El Gato
RM - Is there any room for compromise, or are these demands written in stone?
GATO - Mi amigo, por favor! I do not wish to argue or cast dishonor on offer. The band is honored to be considered. We have needs for us to work together, not demands. We can only say what benefits us, and hope it is possible to reach agreement.
RM- It is obvious that we are much interested in having you as one of our artists.
GATO- Maybe we need to think not of 'doing favors'. You are not doing us favor by hiring us, and same is true other way around. No favors! Is business after all. We have no ambition to record. Be happy to stay the way the band operates now. But I worry about artists making money. If you give good contract, we become under your guidance, not control. We will do same for you, we all make money. ¿Si?
RM - I feel like you're holding me and my company hostage! We come here with recommendations from one of our other artists to offer you a recording contract, not to discuss 'doing favors'!
GATO- Exactamente, amigo! Let us draw it up right now! Delfina also has contract knowledge, eh, Delphina?
DELFINA - That is correct. What do you say, señor Monzina? Shall we proceed to make each other happy and make Buenos Aires' best Tango band artists for your label?
[Editor's note: We noticed in the transcript that Ricardo seemed to respond immediately in the positive, and they started negotiating. After we talked to him, he admitted he took a time out to calm himself down. He felt like he had been strong-armed into making a decision. But he realized that he had been over-confident in his ability to get them to sign a standard contract like all of our artists have done. He had already given his opinion about the band, and El Gato knew Ricardo was impressed and would meet his demands. The man with the spitting voice, ragged clothes on stage, and predilection for Fernet con Coca was anything but just a musician, but a crafty businessman as well. He admitted to sitting in another room and pouting for about an hour until he swallowed his pride, controlled his ego, and went back to finalize the deal!]
RM - Big And Tall Records agrees with your novel idea for using a 5-song album as your debut. How long before you can tell us what the songs will be?
GATO- First song is Beso de Luna, second is Sé fiel a mí, third song is Vuelvle el Patio, sung by Delfina, fourth song is Baila Conmigo, final song is Camaleón Fernet sung by me. Album whole be just under 20 minutos.
RM- Wait- that's only one song by you! What about the other song you sang last night, Yo Canto el Tango? We need two out of the five songs to be sung by you at least, if not more!
GATO- No! Uno is enough! We are all equals of the band! I'm not star!
RM- But you are the one with the name recognition in the Tango world. El Gato is a fantastic name!
GATO- All band member have names...
RM- We really would like you to sing Yo Canto el Tango on the album as well.
DELFINA - Gato, it is a muy bueno song, my love. Perfect one to introduce you and the band to our new audiences. We will have plenty of opportunities for all our band members to be heard. We will record many quality songs for Big And Tall Records!
GATO- Si Delfina lo dice, ¡así debe ser! Two songs it is!
RM- As for us covering all expenses but offering no money up front for the band, I've thought it over. We appreciate the offer to try and convince us that there will be no undue chances taken with the band. We offer the standard two release contract to all potential artists, and there have been those that disappeared after their two releases, even a few that never made their commitment to a second release. B ut you've convinced us. No need to waive the upfront fee to the band.
GATO- No! I must insist! No sell, you owe nothing!
RM - Really, it isn't necessary...
DELFINA - But it is! El Gato knows what will happen. It is not ego, it is not bluster. It is an honest assessment of what the band is worth, and what they can earn for themselves and the company by composing and performing their songs. We must insist!
RM - I must say, this isn't the usual thing we haggle over in a contract negotiation. But we agreed, as you wish.
GATO - How soon before you have papers to sign?
RM - I contacted our home office, and in the event that we came to agreement they're looking for a local attorney that can draw up the papers. Give me any more particulars you want in the contract, I will get it to the attorney the company hires, we'll put a rush on it, and hopefully in two days we'll have something to go over.
GATO- No! Not go over! Sign! We go over now!
DELFINA - Of course we'll have to get our attorney to check it all out as well for any errors.
GATO - For sure, you have in contract I can have my Fernet con Coca in studio. It helps loosen my throat.
[End of interview. Next-profiles of the band members, another report written by Ricardo with the help of Delfina.]
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