For Weekend Warriors

pgolliher · #1 05-06-2011, 02:53 PM

I wanted to pass along something a guitar player said at a gig I shared with him. The guitar player is an executive at a large local company and while he is a very good player, he trys to keep his private life private. When playing gigs he always wears "over the top" western shirts. (cactus, cowgirls) etc, a decidedly different persona than this button up work shirts. One night, the two of us were sitting at the bar while the opening band was playing when two women walked up right behind him. They were obvioiusly intoxicated, and were yelling at the bartender for more drinks. I had the benefit of the perfect view of their faces when their boss, the guitar player turned around to say hello. They immediately tried to act sober and one of them tried her best to compliment his shirt with a straight face, to which he just laughed and explained that he was in the band. This completely shattered their image of him. When one of them exclaimed, "I cannot believe that you are in this band." he replied, "Well, I don't fish and I hardly ever golf-and when I do, no one ever claps." Hope you all have a great gig this weekend.

BookMDanelectro · #2 05-06-2011, 02:58 PM

Lucky for them, they didn't start talking shite about their boss! Great story tho'!

JSK5String · #3 05-06-2011, 03:06 PM

Nice! I've had a few of those moments myself. They can be quite funny if handled well...

MatticusMania · #4 05-06-2011, 04:06 PM

Seemed like a perfect moment for one of those ladies to try and get ahead at the office...

My name is Mudd · #5 05-06-2011, 09:53 PM

Nice!

littlepope · #6 05-06-2011, 10:15 PM

And what seems to be the problem? How does this affect the price of gas in America??

Downunderwonder · #7 05-08-2011, 11:17 AM

Impact on the price of fish is non-proportionate to ability to annoy someone with little sense of humour.

I thought it was an interesting gig anecdote with humourous tones. Bravo.

groove pump · #8 05-08-2011, 11:26 AM

Yep, I agree. For a minute or two there, you had the best seat in the house.

My name is Mudd · #9 05-08-2011, 12:46 PM

It'd be interesting to see what Monday back at work for all involved was like...

Stingray89 · #10 05-08-2011, 01:09 PM

I was at a show one time and ran into the vice president of the company I work for. She was trashed and since I am one of the lower minions she didn't know who I was. I guess this proves they are human too.

The Thinker · #11 05-11-2011, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgolliher

This completely shattered their image of him.

For this reason, nobody at my office or in my professional network knows I play out. And it's why I use a stage name.

I wouldn't mind people knowing, and have been tempted to tell a few people. But it's exactly the kind of thing you described that makes me keep it quiet. And the LAST thing I need it to get tagged with my real name on facebook getting flashed by some drunk groupie.

TWolf · #12 05-11-2011, 01:09 PM

People where I work don't know i play out because it's "not allowed". In their ultra-conservative viewpoint playing in a band at bars (gasp) doesn't present the proper professional image. If they ever found out, I guess I would have to quit (the job that is, not the band of course)

pklima · #13 05-11-2011, 01:25 PM

Ha, good story. Also, I applaud the guy's taste in shirts.

I work in IT, so there isn't much of a "professional image" problem. Playing in a band has been good for my image at work - makes people think I'm a little friendlier.

bassmonkeee · #14 05-11-2011, 01:29 PM

I pester my office mates to come see my band. It took 10 years to get my boss to finally come out--now that he has, he's always pestering me about when I'm playing, again.

To our credit, no one ever just comes out to see the band once.

Jazzdogg · #15 05-11-2011, 01:41 PM

Several years ago, I was on the other side of the fence. I had a co-worker who wasn't the least bit reluctant to talk about his exploits as a "professional musician."

One night my wife and I found ourselves at a club where his band was playing. He was such a mediocre musician that my wife was the first to comment. We couldn't get out of there fast enough - the last thing I wanted was for him to know I'd been there and ask me what I thought of his playing.

jaywa · #16 05-11-2011, 01:43 PM

I don't keep my gigs secret from my co-workers... in fact I plug them every chance I get. Heck, one of my co-workers even hired my (then) band to play her wedding.

I'm a good player in a good band, I don't have anyone reporting to me, and I never do anything on a gig that would embarrass myself or my company. So I've never seen the harm. I'm also fortunate to work for a company that has a disproportionately high percentage of gigging musicians in its ranks, including senior management.

PDGood · #17 05-11-2011, 01:50 PM

I've known bosses that were threatened by having employees in bands. The thinking seems to be that any day you might run off to go on tour. But that's a young man's game. I'm no threat.

TolerancEJ · #18 05-11-2011, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PDGood

I've known bosses that were threatened by having employees in bands. The thinking seems to be that any day you might run off to go on tour. But that's a young man's game. I'm no threat.

You got it. You never know one of us will be called away to do a 6-month series of clinics or master classes in Europe. lol

jaywa · #19 05-11-2011, 03:16 PM

I would think bosses would have a bigger problem with the idea of their employees coming in tired and hung over from a weekend of gigging. Or not coming in at all.

OTOH those same issues can apply to non-musician employees too.

Punk player21 · #20 05-11-2011, 09:00 PM

I've personally never had a problem with where I work and being in a band.. Intact my boss and wife came to see us play last weekend at a bar in Austin MN. Now we're just getting started as a group but have all been playing for 12+ years. Then again.. I got fired from my last job for being in a band.