Getting crazy on talk sites.

[Calvin Marks]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

NYC is a cold and tough place. First gig there for me was @ The Vangaurd. The table right in front was filled with a who's who of jazz bass in the world....Haden, Buster, Cecil McBee and a couple others. I thought "All Right....the boys come to check me out!" A friend told me later..."Naw, they just wanted to see your bass."

From everything I've read (albeit I know virtually nothing about Jazz) it seems that life as a professional jazz musician can be incredibly difficult, especially in the beginning. Would you all assess my opinion as on mark? At least with classical bass there is the prospect of auditions and getting some form of tenured position, whereas with Jazz, it's all about reputation and couple bad gigs can break you...Please stop me if I'm incorrect. Tough life indeed.