Another missive from Spike. As usual… wise.
Dear Friends:
I’m often asked to speak on the “business of music” – most recently at a prominent conservatory. I really think I’m the wrong guy to ask because I’m not a businessman – I’m a jazz musician. People always want to know what’s the best way to get a gig at Smalls or Mezzrow or the best way to approach club owners (a term that I detest being called – I don’t feel as if I ‘own’ anything. I prefer ‘manager’ or ‘organizer’… I don’t know). For me, the jazz scene is an organic thing onto itself. It is self-sustaining and honestly, everyone that plays this music knows what’s up. You can’t fool a jazz musician. So, no matter how slick your PR package is or your “presentation”, it doesn’t really mean anything unless you can really play and that the Cats regard you with respect.
I love seeing young guys and gals come up through the ranks. I love seeing a young musician begin to hang in ernest at the sessions and to sit in. If they play well, those crusty old m-fkers at the bar may cock an ear, raise an eyebrow or even crack a smile. Eventually this kid starts to become a fixture on the scene. What happens next is that some senior musician will hire him for a gig with their band. That’s the turning point. “Yo man, who’s that young cat on piano? He sounds good…” – that’s the beginning. Next thing you know he’s playing a lot and with other older and seasoned musicians. If the young cat hangs tough, show humility, humor, tenacity and originality then there a very good chance that we’ll invite him to host a date as a leader at Smalls. Next step for them might be tours or record dates or whatever. It’s the filter system that jazz has always used and is still in practice today, particularly at Smalls. No managers. No agents. No EPK’s. No nothing. Just be able to play your ass-off and be a nice person. That’s what it takes.
At this conservatory, I looked out into the audience of young eager grad students who wanted to know about the music “business”. I said; “go to the bar and have drink, hang out late, sit in, practice really hard for many years, and then – you might have a gig, or, perhaps not. There’s no guarantee.” It elicited some laughs and some glares from the professors. I wasn’t being facetious. Hang out, practice hard and pay your dues in the way that all of the great ones did. This is not a game and not for the faint of heart. Jazz is for Wizards and Mystics and ones driven hard enough to not have any other options but to play with passion because that’s WHAT YOU ARE…
Great things this month at Mezzrow and Smalls – check the schedule for April. Highlights include a Greg Hutchinson Masterclass at Mezzrow (and three nights at Smalls), Nick Payton at both Smalls and Mezzrow and many other really great artists coming in.
My best wishes to you and your loved ones and I hope to see you at the clubs.
Spike