Why it's always good to be early...

[FugaziBomb]

Typing an address into GPS has failed me twice, as well. Once for a wedding, it sent me to the next town over on the same road, even tho the address didn't exist in that town. No, instead it directed me between two lots, where numerically the address would hypothetically be.

The second time was a similar case, tho both addresses were venues and I dragged the poor staff into my confusion with me when I arrived. Very important to enter THE CITY when plugging in an address

 

[TigerInATrance]

Wow... Delran??? Good on you for giving yourself that much extra time. Even still, that drive from Pt Pleasant to the other side of the state is an abysmal trek across Piney nothingness. Good thing you didn't run into the Devil out there!

 

[Slough Feg Bass]

This is why I still carry AAA paper road maps when I tour. People make fun of me when I am unfolding my maps and stuff, but when the GPS drops out, it's always, "Hey man, which way do we go now??"
Any time I do a new venue more than 45 min away, I will generally map it out ahead of time and get the same info to all band guys, then try and carpool, so if we get lost, at least we get lost together.

 

[Dr. Love]

I haven't gone to the wrong place (yet) because I normally map it out in advance if I've never been there, but I did miss a turnoff on the way home from an out of town gig once. Not a fun feeling to suddenly be aware of the fact that you are in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night and have no clue where you are. Thankfully, I only added about two hours to the trip with my little detour.

 

[Hahaha]

GPS has led me to the wrong place twice. In one case it simply didn't give the correct directions, in the other case there were two locations with the same address. When I called the venue, they laughed and said everyone goes to the wrong place. They knew exactly where I was and gave me detailed directions on how to get from the wrong correct address to the correct correct address. Don't ask me why two distinctly different locations would have the exact same address, I have no idea. It was on an island.

Given a choice between boredom and panic, I'll choose boredom. I always give myself an extra hour. I would rather be sitting in a parking lot watching the crows than be sitting behind endless brake lights watching my dashboard clock.

 

[Milo Spleen]

Wise is the bass player who allows time for earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, traffic, road closures, bad directions, and getting lost. Early is the bass player who experiences none of these.

My wise guitar player and friend referred to this as the "flat tire factor" and this serves me well 40 years later.

 

[Mugre]

Can anyone make my 19 year old understand how much this matters?

 

[Milo Spleen]

Can anyone make my 19 year old understand how much this matters?

Trying to get them to understand doesn't always work, however failure always does.

 

[rtslinger]

had something like this happen, but I typed in the address which takes you to a firehouse,

but I was doing a private party at a persons house
but it is here bottom of picture highlighted not even close

 

[MegaSwing]

I had a similar thing happen last summer, but with a twist: Same boating community, two different entrances about 20 minutes apart. This time, those who were running behind got the word and were able to adjust course—and got there first.

 

[marmadaddy]

Good save, Joe

Specifics I've learned to ask for:
1- The venue address, not just the name. Which Hilton Hotel?
2- Song lists need to include artist name and key. "Best of My Love" by the Eagles or The Emotions? "One" by Metallica or U2?
3- Does "formal attire" mean tux or jacket and tie or just black shirt and pants?

 

[electracoyote]

So I have a wedding to play yesterday. The venue is Clarks Landing Yacht Club. I type it into WAZE and head out leaving myself the standard extra hour and change that I do for long drives. 2 Hour drive. I arrive. Parking lot is empty. Hmmm.... I don't see my band truck. I see the venue, it's a catering hall, but it's empty. Not a soul to be seen. I panic for a second, but realize sometimes these places have multiple areas to have receptions. Nothing doing. I double check the venue name on my itinerary. I'm definitely in the right place. Double check the date. Call my wife to make sure I'm not having some sort of senior moment (I've had lots on my mind lately). Everything seems to be in order. We're still in October, it's not September or November. I'm in the twilight zone now... figuring there's an excellent chance I'm about to ruin somebody's wedding and get my band awfully mad at me. I Google Clarks Landing Yacht Club and lo and behold...

there are two of them in NJ.

50 miles away from each other.



Always type the address into your navigator, boys and girls. And always be early! I made it just in time to get 5 minutes worth of food at the cocktail hour, and not miss a beat.

That's my bass humor & gig story for the day, but I ain't laughing just yet. Maybe by lunchtime.

Cool story. I've had these moments many times. Smart move giving yourself extra time.

Word to the wise: Give yourself plenty of time, plan on arriving ridiculously early. I actually use that as a selling point with my clients, especially upscale deep pockets stuff like weddings and corporate events. The future is uncertain (and the end is always near), so proceed accordingly.

I'd rather get set up and have an extra hour on my hands to relax and assess the lay of the land than be rushed into downbeat and risk being late. Every audience deserves this consideration.

I'm a little curious as to why your BL didn't do a little googling and anticipate this. Not that he has to be omniscient and prepare his band for every eventuality, but, yeah, he does.

 

[beaglesandbass]

Nope. Type it into waze.

So i’m guessing you were at the one in south jersey (delran i think?)

I’ve done a few weddings there before. nice place.

 

[silvertone]

Not quite the same story - but some years back played a house concert in someone's backyard in Carmel Valley, CA on a sunny, summer afternoon.

Band had another gig (an informal wedding) about an hour northwest of there at a campground within Henry W. Coe State Park - the huge park up on the ridge above Highway 101 between San Jose and Gilroy.

Problem surfaced when my bandmate insisted we follow directions to the park as guided by her android phone.

After a long and winding nearly hour drive we arrived at the wrong park entrance....
Had to go back to 101 - head south about 15 miles and then back up into the mountains.

Got to the gig with moments to spare.

I will not make that mistake again.

 

[Lazylion]

I have recurring dreams of being late... to a gig.

Yes! I've had numerous versions of that dream, driving and driving, can't find the gig, setup time goes by, start time goes by, can't find the gig, driving... man, I hate that dream! At least my ex doesn't show up in it. Could be worse.


P.S. I still carry a few paper maps in the car. Can't quite bring myself to throw them out.

 

[Jason Hollar]

Coupla years ago ... making the all-day trek from Pittsburgh down to Virginia Beach for a headline nightclub hit and start of a 2 or 3 gig weekend. All the guys got up and left real early to get there in the afternoon, set up, sound check, drink at the bar, and chill at the hotel. I wanted to get some extra sleep, so I left late morning, met up with guitarist, and planned to get to the club around dinner time with a couple hours to spare.

Amateur move#1, slept in.

Amateur move#2 - had my route planned to avoid 95 as far as possible and knew where I was going, but too busy not paying attention, so missed my turn and just followed my GPS straight around the Belt Way. Because it was a "shorter time" on GPS.

Amateur move#3, failed to take forecast seriously for heavy storms that ended up as tornadoes downing trees and power lines all over NC & VA ... clogging up 95 and 64 forever and ever.

We made it - loading-in in pouring down rain - with about 20 min to spare as opening band was wrapping up. Lord have mercy.


"Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master"

 

[Spidey2112]

I'd rather get set up and have an extra hour on my hands to relax and assess the lay of the land than be rushed into downbeat and risk being late. Every audience deserves this consideration.

Yep...

 

[Steve]

yesterday was the day for it. I had Garmin direct me to a potato field.
Thanks for reminding me to trash that thing today.

 

[Gaolee]

My wise guitar player and friend referred to this as the "flat tire factor" and this serves me well 40 years later.

That's a good way to put it. I have a big green van. You can't miss it. Nobody ever does. Which means it's always getting some kind of bodywork repair. It's going in for yet another crinkle from somebody this afternoon. Nobody has hit me while on the way to a gig, but that van is such a numb-skull magnet that it's bound to happen eventually. When it does, I hope it's the usual small crunch and that the time spent will only be insurance exchange. But, that's still time, and if you don't budget the time, it's a problem. So, in my case the "flat tire factor" will really be the "you can't miss it" factor.

 

[Ellery]

So I have a wedding to play yesterday. The venue is Clarks Landing Yacht Club. I type it into WAZE and head out leaving myself the standard extra hour and change that I do for long drives. 2 Hour drive. I arrive. Parking lot is empty. Hmmm.... I don't see my band truck. I see the venue, it's a catering hall, but it's empty. Not a soul to be seen. I panic for a second, but realize sometimes these places have multiple areas to have receptions. Nothing doing. I double check the venue name on my itinerary. I'm definitely in the right place. Double check the date. Call my wife to make sure I'm not having some sort of senior moment (I've had lots on my mind lately). Everything seems to be in order. We're still in October, it's not September or November. I'm in the twilight zone now... figuring there's an excellent chance I'm about to ruin somebody's wedding and get my band awfully mad at me. I Google Clarks Landing Yacht Club and lo and behold...

there are two of them in NJ.

50 miles away from each other.



Always type the address into your navigator, boys and girls. And always be early! I made it just in time to get 5 minutes worth of food at the cocktail hour, and not miss a beat.

That's my bass humor & gig story for the day, but I ain't laughing just yet. Maybe by lunchtime.

Wow Joe your story dropped my jaw. I would have freaked out. Good save!