The good musicians who have a long history. I consider these true bearers of the tradition, like those guys on Jackson Square. They’re carrying this torch that’s only being passed down on the street, their repertoires and approach to making music. They are keepers of the tradition. I respect them and they have really helped me … [Others] don’t represent the culture. There’s nothing uniquely ‘New Orleans’ about them. And I don’t respect their right to a place to play. Brian, Guitarist

Independent work

Independent work—defined as workers not affiliated with or contractually tied to a specific organization—is on the rise. Specifically, independent workers represent a large part of the “gig economy,” including accommodation hosts, rideshare drivers, and food deliverers. Differing from work inside organizations where employees can turn in to their organizations for knowledge and resources, independent workers have no such luxury. Instead, independent workers must actively seek out help and resources from external sources. Thus, while independent workers seek independence, they commonly conform in pursuit of cooperative relationships. We unpack this important tension through a field study of New Orleans Street Performers recently published in the Journal of Management Studies. 

Market Commonality and Resource Similarity

Given the nature of independent work, actors in this space often have a high degree of market commonality and resource similarity. Take, for instance, ride-share drivers and delivery services. They commonly compete in the same streets and offer a near identical experience to the customer. Theory suggests that workers in these areas should be highly competitive.

Yet, we found cooperation prevalent. Specifically, when performers played similar styles of music in similar locations, they shared instrumental knowledge, interchanged members, and even collaborated at gigs. We propose other independent work contexts are similar. That is, a common market and similar resources can facilitate cooperation among independent workers. We found that when independent workers perceived they were caretakers of a valued resource, namely a tradition, then they would cooperate to preserve and carry forward that tradition.

Tradition, a Common Resource

Tradition reflects elements of practice and belief that are passed down from generation to generation. Within our context, street performers saw tradition as a common resource that tied them together. Yet, not all street performers wanted to preserve this shared resource. We identified two mindsets surrounding this resource that fostered cooperation and competition: torchbearing and trailblazing. On the one hand, torchbearing is driven by the desire to keep the street performing tradition alive and involves passing knowledge, guidance, and inspiration to newcomers. In turn, torchbearing fosters cooperation as independent workers hold each other accountable for learning, respecting, and conforming to community norms. On the other hand, the trailblazing mindset encourages competition in hopes of standing out from the crowd and “adding a new verse.”

We propose that cooperation is likely to endure when independent workers believe they have a shared purpose. In practice, torchbearers are likely to serve as influential guides for action and promote cooperation while curbing competition. Therefore, rather than viewing something as “mine,” the torchbearing mindset prompts independent workers to view something as “ours.”

In short, we discover the powerful role tradition plays in fostering collective action and coopetition among independent workers.