#1566: Tuesday, December 22: Beautiful complications

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Post 1566, Day 356 of 2015
- 1,817 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I have never had much to do with the business of music. The music business has a well-earned reputation for corruption, and for having a negative effect on artist(ic) development.

I have been able to stay clean of the fray, for the most part. But recently, not so much.

There is a small subset of musicians who enjoy the business side of music-making. That's a mystery to me, I don't understand the rewards (it isn't financial. Most of these people may hope that it will be, but, like most musicians hoping for wealth, the chances are similarly slim). I think it is actually a lot like celebrity-worship that leads them to it - the opportunity to meet the commercially successful music stars is where that comes from. I don't know a single person who is into the music-business that doesn't seek celebrities (and celebrity).

Which isn't me.

When the open mic ended last Tuesday, it seemed to be because of antagonism between the producer (who put it together, who loved the house band, and whose intentions seemed honorable) and the restaurant's management (who embraced the open mic (their first), loved the house band, and whose support of live music was essential).

Apparently, they disliked the producer, for his aggressive manner (he is big and intimidating, but, to me, more persistent than aggressive); for the way he ran the open mic (there were complaints), and for what they deemed a conflict of interest (his taking a percentage when they booked one of the acts appearing at the open mic).

The producer had warned us that beginning in the new year, management had wanted a 1099 from him; which he had accepted, conditionally, on an increase in weekly pay (to cover the taxes), and that they had not responded to his offer. But when they cut the gig, he did say that it was "basically because they hate me." Yes, those are his words.).

The producer had wanted to move the open mic to another location, but hadn't had any success with that.

Before last night, a couple of things came to light: One was that the restaurant's management had made overtures to hiring the house band to run the open mic (without the producer). The other was that the tax move had been deliberately put out to get rid of the producer.

Now I was involved in the business end of things. Going against the producer presented a certain ethical problem (he had put the whole thing together himself, beginning to end, including hiring me; but he was, apparently, solely responsible for the losing the gig). If the band were to say yes to the restaurant, it would have to be a unanimous decision, and I would have to assume some responsibility for running the open mic (no problem), and for the business part (negotiating with management, possibly collecting and distributing pay, possibly working with the tax implications if they did insist on a 1099 situation. Ugh!

Then, last night, I got a call from the producer asking if I were available to restart the open mic (with no lost time) at another venue.

I was. This was the easiest solution for me - no ethical problems, no business to be dealt with. The only thing was, I'd already made plans to rehearse with Fool.

Well, gigs always take precedence over rehearsals, but I know everybody was disappointed by this development; and I know some people deal with disappointment badly. So I could not feel great about any of it.

The business part of music complicates what is simply beautiful.

Food and Diet Section

Today's Weight:                   206.2 lbs.

Previous Weight (12/21):          205.2 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                   +  1.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

This is the approximately ten ounces of almond butter I ate before, during and after dinner showing up. Damn, too much of a good thing.

Food Log

Breakfast
A Quest bar.

Lunch

Skipped.

Snack
Two Quest bars.

Dinner

After the open mic, went to the B'ville Diner and had an omelet with broccoli, sausage, bacon and provolone cheese. And hash browns and rye toast.

Snack
Chocolate truffles (homemade, a Christmas gift).

Liquid Intake
   Espressos: 1;  Coffee:  40 oz.;  Water: 88+ oz.

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