Friday, December 07, 2007

How Not To Scam Music From the Field Band Library

Technique 1, attempted Wednesday afternoon by a community band director: Call the Field Band, complain that every time you call the Field Band, the Field Band never sends you anything, explaining that thats why this time Im calling you. That is, the Field Band. Then ask for something that went out of print 20 years before the Field Band existed. Act disgusted when told it is not in the library.

Technique 2, attempted Friday morning by a high school band director: Demand, repeatedly, that the Field Band send you music the Field Band doesnt have. When directed to call a band 20 miles away with a library five times larger than that of the Field Band, explain that the Field Band should send the music (that the Field Band doesnt have) because were right down the street from you. When reminded that the Field Band still doesnt have this music, ask well, what DO you have?! Hang up.

Technique 3, attempted last month by a high school band director: Tell the Field Band to send you a copy of a score that you have on order from overseas, to cover you while its in transit. When the Field Band replies that this is fine, but due to previous abuse of this copyright loophole, you will need to send proof of the order, admit that you dont really have it on order at all, you just lost it. When the Field Band explains that the cover copies for music on order loophole only works when you actually have music on order, assert that you kind of have it on order. When asked again for proof, admit again that you dont have it on order at all.

Past techniques:

- point out that since the tune exists on a recording of the Marine Band, it must therefore be in the Field Band library.

- assert over and over that the tune is permanently out of print, even when a new edition has come out in the past six months.

- legally borrow a tune from the Field Band, then offer to sell the set on a listserv the Field Band reads.

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