Since the topic is "getting the gig", I feel compelled to rant just a bit.

Here in South Florida I am used to the seasonal nature of the work. This year, the calls came in a little later than usual. A lot of the "snowbirds" delayed their trek south making less demand at some of the higher end places I usually play earlier in the season. Even attendance at the animal and military clubs has seen a bit of a drop off and they are getting very price conscious.

Okay...we've had storms. Insurance has gone through the roof. Property values and taxes have taken a major jump, causing some to leave, but there is major building of homes in the $400K-500K bracket going up everywhere. Most are being bought by new transpants from up north.

I have had a couple of calls lately requesting information about my "DJ services". My gripe is that there appears to be less and less respect for the ability of talent that plays instruments live...even arrangers...or guitars all hooked up to midi.

There has also been a younger element of resident that has come to the market and, understandably, they are going to want the music of "their era". I can live with that.

I am not Bon Jovi, nor can I sing like Lionel Ritchie, Celine Dion, Earth,Wind & Fire..etc. But to survive and "get the gig" I will accept those kind of jobs and rely on MP3s. Nobody seems to care because that age group is so used to it. But, I draw the line at Karaoke.

In order to get the gigs now, if the subject of DJ comes up, I tell them I offer both live performance (single or duo with a girl singer) and DJ services. It's not the way I would like it to be. But it is survival and so far I have picked up several jobs that I would have turned down a year ago.

And...Donny (DNJ) before you say anything, I know you have already climbed this mountain and it is second nature to you. But, it is all new to me. Maybe I will come to like it.

The day may come that all I have to take to a gig is an Ipod and my Bose.

Eddie