New Orleans musicians: Half the gigs at half the money...

[Bennyboy]

It's not hurricanes challenging New Orleans' musicians anymore; it's the economy. Five years ago this weekend, Hurricane Katrina decimated the city and its music community, but the recession has set a slow pace for its recovery.

According to the third annual State of the New Orleans Music Community Report, there are 50% fewer gigs in the Crescent City than there were before the storm, and it has been that way for the last two years.

"Musicians currently have half the gigs they did before the flood, and this work pays less than pre-Katrina," says Gabriela Hernandez, executive director of the non-profit relief agency Sweet Home New Orleans (SHNO), which released the report. "At the same time, the recession has eliminated a lot of the service industry day jobs they've previously relied on. So while the cost of living has skyrocketed in the city, musicians are seeing their opportunities to earn money dry up."

SHNO published the report this morning, using its 4,500 clients to provide insights into the well-being of the city's famed music community. There's good news: Despite fears about the storm's impact on neighborhood-based institutions such as Mardi Gras Indians and the second-line community, those groups are back to pre-Katrina levels of activity. Musicians, on the other hand, have experienced a drop in the average number of gigs from 12 to six in a month, and earnings are down 43% to a ballpark income of $15,000 per year.

Hardest hit have been older musicians and those reliant on tourists for their livelihood, whether on Bourbon Street, riverboats or convention-related gigs. Saxophone player Elliot "Stackman" Callier played with Ray Charles and Fats Domino, and he appears on many classic R&B recordings, including Lee Dorsey's "Working in a Coal Mine." His resume hasn't insulated him from the economic downturn, though. "I have to take anything that almost makes good sense to play," he says.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/musi...pays-less.html
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[Bennyboy]

1. OF COURSE, SOME HAVE TWICE AS MANY GIGS...

People like Stanton Moore (Galactic,Garage a Trios, many many others)....) Reggie Scanlan (radiators) Anders Osborne (who plays with everyone!)

[MorningGlow]

2. I would go to New Orleans in a heartbeat if I could

And tip all the musicians well.

Alas, I am saddled with crippling debt. And while there are fun things for children to do, I don't think my 6 YO could truly appreciate the place just yet. Maybe in a few more years.

But I do miss New Orleans desperately--used to go there every year before my son was born. :(

[Bennyboy]

3. you can still support.....

I know times are tough as hell for everyone, but there are some thing you can do on a smaller scale than visiting. WWOZ (the best radio station in the world) has some ways to help out, Tipitina's and Preservation Hall have musicians funds, and buy some CD's.....

And get that kid into music lessons.... Just get them to learn the beat for now, don't worry about them being able to play. Get them to play with instruments rather than play them...

[MorningGlow]

4. Good suggestions all, Bennyboy

I'll check out WWOZ. And one can never have too many NO jazz CDs!

My brother brought MG Jr. a ukulele from Hawaii (it's a nice one)--he's rather interested, I must say. He's looking forward to fifth grade, when he can join the uke club at school. And I can teach him guitar. Of course, it remains to be seen whether he takes after me (music in my veins) or dad (not a drop).
:rofl:

On edit: But I doubt I could make a good enough crawfish etouffe on my own...sigh...

[Bennyboy]

5. Ukes are HUGE right now...

Everywhere I got someone is playing of them. Be sure to check out jake Shimbakturo.. The Hendrix of the Uke...

[Bennyboy]

6. Check this out!

Uke Grateful Dead, Missippi Half Step, Uptown Toodeloo...

[KamaAina]

7. Actually, I never saw an unhappy tourist kid in the home town

Aquarium of the Americas. Horse-drawn carriages. Streetcars. Pralines. Steamboat whistles. And so on...

[MorningGlow]

9. I will never forget this one little boy I saw on Royal St.

He was absolutely salivating in an antique shop that specialized in coins, stamps, and...firearms. He was talking so fast to the clerk that he was tripping over his words: "Youknowwhatmyfavoritegunis? It's(whatever name). KnowwhyIlikeit? Because it(whatever it did)..." etc. etc. etc. Kid really knew his antique weapons, I'll give him that!
:rofl:

[KamaAina]

10. There's a shop down the street from that one that features swords

Sign in the window: "Get a sword. There's no waiting period." :rofl:

[MorningGlow]

11. Love it!

:rofl:

I love swords, myself. 'Course, there might be some 'splaining to do when you try to get it on the plane...

[MilesColtrane]

8. NO has always been a ball busting town for musicians.

Way before Katrina came to town, a lot of the gigs in the French Quarter paid by the set.

It is the musical equivalent of piece work on an assembly line.