Thursday, August 14, 2008


Take Note, Martinez for August 14, 2008

When There is No Pay to Play

(We interrupt this column for a cheap self-promotion opportunity – Jim Caroompas and the Very Bad Boys will be playing tomorrow, Friday, August 15, at Armando's, 707 Marina Vista, at 8 p.m. Joining the usual suspects on Friday will be the remarkable Greg Boudreaux ..boards, he of the former Jim Caroompas Band, and lately Loose Gravel Funk Band. He brings a new look and feel to the Bad Boys that will make you feel as though you're hearing them for the first time. We know, because we feel we're hearing us for the first time. Secondly, the same band, without Greg and with a different drummer, will perform the final set at Sunday's Art in the Park, about which more below. This concludes our cheap self-promotion portion of this column).

In some circles around town, I am known as something of a mercenary. This is because I am not inclined to play music for free, just because someone asks. Music is a skill one spends years to learn, and continues to learn one's entire life. Also, there is the very expensive equipment to purchase and maintain, the ever-rising cost of transportation to and from venues, and the overall sacrifice of leaving the nurture of hearth and home for environs that may or may not be musician-friendly. When myself and the boys do a gig, there is time and effort involved that no one else sees – rehearsal, set-up and tear-down, etc. So it's fair to charge a fee for playing. The sad part is, that fee is criminally low. A plumber, a carpenter, or even a handyman, charges far more for four hours of work than we do. So precious few of us can do what we are passionate about for our primary income. And that's ok, such as it is. This is not a mission of complaint.

Here is the point: myself and most of my brethren will gladly play for little or nothing, if the cause is right. And then there are those magical musical get-togethers known as jam sessions, for which there is never recompense in the monetary sense, but untold riches nevertheless.

To wit: not long ago there was a gathering of something like five bands at Armando's to play a benefit for a remodeled kitchen at the Martinez Adult School. A very worthy cause indeed, and it was our pleasure to join the other bands that day to play for about an hour and raise some cash for the kitchen. We also played a benefit last week for the Cancer Walk at Las Juntas Elementary School. We were, again, joining a pretty big lineup of local talent, none of whom got paid, and none of whom really had an audience, per se, but rather were entertaining the walkers who were bravely hiking around the field for a great cause.

And then there's Art in the Park, an annual event which benefits the Martinez Arts Association. I've played this venue every year for more than twenty years, and I plan to keep playing it each year until they 1) refuse to let me in, or 2) I am busy being buried. This year, my band is playing and we're closing the show. Now, to be precise, sometimes the musicians get paid to play this event. And sometimes they don't. Mostly they don't, and that's fine. It's a part of the Martinez DNA, and we're proud to take that stage each year. Don't miss this year, by the way. It's on Sunday, and it's always a great time.

Then there are the jams. Every second Monday at Armando's the Very Bad Boy Danny White, my harmonica/singer/guitarist colleague, who also owns Good Stuff Guitar Shop on Main Street (where I teach guitar – oops, another cheap promotion), sponsors the Blue Monday Jam, where musicians from all over the Bay Area gather to have their three songs/fifteen minutes of blues fame and fortune, minus, of course, the fortune. This is like a club of people who just get together, hang out and wail when the time comes. It's more fun with an audience, of course, so if you don't play the blues, come on down and hear them played. There are other blues jams around the area, and I will be filling you in on those as time goes by.

So don't think poorly of us if you're seeking a band to play for free and we ask for money. Bands need to eat, too. And there are plenty of times when bands play for nothing, because we believe in the cause and/or it's just so much fun to play. However, loving what you do that much should not be a reason for giving it away every time. If you're having a party, or an event, you're not getting it catered for nothing. You're not renting the hall for nothing. And you're not getting the photographer for nothing, unless it's your Uncle Preston, in which case don't hold your breath for great photos. So why expect to get the band for free? We're not mercenaries, we just want a little respect. In return, we'll make your gathering dance all night. How much is that worth?

For now, remember this:

Jim Caroompas and the Very Bad Boys:

Friday, 8 p.m. Armando's

Sunday, 3:30 p.m., Art in the Park, Susana and Estudillo streets