Klarinet Archive - Posting 000594.txt from 1998/10

From: Spiegelthal.Dave@-----.COM
Subj: Re: [kl] The rich get richer
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 09:22:59 -0400

Here in the Washington, D.C. area where I've lived most of my life, there
are numerous military bands and orchestras. I've noticed that, since the
ban on military musicians playing outside jobs was lifted some years ago
(ten or fifteen, maybe?), the military folks have taken a whole lot of gigs
that civilians used to be able to get. Along with the general decline in
live music everywhere, this has exacerbated the situation of trying to find
musical work in this area. And I'm not just talking about paid gigs ---
for example, I can't even get an audition with some of the local
county/city orchestras (some unpaid, some very slightly-paid), because all
the clarinet and bass clarinet slots have been taken up by moonlighting
military musicians. Not to say that they're bad players, in fact many of
them are quite competent, however, I suspect that there a number of better
civilian musicians available to play some of these jobs, but the military
musicians' resumes get them into the door. Just an observation, please let
me know if I just have a case of sour grapes!
Dave Spiegelthal
Calverton, VA
Bass clarinet and that smaller one (I think they call it "B-flat
clarinet" or something like that)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------