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

[monsterthompson]

I get this. I was just in Palo Alto on Friday, with a gig in Oakland. I didn't want to hit rush hour traffic, so my buddy and I hit the road at 2 pm for a 6:45 pm load in. It was just shy of an hour, without traffic. We opted to go up the San Fransisco side of the bay, so I could hit the local GC for a small item, then we'd stop for lunch, and then meet up with the band mates at a friend's house, 10 minutes from the venue. Well, there was an accident on one route and traffic was a complete stand still. We routed in to the city, and tried to hit the Golden Gate, but gridlock was everywhere. We finally arrived at about 5:45 pm. Nearly 4 hours to go 40 miles, with two short stops (so, maybe 3 hours in traffic).

 

[Jimmy4string]

This thread causes me stress!

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I am decidedly anti-GPS. If I'm playing somplace unfamiliar, I always pull it up on google maps (or whatever) and double check and sometimes even jot down some quick directions. But I never use navigation- ever!!

 

[Ross W. Lovell]

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.

The invention of the GPS is a Godsend for me.

I only type in the address, that's just me.

Good catch. I usually show up an hour plus to new places in case there is a music store or car place that might interest me beforehand.

 

[electracoyote]

I am decidedly anti-GPS. If I'm playing somplace unfamiliar, I always pull it up on google maps (or whatever) and double check and sometimes even jot down some quick directions. But I never use navigation- ever!!

Afraid of something like this?

 

[Josh Kneisel]

been there... always be early...

 

[MegaSwing]

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.

A road atlas is standard issue in my vehicles.

 

[slobake]

The 'hurry up and wait' mentality the military was so kind to suggest has always served me well...

... with the wife, not so much.

I have the same. I would rather relax on my way to somewhere and chill for a little if I am early. My wife hates waiting for anything and she loves driving like Bullit through San Francisco.

 

[Spidey2112]

I have the same. I would rather relax on my way to somewhere and chill for a little if I am early. My wife hates waiting for anything and she loves driving like Bullit through San Francisco.

At least she's emulating a classic, right?

 

[funkymonk13]

The real lesson here is always check the ZIP code

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Afraid of something like this?

yes!! Not what you want to have happen with a US Lakland and an SVT in your car!! lol

 

[Hahaha]

I am decidedly anti-GPS. If I'm playing somplace unfamiliar, I always pull it up on google maps (or whatever) and double check and sometimes even jot down some quick directions. But I never use navigation- ever!!

Me too. I prefer looking at the route on the satellite photos before I leave the house. You get to see what the parking situation will be when you get there and know exactly what the building looks like that you're playing in. With the street view you can count the cracks in the pavement in front of the venue.

 

[Shishka Bob]

Timing like that you should be a drummer.

 

[rogerbmiller]

My HS Jazz Band director who was very much mentor in my musical life and in my life in general, once gave me the following piece of advice that I have never forgotten:

"To be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be late."

This advice saved my bacon quite a few times as did his second most memorable piece of advice:

"Newton's law says you can't fall off the floor."

This second bit of advice came about when we were packing up road gear for a tour (the band used to travel) and some unstable piece of gear was being stacked on something only to fall off. So he reprimanded whomever stacked it high and then placed it on the floor, citing this application of Newton's Law. I am sure this pearl of wisdom has shaped how I approach packing my current band's gear in any given vehicle like a Tetris Deathmatch, but I digress.

Anyway, I am glad you got to your gig on time @Joe Nerve .

 

[JimmyM]

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.

I'd rather do that and not leave an hour early

 

[electracoyote]

I'd rather do that and not leave an hour early

Because traffic is never heavier than expected.

 

[okcrum]

I double check the address and print maps for the trip. The last time I trusted a map app it put me at an obscure but identical address 40 mi. from the gig. Luckily it was straight down I-40 and that stretch wasn't heavily patrolled.

 

[Joe Nerve]

I thought for some reason that this thread was going to get buried with no responses. I'm pretty surprised by the number of likes it got .

Lots of things I'd like to respond to but don't have time now. Want to say this though regarding being early and bored.

Over the summer every Friday I had to drive from Bklyn to NJ. Anyone who lives around here know what that means regarding Jersey Shore traffic. I realized quickly that sitting in traffic doesn't really bug me. I can sit in traffic for 5 hours with no problem, so long as I know I'm going to be on time to wherever I'm going. I can listen to music, take in scenery, talk on the phone (my car has great hands free).

Put me in traffic though where there's a chance of me being late, and in a situation like Sunday, I feel it could take years off my life. 2 hours of traffic can feel like a months and I start really losing it.

To me it isn't even a trade off. I MUCH prefer being early, and being relaxed and sane .

 

[JimmyM]

Because traffic is never heavier than expected.

That's right. And besides, you can look that up now, too.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

Have I ever told you about the gig I had 3 hours from my house... and... forgot my bass? And I was so early I went home, got it, and made it back in time for the downbeat.

How often did you forgot to bring your bass after that one?