Booking Problems

There is a saying that "the more things change, the more they stay the same."  Well, I'm not so sure that's true.   The music business has changed enormously but not necessarily for the better.   Trying to make a decent living today in the music scene is a daunting undertaking.

In the old days there was so much employment, it was a real challenge to be sure the musicians hired kept all the details straight. 

Some of the more successful sidemen were working 250 (miscellaneous) gigs a year for several years back in the 1970's and 80's. (That's about 6 on a weekend alone.) This was not out of the ordinary.  That's how much work there was.

You had to note all the details of each job carefully. Working four and five times a week at least,  required a catalogue of endless details regarding each gig's "special" requirements.

Booking a musician in the old days became an art form and this was before computers. You had to be sure all the details were noted and understood by the musicians hired. 

It was always a good idea to have the guy you were hiring repeat everything you dictated. That way you didn't have an argument if the sideman showed up at another location on the wrong date wearing a Hawaiian shirt or lederhosen instead  of a tuxedo.

There was a period in Montreal that could boast over 300 supper clubs, all featuring some kind of entertainment. The entertainment and music business during that era was flourishing everywhere you looked.

I have a friend that is one of the the top sidemen in TO. He plays all the horns and knows all the styles. His method of remembering this information was very exact. 

When he got a call, he would jot down the date and time of the call .. the weather outside (not really) time of the engagement.. location and hours, appropriate attire.. and the payment. He noted  the entrance to the facility.. Room or floor if pertinent to the gig. What instruments he is to bring if doubles requested. Who the client is.. and the contact person in case he had to report to anyone or if there was more than one band that night in the same building. (Conventions) Parking facilities and location and if payment for parking was arranged or whatever. Length of the engagement and if overtime might be involved. Whew!

Did we miss anything?" Sometimes there was more than one Hotel in that city at various locations with the same name. (Holiday Inns)You had to be sure you indicated which one you were working at.

Changes can always occur before any engagement. You had  to be sure all the guys in the band got these altered details. This could save hassles most of the time. 

 It was very busy in those days. We all thought the "good times" would continue to roll.

Today, this problem of recording (logging) details for an assortment of gigs is pretty much solved. This is no longer a problem because there is so little work. In fact hardly any work. You might as well have an unlisted telephone number. You might find out later you didn't miss any gigs because there wasn't any.

Some of my musician friends have finally announced their retirement. We can assume this hasn't been by choice.

One musician said, "I think I'll get out of the music business." He hadn't worked a gig in over nine months. This same astute player got a call recently for New Year's Eve. He told the band leader, "Hold on a minute.  I have to check my book to see if I'm available."

Boy, how times have changed.

Web space donated by Encore...The Concert Band www.encoretheconcertband.ca