I received a call from an agent a couple days ago, one that I hadn't hear from in four years. I didn't think she even knew I was still alive. She asked if I was interested in a regular gig at an Italian restaurant in Baltimore's Little Italy, to which I replied "OK, when?" It's a Sunday and Monday night job from 6 to 10, which works out just fine for my other scheduled jobs during the day. Ironically, the place has a concert grand piano, and when I told the owner I don't play a piano, he said that's fine because he was looking for a keyboard player that knew a lot of the older standards, Sinatra, Martin, etc.

Anyway, tomorrow's the big day for the audition, and beleive it or not, after all these years, I'm a bit nervous about it. When you're accustomed to just walking in, setting up in front of a crowd and jumping right into the thick of things, and you've been doing this for years, it doesn't bother you at all. This time, however, I'm just playing for the owner, a couple waiters and waitresses and the few customers that will still be there at 2:30 in the afternoon. Scary!

Here's where I'll be setting up. The keyboard will have to either go on top of the piano, or squeezed into the corner behind the piano. It's gonna' be tight.

It's gonna'a be a fun time in Charm City tomorrow (I hope),

Gary