I feel your pain, pal!

My contribution to this thread is a story about an agency gig that was dropped on me on the morning of the day of the event. Mind you, this was less than 3 months into me doing this full time, and if I only knew then what I know now, lol...Anyway, Agency out of Cbus calls...another guy got sick, could I drive to Columbus in time for an afternoon business party? Party started at 5:00pm, yes, I can make it. Got the directions and contact info. I went to my 1st gig that afternoon in Dayton, then headed straight to Cbus.

The description provided to me by the agency was, "very basic holiday party from 5-7...yes, they want vocals."

I arrive at the club, meet the contact exchange pleasantries and set up with time to spare. At 5:00pm I begin to play some Christmas songs...mixing a few non holiday jazz things in to break it up a bit...I notice that people are looking at me kinda funny, which I'm used to, but something was up and I didn't know quite what.

Finally, the contact strolls over to me and says "Bill, you're brilliantly talented and have a great voice, but didn't the talent agency tell you what group you'd be performing for?" I explain that I'd gotten the call at the last minute and things had been rather rushed to put this together. The she says, "Ok, you're performing for a jewish business association gathering. I suggest you stick to the non Christmas stuff, ok?"

I felt like a fool and appreciated the grace with which she handled it. She said she totally understood how things had been rushed and that no one was offended at all.

2 hours work, $300 plus a $50 tip and an annual stream of private parties from that night...(Non agency, of course, lol...)

Carry on!

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Bill in Dayton

[This message has been edited by Bill in Dayton (edited 12-12-2008).]

[This message has been edited by Bill in Dayton (edited 12-12-2008).]