Ever wonder why things take so long to happen in New Orleans? Here’s a little story for you: Back in 1987, I had a job with a local marketing consulting firm, but I was a total music freak, and I saw potential in the business of music that had never been developed or promoted.

I took on the development of the music industry as an avocation, first by putting together a music conference in 1987 and then by developing a company to market music. My altruistic avocation eventually turned into a full-time job and business: OffBeat, and its sister publication, The Louisiana Music Directory. Back then, there were no firms practicing entertainment law, few managers, no music commissions, no music conferences, no well-known booking agencies, no House of Blues or Howlin’ Wolf. There was little or no music coverage in the local weekly; the Times-Picayune’s music coverage consisted primarily of news wire stories (with no local staff music writer). There was no Jazz Studies Program at UNO. There was only one fanzine, Wavelength, that had any in-depth music coverage.

But there were then—and there are even more now—people who made great music; people who made a living making music, supporting music.

Being in the market research business, I thought surely there should be some information on the New Orleans and Louisiana music industry. I was astounded to find out that there was none! No one had even bothered to catalog the components of the music industry—maybe no one thought it was that important. Occasionally, musicians would get asked what needed to be done to improve their lot. There have been all sorts of attempts at that—probably hundreds of meetings to yap about what needs to be done. Unfortunately, those efforts have never been organized enough to come up with a conclusion—and a plan for action.

Well, times have changed. We’ve got beaucoup entertainment attorneys (ask any lawyer, they’ll tell you they practice “music law”—it’s almost trendy now!). We’ve got a lot more music coverage in the local media, which my ego likes to think that OffBeat has improved and led the way for. We’ve got music commissions; we’ve got great new c1ubs, organized marketing by the city and state to exploit the tourism potential of music, and managers. But we still don’t have good solid information from the musicians to measure the strength of the music industry and to determine what their needs really are.

We’ve got a chance to get it now. If you’re a musician, and you were listed in the Louisiana Music Directory—the “LMD” (which was mailed to over 3,300 musicians throughout the state in late September), there’s a survey inside which you should complete and return. If you care about what happens to the Louisiana music industry—that’s your business—then please take a few minutes to fill out the survey and return it to Loyola University Music Business Program. The address is on the survey and the postage is paid—all it takes is a few minutes of your time. Loyola, in conjunction with OffBeat Publications, has devised the survey to try to determine the needs of Louisiana musicians. The results will be compiled and analyzed to produce a report that’ll give us some future direction. The Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism is also sponsoring this endeavor.

If you’re a musician and you weren’t listed in this year’s LMD, call us first to get listed (it’s free), and we’ll send you a survey right away. The deadline for returning the survey was October 31, 1997, but we’re extending it to make sure we get all the information we need to prepare an analysis and recommendations.

If you complete and return the survey, you’ll get (free) a copy of the study and recommendations, as well as a discount coupon to the next LMNOP Music Conference, to be held in April 1998.

LMNOP is organizing two workshops in its ongoing series of “LMNOPrograms” in November. On Monday, November 3 from 6:30-8:30 p.m., the Memphis chapter of NARAS presents the “Studio Magic Workshop: Secrets from Paisley Park.” The workshop features a “lecture/demonstration of proven hit-making recording techniques” featuring Paul and Ricky Peterson, whose credits include The Artist (FKA Prince), David Sanborn, The Time, the Steve Miller Band and many more. The workshop will take place at the American Sector Recording Studio, at 333 St. Charles Avenue, third floor. Admission is free. Call Scott Aiges at 822-5667 for more info.

Then, on Saturday, November 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., LMNOP presents “Roadcrew,” hands-on training for every aspect of tour management: tour accounting and advancing; merchandising; guitar, drum and keyboard tech; sound reinforcement; lighting and much, much more. Registration fees are $50 in advance and $75 at the door. The workshop will be held at the House of Blues, 225 Decatur Street. Call 512-236-8742 for more info or email [email protected]. Sounds like the more training we have, the better it can be. Same for market research. Keep them surveys comin’ in!

Louisiana Jukebox

Look for these Louisiana artists during the upcoming weeks on Louisiana Jukebox: November 6: The New Orleans Klezmer All- Stars, All That and Crescendo; November 13: Trash Band and Sweet Pea’s Revenge; November 20: Bill Cisco & the Drifters, Earl Turbington and Mike West & Myshkin; December 4: Zachary Richard; and on December 11: A Holiday Blues Explosion (guests to be announced). Louisiana Jukebox can be seen live on Cox Metro 10 on Thursdays at 10:30 p.m. in Orleans, Jefferson and St. Charles Parishes

Johnny Adams Benefit Found Established

We received sad news as we went to press: Johnny Adams has been diagnosed with cancer. One of the greatest singers in American music, Adams recently had his kidney removed, but the cancer has spread to other parts of his body. His health insurance will only cover part of his medical bills, and his friends and peers are rallying to his aid. Producer Scott Billington has established a fund to defray Adams’ hospital costs, and we urge all the people who have been touched by Adams’ music to contribute. A benefit concert is being planned, but you can help immediately by sending donations to: The Johnny Adams Benefit Fund, c/o The John Hancock Bank, P.O. Box 591, Baton Rouge, LA 70821. The account number -which is crucial and must be included on all contributions – is 9188898. Our thoughts and prayers are with Johnny.