
The Week of July 15th
So, last Friday was interesting. I had originally booked 7/12 back in May, but the venue cancelled music for the summer due to low customer volume. Bummer, but, ok.
I rebooked the date at an outside gig in Tampa about a week or so after the cancellation, thinking, “Awesome!” July 12th rolls around, and it’s been pretty rainy around here. Major isolated thunderstorms, some tornados, a tropical storm lingering out there. I text the agent in charge of the booking an hour before I leave to see if the venue will put me inside if it rains, only to find out that due to a big party coming in, the venue hired a band for the evening. The band will need to set up early, therefore, no early music, i.e. my gig for the evening is cancelled, AGAIN.
As a musician, I’m always looking for the next gig. Looking for work NEVER ends. It’s nice to be in some places that provide steady work, but even seemingly steady work can fall flat with one phone call. Frustrated, I throw my guitar in the car, dress like I’m going to a gig, and grab my iPad (which holds my book of cheat sheets) “just in case.” I head out to a venue in Largo that I’ve been wanting to get a show at and figure I’ll grab a bite and a pint and pester the manager for a gig. On my way, I get a call for a last minute gig on Indian Rocks Beach. “Sure. Oddly enough, I’m already halfway there with all of my gear in the car.” So how about that?