Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-05
After Dark
Think Before You Give in
to That Urge to Lead a Band
N uannv xr.--rrv,-
BY HARRY MACARTHUR

people who introduce you to beauti-
full women are threatening to bash
your teeth the next minute fol
trying to fllch the filly.
When you become bandleadel
you also discover that you have
become an employer. Wondering
whether all the boys will show ur
on time, and if so in condition tx
blow into a horn without corrodins
it, is one of your minor worries
When you become an employer vol
become an agent of the Govern
ment, a SORT of bureau of vita,
statistics and Intermediary betwer
the musicians and Federal agencies
Every week I get a new form tc
fill out" Eric Correa was complain
ing the other evening in the May
flower Lounge . To-day got one
this long" He held his hands apart
in the manner of a fisherman talk
ing about the one that got away
Il swear I'm not exaggerating," he
said. ut was that long. I have
to fill out forms for social security
for unemployment insurance, for
Withholding taxes. Every time
look at my mail there's another
form the Government wants filled
out.
IF T had a big band" he said
at might be different. But for just
six guys making little noise, I
can't hire a bookkeeper. I never
knew when I started to study piano
that I'd have to become an account
ant too"
Mr.. Correa is glad, however, that
he studied piano instead of, say,
the bass viol. The orchestra closes
its local engagement this Saturday
night and opens in Dayton, Ohio,
Sunday night (The return en-
gagement, starting December Is, al
ready Is set. incidentally, in case
you're wondering how the May
flower Lounge feels about Eric
Correa) Anyhow, the Correa mu-
sicians will pack their instruments,
rush to a train Immediately after
closing Saturday night, arrive in
Dayton at 4:30 Sunday afternoon
II the train is on time, speed to
the Biltmore Hotel and set up for
a session of dinner music, starting
at 6 pm.
"Me?" says Mr.. Correa. "T play
the piano and I don't have to
worry about carrying an instru-
ment. I can ship the music In
ADVANCE never look at it. any,
way; just keep it there for effect
and take plane out Sunday.
That concert session at Sunday
dinner worries me little though ~
he went on. II haven't played
that stuff for years and you have
to stick right with something like
Chopin. The three hours I used
to practice are now taken up with
filling out forms for the Govern
ment."
The orchestra following Mr.. Cor
rea's at the Mayiower Lounge will
be that Of Michael Dunn, another
pianist, who also is a lyric bari
tone. He has a pretty wife, too
Her names Bonnie Boyd and she
sings with the band.
sEx ***
Most people who lose decision
to the night club business are
content to let it stay that way.
Sam Schanker, for instance, whose
Club. Cailo collapsed in his hands
during its second season, is re-
ported happily back at peddling
grocery stores. There are others,
though, who can't stay away from
the After Dark entertainment
trade. One Of these is AL Sim
who used to operate the
Brown Derby until a combination
Of circumstances put an end to
that. He next was reported hap
PLY at work in a dellicatessen,
briefly appeared at a place called
the Club Fifth-and-K, then re-
turned to the pastrami industry.
A pastrami sandwich will neither
sheer at your corniest jokes nor
laugh at your best ones, though, so
Mr.. Simmonds didn't stay happy
very long. He now reports ne is