The Musician Tariff


Listening to Heather Bambrick on Jazz.fm this morning I learned that the time to process a visa application for performers has doubled and that to get an expedited visa now costs $2,800, limiting the ability of musicians to schedule tours in the US.

I have such a hard time even finding a jazz club, learning that now we can’t even get musicians just makes me even sadder.

erik_squires

Showing 1 response by gdaddy1

Has nothing to do with the cost of a visa and even if it were, we have plenty of great home grown musicians. The lack of Jazz clubs is due to a lack of interest and profitability.

At 'Seasons 52'  a restaraunt nearby there was a live piano player in the middle of the circular bar. It was fantastic to sit and have a cocktail and listen to live music. One day I walked in and the piano had been replaced with a new lighted display of their liqueur collection. Grey Goose sitting on top.

I got the manager and asked why did you do this? He said "we are highlighting the product we sell. We don't sell music we sell liqueur."

It wasn't about the cost of the piano player who was paid mostly by tips. It was about maximizing profit. The bar is now filled with a different crowd. Younger, affluent group starring at their cell phones. Trying to impress each other buying the most expensive on display. They couldn't care less about live music.

This is the problem, not the cost of a visa.