New Years Eve

[Rick Detroit]

Has everyone had luck picking up a decent New Year's job this year?

It's been pretty dry around Detroit for many of the horn players I've talked to (some very good players are not working) but I managed to pick up a gig with a decent country club/wedding-type group for decent bread.

How's the luck in your scene?

[larry]

I got an 8:30-10:30 dinner thing for ok (not great) money. But I get to be home for the midnight kiss so all is cool! Lowell, MA

[G-dawg]

Seems to be a bit dry in the Austin area as well. Nothing yet, but crossing fingers...

[martinc]

Friend of mines big band got a late Jan gig seeing off the Queen Mary 2 as she leaves port. They get to follow along in an old harbour ferry full of party guests...should be different....

[Subtone Sam]

New Years gig was cancelled (the joint went bankcrupt!) but I don't mind;I'll be busy gigging from 1st day on.

[jd]

got a new years wedding with my band (at the college club in cleveland hts ) . www.bottomlineband.com
im up front with the grey hair. this has been a really good year for us. plus im freelancing quite a bit with r/b bands and a jazz trio gig in a restaurant. ive been lucky this year . im grateful because so many better players than me in my area arent doing anything.

[saxophobe]

I believe that band that I am playing with is working from 9-1 on New Year's this year. I also think we will be playing at the Crescent Club in Dallas, which is on the top floor of the Crescent Hotel. Pay should be going rate for that night. Not great, but solid.

Rick! Do you know a guy named Jay Miglia there in Detroit? I went to school with him! I know it's a long shot, but I just thought I'd ask.

[Trizno]

I've been very lucky to play the same restraunt for 4 years straight for new years... The pay is $400 per man & a $75 bar tab per man. Unfortunately the band is taking the month of January off so I'll be paying rent with that money.

[OnyxSax]

Surprisingly, our band hasn't been booked yet. Actually, several other bands in our agency are in the same boat. We've had one country club up in Baltimore vacillating over whether they want us. I hope we get a booking...I've spent every New Years Eve since Dec. 31, 1988 with the band I play in now. The thought of not playing with these guys (and gal) on New Years Eve is too much to bear. I suggested that if we don't get a booking, that we use our studio space (which was host to a couple of our SOTW Get-Togethers) to have our own New Years Eve party, and this time our family and friends could attend. We wouldn't be making squat, but at least we'd be having fun.

I think part of this is still the backlash from the over-hyped Millennium, where many bands and venues decided to gouge their customers. It turned a lot of the revelers off from going to these hotel and country club extravaganzas. The New Years Eve market just hasn't been the same since.

[geo@loyola.edu]

We're playing at York Country Club, York PA. This will be our third year in a row.

[Frank D]

Better get cracking Onyx, or you'll wind up spending New Year's Eve with the wife ! :D

[OnyxSax]

We've got a couple of promising irons in the fire now. We're hoping to get one of the local country clubs, which also hosts an open New Years Eve (meaning non-members, i.e. family & friends, can attend). We're also being pitched for a wedding that night, too.

Seeing that we're the "flagship" band for our Agency, our Agents want to make sure that we're not at sitting at home that night...they don't want to lose face with our competitors.

[martysax]

Got the Springfield Sheraton again this year. The wife is pissed again. She says it's not the same at 2:30 when I get home!

[DD]

Big Band was reportedly negotiating a deal at Niagara Convention Center -I had already commited to do a 5 piece in Erie w/ Atlanta-NYC trumpet/vocalist Joe Grandsen. Erie is cold, but not as far as Buffalo on amateur night. And who knows what may blow in across the lake :?:

[Andrew D]

I've got a booking with my band at the hotel Marriot, park lane London; I will be doing 2x1 hour sets to see the New Year in, around 500 people.

The organizer who is putting on the event always looks after us; we get a table with the same food as the guests as well as alcoholic beverages :).
I can even bring the wife....all expenses paid

I'll be getting £350 for my efforts although December will be quiet compared to last year.

[Bootman]

been booked for months and have had several more offers too. Good money, right on the Harbour in sydney for the Fireworks show too. Couldn't have a better New Years gig than this.

[OnyxSax]

We got the local country club with the open attendance...even get to bring a guest a no charge..and the gig ends at 1 AM, which is pretty cool because I have to play a wedding the following evening.

[tomsch]

We've been booked for a while. Great gig at a golf club. Great pay and we get hotel rooms for the night.

[JL]

Got a great gig at the local dive. It pays well and I'm within walking distance!!