A truely captive audience

Chasarms · #1 01-09-2007, 08:27 AM

I did a private party gig not too long ago, and something happened that I just had to share.

So, we are doing this little party gig at one of those huge west-county homes. It was nice. We were in a decent-sized corner and the floors were hardwood. I had pretty decent unamplified sound going and all was welll -- that is, until we actually started playing.

We picked up playing when the crowds picked up and it was a nightmare. The giant house got REALLY small once you crammed what was at least 100 people in there. It hit about 90 degrees in there for sure. People were wondering by within a foot or two of us, some drunk and staggering. It was almost impossible to play. I even had a glass of wine spilled on me and my bass. Fortunately is was a young, drunk chick and true to form, she was drinking white.

The worst part was that NO ONE was listening. We were wallpaper. So, being me, I try to focus on the positive, and fortunately I was able to notice one lady sitting across the room focused on us. Occasionally, someone would walk by and speak to her. But, for the most part this lady stayed focused on us and never left her seat. I was happy. I was delighted that there was at least one person there was intent on enjoying our auditory offerings and found us the best part of the party.

Then, about 40 minutes into the set, a man comes by us pushing a wheelchair. He crosses the room, places the lady in the chair and away they go.

Man, what a night. Decent tip though. You win some, you lose some.

christ andronis · #2 01-09-2007, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasarms

I did a private party gig not too long ago, and something happened that I just had to share.

So, we are doing this little party gig at one of those huge west-county homes. It was nice. We were in a decent-sized corner and the floors were hardwood. I had pretty decent unamplified sound going and all was welll -- that is, until we actually started playing.

We picked up playing when the crowds picked up and it was a nightmare. The giant house got REALLY small once you crammed what was at least 100 people in there. It hit about 90 degrees in there for sure. People were wondering by within a foot or two of us, some drunk and staggering. It was almost impossible to play. I even had a glass of wine spilled on me and my bass. Fortunately is was a young, drunk chick and true to form, she was drinking white.

The worst part was that NO ONE was listening. We were wallpaper. So, being me, I try to focus on the positive, and fortunately I was able to notice one lady sitting across the room focused on us. Occasionally, someone would walk by and speak to her. But, for the most part this lady stayed focused on us and never left her seat. I was happy. I was delighted that there was at least one person there was intent on enjoying our auditory offerings and found us the best part of the party.

Then, about 40 minutes into the set, a man comes by us pushing a wheelchair. He crosses the room, places the lady in the chair and away they go.

Man, what a night. Decent tip though. You win some, you lose some.

What is it about St. Louis? Sounds like the place I played down there. Same scenario, private party, nice mansion (the name Brach, as in the candy company, comes to mind. Do they have a mansion or something they rent out down there? In any case, no one listening, cramped quarters, drunk people stumbling into you and of course no one listening or so we thought. Seems that in the corner a guy who owned a bar had been listening to us and decided we'd be perfect for his little bar somewhere near Granite City. Unfortunately, he couldn't pay enough to get me to come to west-central Illinois for a gig so a friend of mine did it. Turns out it was a little like the Blues Brothers movie and the crowd was expecting the Good Old Boys to be playing their favorite country hits. Man am I glad I didn't do that gig. As my friends tell it, it was a pretty surly bunch of patrons at the bar that night.