{"items": [{"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646413704632", "anchor": "fb-646413704632", "service": "fb", "text": "(Prompted by a conversation with Aleksandra Taranov.)", "timestamp": "1390751796"}, {"author": "Richard", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646418649722", "anchor": "fb-646418649722", "service": "fb", "text": "Does size really matter? Two of my favorite bands over the past decade or so have been Big Bandemonium (nine musicians or so) and Phantom Power (two musicians). I think both got booked a lot!", "timestamp": "1390754075"}, {"author": "Allison", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646418919182", "anchor": "fb-646418919182", "service": "fb", "text": "As a contra dance organizer, size matters in that you have to pay more people a decent amount, which can get expensive. And also, you have to have enough sound equipment for all those people, which my dance usually doesn't have.", "timestamp": "1390754212"}, {"author": "Ben", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646420226562", "anchor": "fb-646420226562", "service": "fb", "text": "I like the thorough analysis. In Houston, we have five regular bands, two have 4 people, two have 5 people, and then an open band that has 6-10 people. In the last two years, I think we've had two or three dances with fewer than 4 people in the band. We only pay a certain amount for the entire band, so beyond 3 or 4 people, instead of costing the organization more, individuals in the band just get paid less.", "timestamp": "1390754581"}, {"author": "Richard", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646422511982", "anchor": "fb-646422511982", "service": "fb", "text": "Jeff, I hadn't seen your whole post. I disagree that musical cohesion is necessarily problem with bands larger than five. (Though I bet the non-musical coordination--about booking and availability, etc.--becomes more of a nightmare.) Is your analysis showing that larger bands don't get booked, or that they hardly exist?", "timestamp": "1390755358"}, {"author": "Robert", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646429857262", "anchor": "fb-646429857262", "service": "fb", "text": "The JP dance mostly gets 3-person bands, with the occasional 2 or 4. Except in special circumstances, we pay bands a maximum of $300, which means that we can't have more than 3 people unless they're willing to work for less than $100 apiece.
That said, I think 3 works well, especially if there's variety in the instrumentation (some wind, or somebody playing more than one instrument). There are a few really excellent 2-person bands.", "timestamp": "1390756390"}, {"author": "John", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646438375192", "anchor": "fb-646438375192", "service": "fb", "text": "I think that bands that play a lot together are more cohesive than a set of skilled musicians who don't play together much. Our policy matches that of Ben so we usually have 3-person bands.", "timestamp": "1390758111"}, {"author": "Edward", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646455715442", "anchor": "fb-646455715442", "service": "fb", "text": "Nice data!
In my experience, each additional person adds complications in terms of agreeing about stuff, repertoire, cost, logistics, transportation, scheduling (being simultaneously available for gigs and rehearsals), and, importantly, sound. 2 is hard work for the people in the band, but logistically easy, 3 is a sweet spot. 4 demands even more commitment from everyone, 5, well, I can barely imagine...", "timestamp": "1390761680"}, {"author": "Michael", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646475276242", "anchor": "fb-646475276242", "service": "fb", "text": "Richard: Short answer, regarding size matters, is yes. I've worked with Big Bandemonium a fair bit, as sound engineer, and I know that they cost more than a smaller band, and that comes into play for bookings, and being composed of in-demand professional musicians, finding opportunities to play together or to rehearse is difficult, which also comes into play.", "timestamp": "1390766194"}, {"author": "Michael", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646477037712", "anchor": "fb-646477037712", "service": "fb", "text": "Jeff Kaufman: You said \"Back before amplification you wanted a large band to give a full sound to the dancers\" -- I think you are wrong. The availability of amplification has greatly changed, and is still changing, people's expectations of what a band sounds like. In the only 19th century dance manual that I know to give specifications for the makeup of a band, and *also* in other ephemera and historical documentation, it's clear that a single fiddle was quite popular as a dance band.
I'm sure people were quieter then.
The dance manual's choice if you had enough money for more than just a fiddle? Two fiddles.
It's worth noting that the increasing popularity of the piano, and the likelihood that any dance venue would have one, also made a change, as the piano became more popular as a dance instrument.
Also, I think that you should count Wild Asparagus as a 6-piece band, since they sometimes play with other callers. I'm not sure if the same is true for Elixir. Would you count Swallowtail as a 3-piece band since it has two callers playing instruments? How about T-acadie? Since you are looking at band-specific issues such as arrangements and logistics as well as cost, I think you should ignore the callers in your calculations, rather than ignore those callers who are also musicians.", "timestamp": "1390766726"}, {"author": "John", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646482701362", "anchor": "fb-646482701362", "service": "fb", "text": "When a caller stops calling and joins the band it is often with an instrument different than what the others are playing, e.g. Jeff and Nils, which adds to the spectrum of sounds and that is a big plus in my ears.", "timestamp": "1390768273"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646493230262", "anchor": "fb-646493230262", "service": "fb", "text": "@Michael: \"The dance manual's choice if you had enough money for more than just a fiddle? Two fiddles.\"
That might have been the lack of amplification: it's really nice to be able to hear the melody well, and adding a second unamplified fiddle gets you closer to where you get now with a single fiddle.", "timestamp": "1390774255"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646493789142", "anchor": "fb-646493789142", "service": "fb", "text": "@Michael: \"I think that you should count Wild Asparagus as a 6-piece band, since they sometimes play with other callers. I'm not sure if the same is true for Elixir.\"
In all of the Wild Asparagus I counted George Marshall was listed as the caller. Same with Elixir/Nils. But having a band member also call is definitely a way to get a bigger effective band.
\"Would you count Swallowtail as a 3-piece band since it has two callers playing instruments?\"
Swallowtail was generally listed as having two callers but only one of them calls at once while the other plays. I counted them as four people.", "timestamp": "1390774768"}, {"author": "Aleksandra", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646498185332", "anchor": "fb-646498185332", "service": "fb", "text": "I have the same question as Richard, which I'm repeating because I don't believe anyone has commented on it yet: \"Is your analysis showing that larger bands don't get booked, or that they hardly exist?\"", "timestamp": "1390777746"}, {"author": "Phillip", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646521079452", "anchor": "fb-646521079452", "service": "fb", "text": "I think that it is rare that there is a large band that is enough better than a medium or small band to justify the expense. My known exception is Big Bandemonium, which charge $15 for their dances and they are always packed (It is the only band that pretty much will get me to drive to Greenfield from Arlington (and maybe stay the night).", "timestamp": "1390786358"}, {"author": "Alex", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646537311922", "anchor": "fb-646537311922", "service": "fb", "text": "Jeff: is there a high correlation between the 3:4 ratio in the booking of those different dances and how much they pay? Why does Glenside have more 4-piece bands than 3-piece?", "timestamp": "1390791009"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646539272992", "anchor": "fb-646539272992", "service": "fb", "text": "@Alex: \"Why does Glenside have more 4-piece bands than 3-piece?\"
My guess is that Glenside is booking more local bands, and logistically it's easier to be bigger if you're not traveling. But maybe Melissa knows more here?", "timestamp": "1390791941"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646539966602", "anchor": "fb-646539966602", "service": "fb", "text": "@Richard, @Aleksandra: \"Is your analysis showing that larger bands don't get booked, or that they hardly exist?\"
The data I collected is just on bookings, but it does seem like evidence that large bands are rare. Frog Hammer is the one that turns up twice in the data at 7. (Though I suspect their numbers at dances vary some; the 7 comes from counting the number of people in their facebook cover photo.)", "timestamp": "1390792282"}, {"author": "Melissa", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646540171192", "anchor": "fb-646540171192", "service": "fb", "text": "Looking at the bands booked for Glenside this year so far, there are currently more 3 and under bands booked. I don't consider size of band, but rather if they would be a good band for our dance. Taking a quick look at the makeup of the bands, I see for our 4 person bands it's roughly two rhythm players and two melody players. That makes sense because then the burden of the parts can be shared. And yes, we do book mainly local bands. The emphasis of our dance is to foster the growth of our local musicians and callers. I love the idea, and that's how I got my start in both calling and playing. I hope this is helpful :)", "timestamp": "1390792417"}, {"author": "Melissa", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646540705122", "anchor": "fb-646540705122", "service": "fb", "text": "Also, this is an interesting study! Jeff, I wouldn't be surprised that what you said about ease of travel for a local band would be a factor. I am going to pay attention to this as the rest of the year shapes up!", "timestamp": "1390792668"}, {"author": "Melissa", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646541383762", "anchor": "fb-646541383762", "service": "fb", "text": "Right now, out of 12 traveling bands, only two of them this year are 4 or over. Of the local bands, it's half and half if I don't count SPUDS (the pickup band). So yeah, there's probably a correlation!", "timestamp": "1390793009"}, {"author": "Richard", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646541977572", "anchor": "fb-646541977572", "service": "fb", "text": "I think Jeff's comment \"easier to be bigger if you're not traveling\" is to the point. I was in a five-person contra band for about five years, sometimes performing with six or seven of us when friends sat in. We were not a touring band, but were booked regularly locally. It made it easier that we were all good friends, lived close together, and liked getting together to jam.", "timestamp": "1390793525"}, {"author": "Richard", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646542291942", "anchor": "fb-646542291942", "service": "fb", "text": "I also agree with Phillip's comment about big bands like Big Bandemonium needing to offer something special. At the other end of the spectrum I guess a melody player has to offer something special to make a two-person band a hit, e.g. Eden MacAdam-Somer of Notorious or Lissa Schneckenburger of Phantom Power. (No disrespect to the amazing rhythm players!)", "timestamp": "1390793830"}, {"author": "Sarah", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/646413365312?comment_id=646542810902", "anchor": "fb-646542810902", "service": "fb", "text": "Big Phat has between 6 and 8, depending on availability of band members. We rarely seek bookings, but take the occasional request. We often opt for a low per-person payout, but traveling on a contra budget is pretty much out of the question.", "timestamp": "1390794090"}]}