The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1889-03-02
BRASS BANDS.
The Life of Metropolitan Profess
sional Musicians.
Their Organizations, HauntS
and Scale of Wages.


struments, there are the tuba, the bari
tone, the tenor, three comets, two altos,
two trombones, two clsrionets, the
bass drum, the small drum and the
cymbals.
There are 1900 professional musicians
in New York City who make a liveli-
hood by playing in bands and orches-
tras, and occasionally alone when re-
quired for small entertainments. These
men have eight organizations and are
all known as union men.
About half OF the musicians are Ger.
mans. Americans and Italians are the
next prominent nationalities, and near
ly all countries are represented.
The union rate of pay for regular
musicians Is S. per day. For marching
in paradcs Sc is charged, on account of
the extra labor. On special occasions,
when there Is an unusual demand, extra
pay is obtained. Occasionally there is
such corner in music that almost any
price can be had BY a shrewd player.
Members Of orchestras are paid scale
OF prices that varies according to tho
instrument playei and the ability of
the performer. Very few musicians
are employed in theatres for less than
SIS week. The general prices paid
arc from SIS to s25, and exceptional
players get as high as $40 week. Men
who play in drum aud fife corps get all
prices-from 81 to So per day.
The busy season in the mu,ical world
IL from November 1 ultil May 1, with
a dull spell in Lent. The the atres,
balls, parties, receptions, concerts and
holiday work keep the musicians busy,
so that ia good performer, espe cially a
pianist, need not lose night for sever
al months. Nearly all good musicians
are able to play two or three different
instruments, and when band is short
handed they are capable of filing near
Iy any place that is vacant. In the
summer many OF the players 60 to
watering places and obtain as good pay
As when employed in town; but the
large number have a dull timo of it.
Occasionally excursions and employ
ment at the parks and concert gardens
are about all that tho musicians find to
do.
Aside from the union must clans tn ere
are several hundred who get their liv-
ing by travelling tho streets in sidc-
walk bands and picking up any few odd
Jobs Of producing alleged music to un.
cultivated gatherings: This class of
players is composed almost entirely of
recently landed Germans and youthful
Italians. many musicians of all grades
of ability make their headquarters in
New York City, and accept engage
ments that take them to all parts of the
country.
The headquarters of the musicians
are located in Fourth street, east of tho
Bowery. Several Of tho larger So
cictics occupy substantial buildings,
while the others rent lodge rooms In
which they meet evenings. The whole
block is almost entirely monopolized by
the musicians and dealers in music aud
band supplies. Employers in search of
men to play in bands and orchestra, aud
for special entertain ments 60 to Fourth
street to secure musicians. The num-
Der Of men who gather in the steeet in
front OF tn, headquarters on pleasant
days is so great that the street 10
blocked. A stranger would think that
there was q fire or some unusual excite
ment that attracted the crowd, but it is
an everyday occurrence. The men are
making engagements and arranging for
work with leaders and agents who aeed
them. On stormy days the beer gardens
DO thriving business. as the G.rman
musicians, and other nation ali,ies as
well are great beer drinkers. Yet
they are steady set of men md are
seldom intoxicated.
In tho last few years women have
taken to playing in bands, and there
are several excellent female orchestras
now performing in different parts of the
country. They are paid less than the
male performers. llthou n tn y play