HI FRAN,
I played horns in several big bands when I was young. We got 10.00 a night side man scale if we belonged to the union and 12.00 if we doubled on two instruments. Everything was arranged and you had to read the music. Solos were a measure with a diagnol slash threw them and a number, meaning you had that number of bars to blow after the turn around.
I do love big band music and still play a lot of it on my keyboards. Roland has some good styles for BB.
Best to ya,

Bebop