Re: [Harp-L] Stop pay to play (Was Why Blues Jams are Important)

["Rick Dempster" <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Yes; the endlessly proffered 'carrot on the stick'. Of all the poor mugs who end up playing for nothing, or next to nothing, how many actually 'make it'? and particularly these days, how long will that 'success' prevail?
The guy washing dishes or cleaning the floors gets paid, so if they want musicians, whose skill and investment in gear etc. amounts to a lot more than the aforementioned workers, let 'em pay.
RD

>>> Joe Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx> 18/04/2011 15:38 >>>

I can see where sometimes it may pay to pay to play. Like if you have an opportunity to play at a place that has a big reputation. Like what was the name of that place in San Fran (ooh, maybe it was Filmore?) where it was a space station from where were launched many journeys into the far unknown reaches of the galaxy by numerous intrepid but heretofore unknown space cadets. I mean there were the 'Iron Butterfly", Silver Spider, the 'Zinc Centepede' and 'Molybdinum Moth'. The Led Zeppelin, Manganese Dirigible, Tungsten Blimp. There was Van Morrison, Station Wagon Martinson, and Sedan Delivery Hendrickson. The Greatfull Dead, the Gladly Mortified, and the Joyously Embalmed.  

There was probably a time when these people were unknown or at least slightly known. And didn't have a rep. like a Fats Domino, Chubby Checker, Obese Parcheesie, or Portly MaJong.  

Not everyone has the luxury of getting a break, already having money, OR having a sponsor or benefactor, and like any business, (and being a musician IS a business), sometimes one has to invest money to make money.

Sometimes a big venue had contests where bands actually paid an 'entry' fee on the premise that they might have a chance at the big enchilada. Sometimes people from the music business would frequent these places and a band or artist could get discovered. Without a break or backing, what one would need to make it otherwise is huge talent. So much so that stopping them would take a thermobaric bomb.

Small story. There was a place in Pittsburgh named Versharen's. It was like a great place for families and dates to go on the weekends. Places like this may have had a drive in, a diner, miniature golf, maybe a small midway with some amusements and rides for the kiddies, pool or lake, maybe some boats. The diner had a juke box remote at every table. You could jitterbug and share a Pepsi with your best girl (or someone else's..if brave), and have those little bar b que sandwiches in those waxed paper bags with the words: "Let's all go to the lobby to get ourselves a treat" printed on them.

So I knew this kid Jimmy who started this doo-wop group. One of the boys in the group was a Versharen. They would play the school dances. And 3 guesses where else? And the first 2 don't count. That's right. Versharen's. Eventually they wound up at places like Kennywood & West View amusement parks and then West View dance land. The marquee would read: Friday..JAMES BROWN, Saturday..the skyliners (in small letters). 
Then it was Friday..CHUCK BERRY, Saturday..THE SKYLINERS. So, eventually it became: Friday..Fats Domino, Saturday.. THE SKYLINERS.    
Friday.. sam & dave, Saturday..THE SKYLINERS. Do you see the change in the lettering. 

The point? Everyone needs to start somewhere. And of course it's nice to get a break along the way. But unless you have huge talent. Talent like a raging freight train. Talent that CAN' t be stopped, you have to be a little pushy, kick and sometimes claw to get anywhere in the business. No one gives it to you. Sometimes you have to 'salt' the ole gold mine. 

smo-joe