Flexibility = More Work

This weekend I went to see a band play at a fairly well-known venue in Tampa.  The place calls itself a jazz club, but, ironically, had (and wanted) this band playing danceable songs.  And yes, people were dancing.  Fast dancing, slow dancing, and mid-tempo songs that still moved the patrons to get out on the dance floor, just like the owner wants.

Why is this worthy of blogging about?  Just one week earlier I had this act booked in St. Pete as a jazz trio.  So, one weekend they are three people doing jazz, exactly the way you’d expect it.  And one week later they’re a four-piece maybe doing one or two jazz songs to open each set, but otherwise it’s Michael Jackson, it’s KC & the Sunshine Band, Santana, Whitney Houston, and more, instead of Etta James, Diana Krall, Al Jarreau, etc.

And if all that weren’t enough, how about that for the jazz booking on Valentine’s Day it was one singer and for two nights ago it was a completely different front lady?

That diversity can only help these folks who, by the way, are veteran musicians.  They’re not newbies who are taking the, “If it means getting more work, I’ll learn anything” approach.  They’re savvy enough to know that they’ve got to adapt to changes in what people like, be it audiences or club owners.  The reason being, they know they’ll get more work that way.

If you are stubborn and won’t add to your repertoire, don’t complain when the bookings aren’t as frequent as you’d like them to be.  If you’re so set in your ways that you won’t consider other genres, then don’t criticize those who do or the clubs and venues that aren’t calling you.

I recently wrote a blog about teaming up with another act.  Today’s topic is another example of how you can also reach a new audience.  And then when you do, you can promote your upcoming shows to them so that maybe they’ll come check out the other type(s) of music you’re doing elsewhere.

Another angle worth pointing out here is that in both cases, these venues more or less have built-in audiences.  Their location and/or their reputation bring people in.  Their whole business isn’t riding on who you bring in.  That makes it more enjoyable for the players, of course, because there isn’t the pressure to bring in a crowd.  And remember, even if the pay isn’t that good, one bonus that you did get is exposure to a whole new group of people that loved you and were dancing to your music and are going to tell the owner as much, and thus they’ll be looking for you to be re-booked there.

All that because they didn’t put their foot down and say, “We’re a jazz trio and a jazz trio only.”

There are many not-so-great stories from the grind of playing out every weekend, so the happy endings are always nice to see – especially when there’s a good lesson woven within them.