RE: [Harp-L] Mars contest/what constitutes a pro
 
Larry and Jason,
Thank You for providing the harmonica community with a really cool "beef".
I'll preface by saying I don't personally know either of the two men.  Only 
their playing.  Although, Larry you did snub me at SPAH when I was just a 
kid because I couldn't overblow yet...  You probably don't remember -- but I 
do.  It's all good though.
It seems that It's clear that Jason is a "pro" player right now and also 
presents himself as a professional.  At the time the Mars contest was held, 
he wasn't a pro and hadn't been in the past.  It seems that there isn't 
anyone better to judge that than the Mars officials and Jason has provided 
facts that they did their homework on his status of pro or not pro.
One thing that is NOT clear to me is why Larry felt the need to point out 
that he feels Jason WAS a "pro" at that time.  Did Larry lose to Jason?  
What other reason is there?  Seems that Jason's challenge to provide some 
proof of his own or dispute Jason's proof is reasonable.  It's also clear 
looking at this rationaly that Larry, your beef should be (7 years ago...) 
with the MARS PEOPLE.  They set the standard.
I'm just offering my opinion and observations.  No disrespect meant to 
anyone.
Peace,
Noah
www.viciousaloysius.com
----Original Message Follows----
From: jason@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] Mars contest/what constitutes a pro
Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2007 14:30:22 -0800
Larry that really hurt man....Anyone that knows me can say a lot of  
negative things about me ..but dishonest has never been one, at leats  not 
since I got sober..
  The Mars Contest. I think was the year 2000. It was suggested to me  that 
I enter the contest by the band leader of a local band I was  playing with 
in south FL at the time called the Nucklebusters mainly  for the purpose of 
winning an amp which at the time I did not have.  The rules for entering the 
contest WERE You must be an amatuer player  not a pro. I aked at Mars in 
very clear language several times what  constitutes a Pro? Their responce 
each time was someone that makes  less than half of their money each year 
from music and one who has  never had a record deal. they even became 
annoyed at me and thought I  was some how bragging becuase I keptmentioning 
the Nucklebusters. At  the time and for one year prior to the contest I was 
working at a  local record store in Lake worth fl and gigging weekly with a 
local  band, incidently former harmonica players from that local band and  
other rival local bands were in the contest along side me......prior  to 
that I had been working at a restaurant in Del ray for a year and  that year 
I didn't play one show for money the whole year....prior to  that I had 
lived and played with Junior Kimbrough, had been to Europe,  had made money 
in the past from music...With Junior I made 30.00  dollars a week 100.00 if 
I was lucky and I sold drugs to make a  living. When I went to Europe and 
toured I had to take a vacation from  my job at Rich's Deparment store in 
maine as a stock boy to go when I  got back from Euorope my Job was gone so 
I began work at a dry  cleaners. The list goes back and back like that! I 
always had day jobs  up until I got the gig with Big Al and the Heavy 
Weights two or three  years after that...Tons of the Mars harmonica 
contestestents worked  weekend gigs as well and thats all I was or had been 
doing...If I ever  made a living from music prior to that it was because I 
was making way  more selling dope and did't have to get a regular job...Both 
CD's I  had made in 95 and 97 were self produced with Mom and I's  money 500 
 of each were made and most were sent to clubs,labels, radio stations  and 
friends in an attempt to be a pro.
  Larry what bothers me is I thought we were friends and I once  explained 
all this to you at a show I think, you should be more sure  about facts 
before you accuse people of lying, cheating, etc....  Either you don't or 
won't believe it what I said...But do believe my  feelings are hurt from 
your post...
 I had to deal with enough of this from players that didn't win after  I 
won in 2000 and the Mars Music Store took my pay stubs for the last  year 
from the record store i was working at to prove to all those  people that I 
had enterd under Kosher circumstances...so if you need  more proof find 
their number cause they got the pay stubs...and the  Rules were less than 
half your income from music
 A Pro is some one who isn't bitter from harmonica a contest from 7  years 
ago. Sorry bout that but you had deserve it.
_______________________________________________
Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
_________________________________________________________________
Get Hilary Duff?s homepage with her photos, music, and more. 
http://www.live.com/?addtemplate=hilary&ocid=T001MSN30A0701
     
     This archive was generated by a fusion of 
     Pipermail 0.09 (Mailman edition) and 
     MHonArc 2.6.8.