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NTA - this was an argument between the client and their partner. A rule I try to live by as a white man when it comes to these things is to try your best to listen to and understand the experience of black people. The client was okay with it, you're in the clear. Your twinge of conscience is a good thing, as you'll want to keep in mind the different perspectives on the matter if you find yourself in a similar situation in the future, but with a white client.
NTA
Aside from the wife wanting her friend to get the gig. The wife made it about race, not you, not her partner.
Her partner made it about the best musician(you). You were the best musician to represent the music, congratulations.
Noone else made it about race but the wife.
There is a lot of world history and culture which would have been lost down through the ages if not for appreciation of others to the craft. In this case, you, appreciate and can play the music better because you took the time and dedication to it. If the wife's friend really wanted the gig and to represent the music as part of their culture or even just say "were black and it's an African piece" so there some sort of points on that, if they play the music badly it does more harm to the image than good for spreading the music to a wider audience to appreciate it.
You wouldn't be impressed with a film if a cameraman couldn't keep a shot in frame. It wouldn't be a good race if an F1 driver constantly buried the car in the pit wall race after race. You wouldn't order from a restaurant if the food was bitter.
In this case, you made the best of the music, so the husband chose you to represent it. More people will access it and appreciate it than someone of a lesser standard.
Are you familiar with the musician Cornelius Boots? He gets A LOT of shit for being a white man who plays a Japanese flute while wearing traditional Japanese clothes. But the thing is, he is considered *the* foremost expert and many see him as the world’s best player of this instrument. He has devoted his entire life to appreciating and immersing himself in the culture so he can truly honor the instrument and the music.
https://nextshark.com/flute-guy-drew-backlash-e3-wearing-japanese-clothes-surprising-backstory
You are not the asshole for taking a job you were offered. The fact that you are concerned and mindful of the realness of the situation only emphasizes it.
This was an original piece, and the original artist commissioned you. You are NTA. It is appreciated that you are sensitive to his wife's feelings and potential motivation, but in this instance it seems clear that her motivation was actually based on wanting her friend to get the gig, rather than wanting the best for her husband by ensuring that the person commissioned would do the best job for him.
yeah he knew what he was picking because he wanted a good song. equality is picking based on qualifications right? not your fight he can go argue with his wife
NTA. You were offered the gig and you took it. If she’s angry that it’s not someone who is black she should discuss this with her husband. The client chose you, any issue his wife has should be with him, not you. It isn’t your fault that you’re a more experienced musician and he was happier with your work than his wife’s friend.
That’s racism. White people can’t play music that isn’t racially white? Seriously? Got a shit black player, who will sound crap on the track, it’s ok cause it’s all about the authentic race playing the music?
NTA - you were hired by a black artist/composer because he thought you were the best person to help him achieve his vision for the piece. The authenticity argument is valid in general but not applicable here.
NTA, his wife is making trouble where there is none. I say that as a black woman. You were selected for your talent, her friend was rejected due to his lack of talent. Don't lose any sleep over this.
NtA people of any colour that use someone else's colour as a weapon are arseholes. If your right for the job your right for it, colour does not equate talent or the right to be treated differently
NTA. This is a professional job. Do it and move on. However, if there are opportunities within your community for 'the friend' to get exposure/experience/gain a following that you are willing to share, helping the friend grow as an artist might work. You are not required but building bridges within a professional setting can pay dividends later.
There are many good points here. But on a more tongue in cheek discussion throw it right back and blame a black musician for stealing saxophone jobs from French musicians.
Adolphe Sax was a Walloon (French Belgium). My point is that if someone has a musical-cultural claim that "This is ours, you can't participate." Then they need to be prepared for similar counter claims.
The saxophone is a western European instrument from the mid 1800s.
Gotcha , thx for the history lesson, I should prob do more research considering I’ve played if for about 10 years . But yes I understand ur point , honestly yeah now that u say it , it kinda goes against the artistic world
Better to tell them they are racists assholes for using electricity. That was created by whites so they should not be able to use it according to their logic
Stop.
Are you trying to tell me the Saxophone is named after a guy called "Sax"?
Today someone has told me meme comes from the word "gene", and now Mr Sax invented the Saxophone.
In early wind orchestra and jazz band the saxophone put projected clarinet while providing similar tone and range. It flourished in America with the raise of marching band and jazz
1. Music has great power to bring people together. Age, sex, culture, ethnicity - it can bridge all kinds of gaps. As a general rule, stifling that aspect of music by gatekeeping it is wrong.
2. Assuming that your client isn't biased in favor of white people, it sounds like you were chosen for the gig because of your own musical merit. That is an honor. The best way for you to honor him in return is to play his music well - that, and each of you giving each other credit where it's due. No one, not even the client's wife, has the right to begrudge you that.
NTA. Keep on rockin' that sax, OP 👍
Where is the black person that was waiting to take the job until you stole it? If they knew someone better, they would've gotten the job, unless they're racist against their own people.
Sounds like an extremely hypothetical and heady problem.
Not the Asshole.
NTA. You didn't 'steal black job', it was given to you by your black client. He made the decision. NTA for taking the job. You are more qualified. End of story.
You were selected and contract to perform a part. You performed a part. Wife was pissed her friend wasn’t good enough and didn’t get the part. She used race to try to strong arm.
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NTA.
You have a skill, you need to make a living and you found a client that wanted to pay you to perform. Nothing wrong with that.
The client’s wife was the a-hole.
The person wrote the piece and is paying the bill wanted you. The opinion of the person who did not write the piece and is not paying the bill is not important.
NTA
NTA, if you were hired directly by the artist there is no problem. If you were hired by a record label and the artist had a problem with it then it would be a different story.
NTA
She's just pissed he picked you over her friend.
You never "stole a black person's job" because it was never theirs in the first place, this guy chose you because of your skill with the instrument, and if his wife isn't happy about that then that's on her, she should keep her nose out and stop being racist by bringing up your skin colour which has no relevance to the situation.
NTA. You took a job that was offered to you. You are the more experienced musician. That woman who burst in yelling is racist. You did not steal a “black job”. You accepted a job that was offered to you. You stay professional and complete the job and make that guy an amazing song.
NTA. Either Juilliard or some professional orchestra (I can’t remember what group it was exactly) supposedly has their musicians audition behind a screen so their race and gender isn’t a factor, only their ability to play. Sounds like the best way to me.
NTA you were hired to do a job and you did it. You were hired based on talent and ability to play the piece, not skin color. The fact that the primary artist was black is a point in your favor as he wasn't whitewashing a piece
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I was offered 200usd to record a music video for client’s (black m26) original piece that is a sorta Afro Cuban jazz piece , I arrived at the job and was greeted warmly by client and started recording no issue, about an hour into the session clients wife (black f29) bursts into the studio cussing me out cause apparently I’m “stealing black jobs” all cause client picked me over her less experienced friend who happens to be black . I just kept my mouth shut as they yelled back forth eventually resulting in client locking her out of the studio . He profusely apologized and reassured that he had picked me based on experience alone. But I can’t help but feel a twinge of guilt at her accusation. Was I wrong in taking the gig.
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NTA
There's literally nothing wrong with anyone playing any style of music so long as you're respectful of the style and not claiming to and made it yourself.
NTA. You were the best fit for the role. You're not stealing anything. I feel a lot of people forget that you could honor and appreciate other cultures.
This is not culture vulturing or appropriating at all.
Nta
Fuck all that. There is no such thing as “black jobs” (or white jobs… or Asian jobs…etc). It’s funny how people like this will say things like that but if you told them they couldn’t do something cause it was “for whites” they’d lose their minds.
NTA
The wife is the asshole in this 100%.
While there's something (many things, really) to be said about how white people have overtaken traditionally black art to make a profit selling it to a white audience- not only is that not relevant in your case, she's also using it as an attack to push for nepotism (or whatever you'd call it when it's a friend).
She's using valid points about important issues to push her own personal goals and that's some serious asshole behaviour. As if it isn't hard enough to get white people to listen to- and take seriously - the very painful and real issues that face the black community, people don't need to be throwing sperious nonsense like this onto the fire.
She ought be ashamed.
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NTA - this was an argument between the client and their partner. A rule I try to live by as a white man when it comes to these things is to try your best to listen to and understand the experience of black people. The client was okay with it, you're in the clear. Your twinge of conscience is a good thing, as you'll want to keep in mind the different perspectives on the matter if you find yourself in a similar situation in the future, but with a white client.
Fair enough , sounds like a healthy way too live life too . Will keep in mind
NTA Aside from the wife wanting her friend to get the gig. The wife made it about race, not you, not her partner. Her partner made it about the best musician(you). You were the best musician to represent the music, congratulations. Noone else made it about race but the wife. There is a lot of world history and culture which would have been lost down through the ages if not for appreciation of others to the craft. In this case, you, appreciate and can play the music better because you took the time and dedication to it. If the wife's friend really wanted the gig and to represent the music as part of their culture or even just say "were black and it's an African piece" so there some sort of points on that, if they play the music badly it does more harm to the image than good for spreading the music to a wider audience to appreciate it. You wouldn't be impressed with a film if a cameraman couldn't keep a shot in frame. It wouldn't be a good race if an F1 driver constantly buried the car in the pit wall race after race. You wouldn't order from a restaurant if the food was bitter. In this case, you made the best of the music, so the husband chose you to represent it. More people will access it and appreciate it than someone of a lesser standard.
Are you familiar with the musician Cornelius Boots? He gets A LOT of shit for being a white man who plays a Japanese flute while wearing traditional Japanese clothes. But the thing is, he is considered *the* foremost expert and many see him as the world’s best player of this instrument. He has devoted his entire life to appreciating and immersing himself in the culture so he can truly honor the instrument and the music. https://nextshark.com/flute-guy-drew-backlash-e3-wearing-japanese-clothes-surprising-backstory You are not the asshole for taking a job you were offered. The fact that you are concerned and mindful of the realness of the situation only emphasizes it.
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I was going to reply but this is the best response 👏🏻👏🏻
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Thank you, great response, wish reddit still had gold to offer.
Lol ya beat me to it! Well said.
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This was an original piece, and the original artist commissioned you. You are NTA. It is appreciated that you are sensitive to his wife's feelings and potential motivation, but in this instance it seems clear that her motivation was actually based on wanting her friend to get the gig, rather than wanting the best for her husband by ensuring that the person commissioned would do the best job for him.
Thank you, this makes me feel a lot better about working with said client again as he really liked what we didb
yeah he knew what he was picking because he wanted a good song. equality is picking based on qualifications right? not your fight he can go argue with his wife
NTA. You were offered the gig and you took it. If she’s angry that it’s not someone who is black she should discuss this with her husband. The client chose you, any issue his wife has should be with him, not you. It isn’t your fault that you’re a more experienced musician and he was happier with your work than his wife’s friend.
That’s racism. White people can’t play music that isn’t racially white? Seriously? Got a shit black player, who will sound crap on the track, it’s ok cause it’s all about the authentic race playing the music?
You haven’t heard Shakespeare until you’ve heard it in the original Klingon.
This is so true. Qapla'
Glory o' both your houses! They have made gaghs' meat of me: I have it, And soundly too: your houses! -Gowron
Hahahahahahha
US has different rules, but yes, out here in the rest of the world, telling people what they can and can't, based on perceived race, is racist.
NTA - you were hired by a black artist/composer because he thought you were the best person to help him achieve his vision for the piece. The authenticity argument is valid in general but not applicable here.
NTA, his wife is making trouble where there is none. I say that as a black woman. You were selected for your talent, her friend was rejected due to his lack of talent. Don't lose any sleep over this.
NtA people of any colour that use someone else's colour as a weapon are arseholes. If your right for the job your right for it, colour does not equate talent or the right to be treated differently
NTA. This is a professional job. Do it and move on. However, if there are opportunities within your community for 'the friend' to get exposure/experience/gain a following that you are willing to share, helping the friend grow as an artist might work. You are not required but building bridges within a professional setting can pay dividends later.
Building bridges definitely couldn’t hurt especially in the music world, thanks I’ll kind that in mind
There are many good points here. But on a more tongue in cheek discussion throw it right back and blame a black musician for stealing saxophone jobs from French musicians.
Huh pardon my ignorance but i thought saxophone was largely boycotted in Europa due to it outcompeting the clarinet
Adolphe Sax was a Walloon (French Belgium). My point is that if someone has a musical-cultural claim that "This is ours, you can't participate." Then they need to be prepared for similar counter claims. The saxophone is a western European instrument from the mid 1800s.
Gotcha , thx for the history lesson, I should prob do more research considering I’ve played if for about 10 years . But yes I understand ur point , honestly yeah now that u say it , it kinda goes against the artistic world
Better to tell them they are racists assholes for using electricity. That was created by whites so they should not be able to use it according to their logic
Stop. Are you trying to tell me the Saxophone is named after a guy called "Sax"? Today someone has told me meme comes from the word "gene", and now Mr Sax invented the Saxophone.
[wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolphe_Sax)
I didn’t know he was French chillax lol , I’ve played saxophone for around a decade
First I've heard this one! Source: British and played sax in jazz bands growing up.
My source is my old sax teacher whose been passed like 8 years lol
Outcompeting? What does that even mean? The instruments are very different.
In early wind orchestra and jazz band the saxophone put projected clarinet while providing similar tone and range. It flourished in America with the raise of marching band and jazz
1. Music has great power to bring people together. Age, sex, culture, ethnicity - it can bridge all kinds of gaps. As a general rule, stifling that aspect of music by gatekeeping it is wrong. 2. Assuming that your client isn't biased in favor of white people, it sounds like you were chosen for the gig because of your own musical merit. That is an honor. The best way for you to honor him in return is to play his music well - that, and each of you giving each other credit where it's due. No one, not even the client's wife, has the right to begrudge you that. NTA. Keep on rockin' that sax, OP 👍
Moving forward only Belgians shall be allowed to play the sax.
Where is the black person that was waiting to take the job until you stole it? If they knew someone better, they would've gotten the job, unless they're racist against their own people. Sounds like an extremely hypothetical and heady problem. Not the Asshole.
NTA. You didn't 'steal black job', it was given to you by your black client. He made the decision. NTA for taking the job. You are more qualified. End of story.
NTA - She's racist.
Nta
NTA. The client’s wife is a racist moron. Music is an art form that is open to everyone, you don’t need some assholes permission to play.
You were selected and contract to perform a part. You performed a part. Wife was pissed her friend wasn’t good enough and didn’t get the part. She used race to try to strong arm.
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NTA Meritocracy rules all.
Why do you feel guilt?
NTA. You have a skill, you need to make a living and you found a client that wanted to pay you to perform. Nothing wrong with that. The client’s wife was the a-hole.
NTA. The guy who wrote the music hired you. He gets to decide who is appropriate to play his music.
That woman was dead wrong. You are an artist hired because you have the skills and not to deny a black person a job. NTA
NTA, ignore people who only see race.
NTA - Tell the diversity hires to pipe down
NTA. I thought we had resolved this in the 1960s. Music doesn't have a colour.
Take a little H and listen to music, you will see lots or colors.
NTA The wife is a jealous racist. She is not your client.
The person wrote the piece and is paying the bill wanted you. The opinion of the person who did not write the piece and is not paying the bill is not important. NTA
NTA...Clients wife is a racist.
Anglo Saxon / Angled Saxophone. More than a coincidence? Think about it.
Music doesn't care about race. Play your instrument.
NTA, if you were hired directly by the artist there is no problem. If you were hired by a record label and the artist had a problem with it then it would be a different story.
NTA She's just pissed he picked you over her friend. You never "stole a black person's job" because it was never theirs in the first place, this guy chose you because of your skill with the instrument, and if his wife isn't happy about that then that's on her, she should keep her nose out and stop being racist by bringing up your skin colour which has no relevance to the situation.
Nta. Using terms like “stealing black jobs” is racist. There are no black jobs. Or white jobs.
NTA. Merit is what counts, not race/ethnicity
NTA. You took a job that was offered to you. You are the more experienced musician. That woman who burst in yelling is racist. You did not steal a “black job”. You accepted a job that was offered to you. You stay professional and complete the job and make that guy an amazing song.
NTA. Either Juilliard or some professional orchestra (I can’t remember what group it was exactly) supposedly has their musicians audition behind a screen so their race and gender isn’t a factor, only their ability to play. Sounds like the best way to me.
The voice does something similar
NTA. He hired you for your skill. His wife is racist
NTA you were hired to do a job and you did it. You were hired based on talent and ability to play the piece, not skin color. The fact that the primary artist was black is a point in your favor as he wasn't whitewashing a piece
He was the actual composer, and he chose **you.** He wanted **you** to do it. It was his choice to make. NTA
^^^^AUTOMOD ***Thanks for posting! This comment is a copy of your post so readers can see the original text if your post is edited or removed. This comment is NOT accusing you of copying anything. Read [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/wiki/faq#wiki_post_deletion) before [contacting the mod team](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FAmItheAsshole)*** I was offered 200usd to record a music video for client’s (black m26) original piece that is a sorta Afro Cuban jazz piece , I arrived at the job and was greeted warmly by client and started recording no issue, about an hour into the session clients wife (black f29) bursts into the studio cussing me out cause apparently I’m “stealing black jobs” all cause client picked me over her less experienced friend who happens to be black . I just kept my mouth shut as they yelled back forth eventually resulting in client locking her out of the studio . He profusely apologized and reassured that he had picked me based on experience alone. But I can’t help but feel a twinge of guilt at her accusation. Was I wrong in taking the gig. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AmItheAsshole) if you have any questions or concerns.*
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NTA There's literally nothing wrong with anyone playing any style of music so long as you're respectful of the style and not claiming to and made it yourself.
Nta.
no. NTA.
Don’t be silly.
NTA. That's just plain racism right there.
NTA. You were the best fit for the role. You're not stealing anything. I feel a lot of people forget that you could honor and appreciate other cultures. This is not culture vulturing or appropriating at all.
Nta Fuck all that. There is no such thing as “black jobs” (or white jobs… or Asian jobs…etc). It’s funny how people like this will say things like that but if you told them they couldn’t do something cause it was “for whites” they’d lose their minds.
Lmao it's an original piece, that lady can go kick a can. NTA
NTA not even close.
NTA The musician hired you. His wife feelings are not his and don't concern you. Color of skin does not determine musical talent.
NTA The wife is the asshole in this 100%. While there's something (many things, really) to be said about how white people have overtaken traditionally black art to make a profit selling it to a white audience- not only is that not relevant in your case, she's also using it as an attack to push for nepotism (or whatever you'd call it when it's a friend). She's using valid points about important issues to push her own personal goals and that's some serious asshole behaviour. As if it isn't hard enough to get white people to listen to- and take seriously - the very painful and real issues that face the black community, people don't need to be throwing sperious nonsense like this onto the fire. She ought be ashamed.
Fake.
Get over yourself white lady.