“Why can’t we, as residents of this city, have just ONE event for us? Isn’t that what French Quarter Festival started out to be?”
—Carol Jo Black, Algiers, Louisiana
Havana Jazz Festival
Great to see a review of the peerless Havana Jazz Festival in the March 2019 issue and the heads up about Cuban artists performing at Jazz Fest this year.
I know OffBeat is for Louisiana musicians, but Cuba is definitely family, at least as far as New Orleans is concerned.
—Ken McCarthy, Tivoli, New York
Marketing Music
The following letter is in response to Jan Ramsey’s blog post, “We Got a Good Thing” [March 2019] discussing developing a music industry to benefit both the French Quarter Festival and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.—Ed.
I disagree with your point that French Quarter Festival should be “marketed.” I agree that this wonderful event has gotten too big. Why can’t we, as residents of this city, have just ONE event for us? Isn’t that what French Quarter Festival started out to be?
—Carol Jo Black, Algiers, Louisiana
Mardi Gras
The following letters are in response to Jan Ramsey’s blog post, “Mardi Gras Mixed Emotions” [March 2019] indicating being bored with Mardi Gras—been there, done that.—Ed.
Mardi Gras doesn’t sound like my type of thing either. Visiting New Orleans is on my bucket list but, if and when I do go, it won’t be during Mardi Gras.
—Donald Collier Proctor, Vero Beach, Florida
As a relative newcomer to the madness or Mardi Gras (4th year here), we’ve always enjoyed the day and have done some pretty cool things that were on our bucket list. At 70 parades, it does tiresome and it’s a relief when Ash Wednesday rolls around. Given the cool conditions this year, we’ll probably wander down to hear some music from friends in the afternoon and enjoy the day(s) off!
—Thomas E. Perlic, New Orleans, Louisiana
Cover Charges
The following letter is in response to Jan Ramsey’s blog post, “Mandatory Music Surcharges Could Pay Musicians More” [February 2019] advocating nominal cover charges at venues on Frenchmen Street so that musicians could be better paid (in lieu of a percentage of the bar or a tip jar).—Ed.
I think it’s a wonderful idea. Naturally, and as you said, it would not be easy to get it through, unless you could recruit enough musicians to make their situation clear to enough people, market the hell out of the idea, and hope that it begins an un-ignorable groundswell.
—Bob (Dr. Bob) Shaffer, New Orleans, Louisiana
OMISSION
We failed to acknowledge everyone involved with our March 2019 cover photo of Boyfriend. They are: Piper Marie (makeup); Olivia Kessler (set decoration); Bambi DeVille (wardrobe). Glasses were by Krewe. We offer our sincere thank you to everyone.—Ed.
