As many of you know, I'd ended my relationship with my band of 11 years this recent NYE. To review briefly, the band had grown stagnant, wouldn't/couldn't rehearse and seemed too comfy with both issues. To a man, they think I'm crazy for having ended a "good thing" even though we drew pretty good crowds, and left gigs on table.

I also said goodbye to my duo partner, a sax/clari/flute player who'd worked with me for over 12 years.

I'd expected it to work fine at the few remaining accounts that I hadn't already turned into solos. Of note were a very large VFW in Dayton and a private dinner/dance club.

1) The dinner/dance club has decided to go a different direction. I'm disappointed by this because the decision was not one (I'm told) based on quality. They simply insist on a band vs. a solo performer. Many of the club are very familiar with my work and have even hired me for other private functions, but the board decided they wanted a band, and as I no longer had one...I'm out...

(For now...We'll see how the attendance and the new bands all do. I have a hunch there's a chance they may reconsider in a year or two...)

2) The large VFW...the most important account to me bar none concerned me at first because they too, in general agreed with my bandmates. Why in the world would I end something so good? After my first solo performance in January, 3 different parties approached me and said they were wrong in how they thought it would be. They admitted it was very good and that they'd be returning...with friends...Last night I played there again and the staff told me it was the largest crowd they'd seen for anybody in 3 years or so. Every table was filled and I couldn't see the other end of the dance floor. Last month the Commander complimented me, this month the 2nd Vice (guy who actually books me) said he'd heard good things about January and that I had nothing to worry about...

I'm not sharing this so much as to toot my own horn, but rather its been really interesting to see how two different groups, both of whom had reservations about me ending the band handled this. One group understood that the band was stagnant but trusted me enough to give me monthly dates strictly on my personal reputation and belief that I'd be ok. (This club has never used a solo...ever, until me...) Last night, there was even talk about having me get the prized NYE gig, which would be fun...(Yes, it would be affirming that my hunch was correct as to how I would do on my own in this club.)

Contrast this with the other private dance club. This club is a group of retired judges, attorneys, politicians, real estate and high end business executives. I KNOW I could handle their dances. But I won't even get a chance because they're fixated on "having a band..."

Its odd and something I don't really claim to fully understand. They said they were afraid what might happen if something happened to me, which is reasonable, but doesn't seem to totally explain it.

The different ways each group handled my ending the band has been really interesting to watch...