Possible New Project -- thoughts?

Some of you know I've become a bit of a local musician broker in the last year. It's been working well. I can sell a quintet, quartet, trio, or duo -- all jazz.

I've been thinking hard about my next project, and realized there is a lot of opportunity for low-paying gigs for non-profits and community groups that don't have the dollars. We turn them down a lot with the phrase "we get 3 calls a week to play for free or low rates"....Of course, the pros I work with won't work those gigs -- so they are often given to soloists with backing tracks.

Also, I have a secondary passion of developing new musicians in the genre. Particularly younger musicians who I would like to see carry the jazz torch in future years.

The group will be a quartet of sax, bass, drums, and sax. This is because I've heard it over and over again from listeners that they expect a saxophone in jazz.

The keyboard player will be a pro player. I am semi-pro and play with a lot of pro players in town. The pro player will get his normal rate, and I will get a rate that is acceptable to me.

I will also bring on a developing sax player and drummer. They will be paid lower rates. I will be up front about the fact that the pro keyboard player gets a larger share. The drummer and sax player will have to be OK with this as it is established up front. I'll let them know the group is there to help them get a foothold in playing the local jazz scene. With this experience, they would have to accept this set of responsibilities ---

I will do all the band management; no one has to lift a finger. But I will also establish the repertoire and provide charts for everyone. It will overlap with what the pro and semi-pro groups play, and will acquaint these newer players with the standards cats play around town. There will also be some pop tunes that crossover into jazz like Moondance (Van Morrison), for example.

The name of the group would be Community Jazz and Pop. It would target restaurants, non-profits, and smaller charity types of groups that have small budgets, as well as assisted living homes which I find have slim budgets, but do have money for entertainment.

I already have a drummer and a sax player that want to be part of it, and they are OK with the low rates of pay. And they seem like they really have the drive to increase their skills.

Comments? What do you think of this idea?

 

I see your point about peeing in the pool. I really do. But the pros won't take those gigs. And the client will have to know that it's not a pro band. They will have a recording. I would promote the community band only after they refuse the rates of the pro band. I know who they are, these groups.

For gigs that I know have dollars, I won't even mention the community band. And if they ask for it, I will indicate that it's for only certain organizations.

The group could also be used for expanding the market for jazz -- for playing at those places where the client hasn't done jazz and wants to give it a try.

Again, these are just ideas, so I appreciate the feedback.