What a gig! (as in, "will I survive this?")

[815C]

OK, last night's gig was one for the books. Probably the WORST gig of my life!

• Rooftop wedding reception
• Got there at 1:30 to set up my PA
• Did I say it was a rooftop? 4th floor - no elevator
• It was a zillion degrees on the rooftop - thought my gear might melt
• At 3:30 I was about to head home, shower, dress, and come back when my wife txt me to look at the radar
• 15 minutes later a storm blew in and annihilated the rooftop - blew over everything - did some damage to the railing - blew down the pergola over the dining table - knocked down all the hanging lights - looked like a war zone
• Fortunately I had brought two large tarps with me and I was able to cover my gear
• Moved the cocktail hour music indoors to the 1st floor - did I mention the stairs?
• Because we had to relocate to the 1st floor, I did not have time to go home, shower, and change. My wife brought me my clothes except when I later went to change in the bathroom I discovered the dress shirt and belt were my son's and there was no way they'd fit me. So I just wore a black t-shirt for the gig.
• During cocktail hour a crew rebuilt the rooftop
• Relocated to rooftop for dinner/dancing - did I mention the stairs?
• 30 seconds into the 1st song it starts raining again
• We relocate back to the 1st floor - did I mention the stairs
• It's now 8:30 and I get to take a break - I'm starving but the food is all gone
• At 10:15 we finally wrap it up and I load out
• The wedding planner left without even saying goodbye and "forgot" to pay me (she has since said she'll meet me today to give me the check)
• I get home at midnight

Each time we relocated, I had to make about 10 round trips to the rooftop to move my gear.

There was a film crew there from Netflix filming this whole thing for some show. I'm afraid if I show up on any of the video, I'm not going to be smiling.

So yeah, this gig was one for the books!

[rmp]

so did you have to use the stairs?

LOL!

that's crazy...

what we do for gigs aye?

[KevWind]

Wow just wow


Maybe you can talk Netflix into a new movie "StairMaster Music"

[Neil K Walk]

Wow. I have had a feeling that this pandemic would change the way we do things throughout our lives but this? SMH.

I suppose it takes a special breed to have to deal with “bridezillas” but this is a above and beyond. IMO. I never thought I’d ever have to suggest adding “hazard” pay to such a gig but in your case moving forward I’d be changing the boilerplate on my contracts.

[Mr. Jelly]

That's why entertaining is a job. Often it's more about getting to the stage than what you do on it.

[catdaddy]

Dang! I just canceled my Netflix subscription a couple of days ago.

BTW- Congrats on surviving!

[Earl49]

Originally Posted by Mr. Jelly

Often it's more about getting to the stage than what you do on it.

Now THAT is a nugget of truth there. And why I don't gig anymore....

Sorry about your day, 815C. We once played (acoustic guitar, voice, flute) on a glacier cruise in Prince William Sound, Alaska. They put us aft and all I could hear was the diesel engines of the boat. But at least the audience up forward could hear us perform. And the salmon dinner was yummy.

[rllink]

Good story and well told.

[jseth]

What a frickin' nightmare of a gig! Has to go down as one of the worst in the annals of Gigdom!!!

Everytime you had to relocate, I could feel your pain! Did you have to climb stairs? Ha!

Definitely elevates you in your "Gig Monster Status" quotient...

[Tahitijack]

GEEEEEEEZ

So the next time someone post about what a pain it was to load in and out down a 25 foot alley to play a two hour gig, I'm going to link to this post.

WOW.

[fazool]

I love music. I love playing music. Heck, that's why we are all "here" on AGF.

Stories like this reassure me that, even if I would have had the talent, I don't have the inclination to have a career in music. It's not all glory and adoration! It's often gritty hard work without enough appreciation.

[Earl49]

I tell people that the 90-120 minutes onstage are wonderful. But they don't see the hours of load-in, load-out, sound check and then putting everything back again at home late at night. Or setting up the show, getting paid, etc.... Not to mention 90 minutes of daily practice for a couple weeks before the show in order to be ready.

In self defense I eventually adopted the Fred Astaire attitude. He was quoted as saying, "The acting I do for free. But they have to pay me handsomely waiting around to hear "action" and "CUT"".

[Teleplucker]

Always get the final payment 30 days before the event, that is pretty standard in wedding industry. That allows plenty of time for the check to clear. I learned that the hard way.

[H165]

You said "Probably...."

Please tell us about the other gigs, so we can compare

[MikeBmusic]

I have 'no bid' on all the recent wedding/reception gigs that I've had requests for. Dealing with bridezillas or mother-in-law-zillas is not for me!
Hope you were well paid!