$250,000 Per Hour- Makin Music for Money

[Goodman]

Today's Wall Street Journal reminds us that JB reportedly earned the above sum for a command performance for the Tyco tyrant Dennis Kozlowski.
I know this is old news but it's still interesting. Bubba told us back in 1974 that he was into Makin Music for Me not for Money. Obviously he went corporate a long time ago.
I don't begrudge JB the money, he earned it. The problem is that you can't pretend to be a good ole boy who is part of his audience when you make more in an hour than we do in many years. The country play don't work when your a multi- millionaire; or does it? Despite the fact that JB hasn't been anywhere near the level of his fans, the music , the fantasy work. It's different with other artists IMHO who don't even try to relate to their fans. Even that attempt to keep it real falters as the corporate money gets the best seats. I'm sorry, it ticks me off when I see the corporate aholes with the best seats who don't even know the songs. They are the VIPs why aren't the folks who post to BN and COBO and who buy every CD and try to go to a show every year?

[SchoonerWharf]

All good points, but its not unlike all entertainment anymore. Look at sports and see who gets the good seats and who gets to sit way up high. Us lowly loyalists don't pay the big bucks and are not as important. Jimmy is no exception.

I am with you, I never begrudge a guy making as much money as he can. Its just kind of sad that you can't make lots of money but remember who makes that possible.

[FFishstick]

Jimmy is missing out on a lot of great people. All his money can't buy what we all have, and share. Oh sure he provides the background music for our insanity, but while isolated backstage, he is forced to live vicariously through us, using his movie camera crew to record the action. Sure he is a nice guy, I've met him on occassion, and he has always been pleasant. Yet, he has to be nice, afterall, we are his meal ticket. So while he makes fortunes off of us, selling us tropical crap, and making background music for our party, he is missing that something special that we all have. Perhaps at one time, when he was poor, he could relate with the escapism that we all seek and enjoy. But IMHO his riches have taken him away from one of the greatests treasures, that being an honest to god connection with parrotheads. You guys are great!! Even if I do want to shoot a cat every now and then When Jimmy's music stops, we will still be here finding new ways to celebrate life the way only we know how to. Money can't buy that. We are rich in spirit. I can live with that. Just one man's humble opinion. Now bring on the damn Tequila.

[lookingat40]

I haven't agreed with many of your post...but WELL-SAID!!!!!!!!!

[ToesOnTheNose]

With what he has given me through his music, he deserves what he makes and hour. I'm just glad that his music is in the soundtrack of my life. If he makes $250,000 or $6.50 an hour, his music will always be with us and we should be thankful.

[Midnight Flyer]

If he makes $250,000 or $6.50 an hour, his music will always be with us and we should be thankful.

The problem is that you can't pretend to be a good ole boy who is part of his audience when you make more in an hour than we do in many years. The country play don't work when your a multi- millionaire; or does it?

I have to agree with TOTN and disagree with Goodman. It all comes down to what you cost/what you contributed. When it's all said and done, did you contribute more than you took? Goodman, you can be a "good ole boy..." and make enormous contributions to society, even when "you make more in an hour than we do in many years." I know Jimmy's and my income are comperable. The difference is, he has a public persona and I don't. If he dies tomorrow, many, many more will mourn than if I die tomorrow. Yet, I am sure we have equally, yet in different ways, made positive contributions to our world. Jimmy has contributed to the arts, specifically music. He has contributed to the metamorphisis, just as all artists do, of music as we know it today and in the future. I am thankful for that; vicariously, I have been a part of the change, as we all have, simply because I enjoy his work so much and buy his CD's, books, DVD's and go to his shows. Now, if he could just have the opportunity to enjoy my skills as a pilot as much as I enjoy his skills as a musician/entertainer, well.....

[Goodman]

A few follow ups to my post and your comments. First, as I must remind myself, Jimmy merely covered Makin Music for Money, he never took the pledge. Hey, whatever became of Alerx Harvey? JB did write- "I don't want the fame that brings confusion, where people recognize you on a plane. All I wants the quiet and the comfort that livin with My Lovely Lady brings".

I respect and admire JB, hell I been on the parade since 1977. He does do a lot of great work charity wise and he owes me/us no explanation- just good music & a good show. Yet somehow in spite of, or maybe because of his incredible success (left JJW, JP in the dust) I feel there's been somewhat of a sellout (not sellout crowds). Whether it's the VIP tents for corporate types, the full concession to Ticketmaster or I guess worst of all the difficulty challenging himself and his audience with a setlist that isn't mostly a rehash. Hell I don't know. I guess it all started with broken Fingers. Most recently it was him doing Margaritaville on Ellen. Geez! You'll tell me to get over it. I'm entering Buffett rehab. Gonna get rolfed. Just please remember I can match my Buffett bona fides with just about anybody out there who didn't enroll in 1977 so I've earned the right to b**** just a little. All that said I'll be at Jones Beach come hell or Hot Water. When the lights come on and I see the CRB and JB comes on- the magic will begin.

[IsleReef]

Look at all the nice toys we have all chipped in as a whole and bought him............... I think I have personally fueled up the sea plane a few times over the years................

[jbphan1]

Midnight Flyer

Do you really make 250,000 an hour? Do you work a 40 hour week? Are you married? Hey---I'm VERY interested. I'm a woman, but hell if you are too, I could make adjustments! With that money we could hire Buffett for our wedding!

[land_shark3]

I'm sorry, it ticks me off when I see the corporate aholes with the best seats who don't even know the songs. They are the VIPs why aren't the folks who post to BN and COBO and who buy every CD and try to go to a show every year?

Yeah, I hate all those people on the front row at Vegas.

[doxadive]

i agree JB makes a lot of money and his ticket prices put me out of the game, but then again how many people show up at a convention and play for free for his fans. how many people pull a guitar out at a bar in the tropics and play for free for 10 people, how many show up occasionally at his restaurants and play for an hour to who ever happens to be in there at the time. he may take the corporate money, but he still knows where the money came from. hell he built his studio in the heart of key west. he knows his roots better than just about anyone.