1

[Philharpn@xxxxxxx]

(message got away before I finished; )




In a message dated 2/12/07 3:11:55 PM, Philharpn writes:


> Chops don't have an age. Either you can play the stuff or you can't.
> 
But there is something else going on here -- and it's not age discrimination.
> 
> * The only bearing that age might have on taking a traveling/very active gig 
> calendar is physical stamina. When you're in your '20s, you put up with a 
> lot of "travel" -- even if it's only around town. But then if you're old, you 
> may be done with the day job and don't have to worry about giving up your 
> sleep at night because you got nothing else to do all day but sleep.
> 
> *The other element is genre -- that dirty word that probably means in this 
> case whatever kids in their 20s are listening to today. If you're old like me 
> -- I have no idea what's "in" today and if I was going to take the job (too 
> far away to be practical) I would have to LEARN all the current songs whereas 
> somebody in his/her 20s would already know them. (Just like I would have 
> known the current top 40 in the 60s and my parents mostly wouldn't have had a 
> clue.)
> 
* Never underestimate sex appeal or marketing. I may be the best harmonica 
player still walking around under my power but if I'm and old, fat geezer, there 
is no way in hell I'm gonna draw in the young women (along with their drink 
buying boyfriends) to the band's gigs.

I live in Troy, Michigan (city of the SPAH post office box) which is 
currently undergoing a   Hooters controversy at the instigation of the City Council. 
Perhaps you read about it. Hoots has operated a bar-restaurant for 10 years on 
the east side of the city (15 Mile and John R) with no complaints, bar fights 
or any of that. Recently,   a bar closed about a mile away on the corner of a 
main road, in a little better location with a much larger building and lots 
more parking.

Hooters simply wanted to transfer its liquor license to the new location but 
the City Council majority decided Hooters did not reflect family values and 
refused. Hooters spent $1 million fixing the joint u and opened anyway a few 
weeks ago without the liquor license. It is suing in federal court and the case 
is to start Feb. 26.


For those of you who have never been to Hooters, the young waitresses wear 
short shorts and scooped blouses to display their pulchritude. I had never   
been to a Hooters but I decided to check out the new location in Troy. I had been 
to the same spot when it was under the previous owner and once saw John 
Sebastian Jr. perform solo there about 15 years ago. Now it's a sports bar with 
lots of TV screens all over the place.

Now what if some of those sweet young girls were replaced with grannies in 
low-cut blouses and short shorts? Would that satisfy the family values crowd?

I doubt it would work. For one thing -- and this is very important -- 
waitresses in Michigan are not paid the minimum wage because they get tips. So the 
bars only have to pay them $2-$3 an hour because they "make the rest of their 
wages from tips" which they are supposed to pay income tax on.

While everybody loves a grandmother, how many grandmothers would be willing 
to dispatch chicken wings to customers in a sports bar? 

If the sweet young things get more tips than grandma, is that age 
discrimination? OR the market economy at work?

I think what's true from grandma is also true for grandpa, even if he is a 
pretty good harp player.


I don't think Tony Bennett ever played harp, but the longevity of his career 
at his age has much to do with the fact that he didn't take a lot of time off.







 


> In a message dated 2/12/07 12:43:54 PM, BiscuitBoy714@xxxxxxx writes:
> 
> 
> 
> 
> In a message dated 2/12/2007 9:40:32 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, 
> harmonicajohns@xxxxxxx writes:
> 
>    Man your reading my mind. I was going to say something like  that but it
> was forgotten in all of the other stuff I have going on. There are a  lot of
> older harmonica players around and that's one of the reasons I'm grateful  
> for
> my abilities. I'll play till I quit breathing. Old sax players too, I sure 
> don't have the looks to be a front man any more that's for sure, and I'll  
> sing
> too.
>     Peace Love and Ry Cooder
>          Randy
> 
> Fred, I  am not quite able to tour yet- another year or two ought to free 
> me-
> but  why does the player need to be so young? A geezer in the band  adds
> something, IMHO.
> 
> 
> 
> 
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