I played a new restaurant last night, and I knew from the start of the second set that it was not going to be a great "fit" for me. I knew this because the club owner came up to me and told me what the room needed. Now, it's HIS place, and he can make the call he wants, but from my viewpoint, the stuff he wanted was not right for the crowd I had. We spoke for a minute or two, and I added a healthy dose of his requests ... which I would have done ANYWAY, but in a different order and pacing and he left a happy camper. I was invited back and I got paid. I also got numerous requests from the bartender and the customers for all the stuff he DIDN'T want. I was tipped, they danced and we all had a pretty good night overall.

Why the post, then? I HATED the gig. OK - I even said GIG.
It was all work - no fun using someone else's setlist - hell - I don't use MY OWN setlist! My point is that I knew the job was not a good fit for me, and so I graciously declined to return. I passed up a vertical Wednesday for what could have been 6 months of work, and I feel good about the decision. Even when music was my 100% income, I tried to only work where I was happy - life's too short to be miserable at work ... especially in the arts! So - my advice to you all is something I heard on M*A*S*H once, and I never really understood ... but it sounds wise:
"My friends, take my advise ..... roll down your pants, and slide on the ice!"
(Sydney Freedman - psych. Dr)

I hope I never have to work just for the money. What a miserable old sot I'd be.
So ..... would YOU do what I did, or would you conform to something you knew in your heart was wrong ... just for the steady paycheck?
Things that make you go .... hmmmmmmmm.....

(I bet TOP never plays songs that stuffy club owners tell them to!!)

Sayyyyy - where's the caption for the picture? Doesn't it show up?

What does the picture have to do with the story?..

I say you got paid....no prob just move on there are lots of other "GIGS".. that said, ....I hate bar/restaurant gigs and after 25 years of doing them with the band off and on because my private jobs always prevailed as a OMB I have been lucky to never play them, ( maybe a few times for fill ins, etc, MY CHOICE, I've turned down numerous request to do them also in my area, YUK.... long hours for not much pay, drunks, and aggravation as you explained, that alone turns me off. Dave I'm sure you'll be OK with many more "GIGS" coming up all summer,......
plus now you get more time in the pool too

good luck

Donny,

Dave could go and play golf with DonM, and at night target golf!

He might meet a doll or two!

Dave play golf?..... Oh My !!

I hate "work"...that's why I became a "player".




I have never "worked" a day in my life. I am lazy.

Now don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with hard work and long hours per se...and, if you don't mind relinquishing your health, your family life, the rest of your life, your spiritual evolution, and, you are willing to settle for a prosaic achievement .

Virtue is the proper use of energy. Your individual freedom is your highest priority. You are only free the moment you decide to be free and you can change your life in the blink of an eye.

We're "spiritual" beings born into a "carnal" world in order to cleanse our eternal soul. To spend such a precious slice of existence in this dimension working hard and stressing out, is a foolish waste of time and energy.

Be lazy, become a musician (or whatever you love to do) and enjoy it...you'll live longer and pay less taxes.


Ian

Pardon my ignorance but who is pictured with the mega-rig ?

Bernie

Hi Bernie,

That is me.

Taken at a gig many years ago...mid 70's I think.

Ian

Hi Dave,
I have come to the same conclusion and even with only my "senior gigs" I book only those places with a really feel good atmosphere. I have over 70 places I book and a few of them have turned into "jobs" because of management changes. What makes me return to a few of those "jobs" is at every one of them there will always be a few of the residents who live for the entertainers who arrive.

Deane

Been there, done that Dave...

You won't miss it whatsoever...

I stopped taking those piano bar venue gigs soon after first discovering the arranger (late 90's).
With my arranger shows, I can call all my own shots, and w/o the whiskey and late night hours.
I still work hard, but I "love" what I'm doing.

I know a couple guys, and gals, that absolutely love working the clubs, bars and restaurants. Having been there and done that I would never, never go back. Sure, I fill in for friends when they're sick, but the pay is lousy, I don't like getting home at 2 a.m., I don't like having to baby-sit drunks, and I sure don't want an owner telling me what songs to play. I'll stick with the NH jobs--better hours, better pay, and the residents and staff are usually top-notch. I think Dave loves those jobs because of all the redheads that hit on him.

Cheers,

Gary

Deane, it takes special kind of entertainer to do NH and senior type gigs. My hat goes off to those of you who do.

Ian

Well said Ian.
One man's work is another's play, and I too have chosen the latter.

Scott, we are so lucky to have such a great way of making a living.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCIUf8eYPqA

I love above tune...it says it all for us "working" musicians.

Ian