More thoughts from an old dog...

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Fred Wright

Fred Wright

Administrator
Staff member
Aug 7, 2006
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Delaware, USA
www.nwedj.com
Folks,

This is the first weekend I've had off work in months. Evidently, all the mandatory weekend work has finally caught up with demand. Gotta keep them sticks a-movin', lol. :)

Got a few calls over the time for last-minute shows. Couldn't manage it, sorry. When you work for "Da Man", you do what da man sez. Da man has a clean, air-conditioned manufacturing plant and the best pay and benefits in the biz. I ain't about to risk losing that for no cheap gig in 93 degree heat.

I got to Sam's today for a grocery run. Was gonna get a haircut first but I got out too late. The barber's was closed by the time I got down the road.

Anyhoo, there was some sort of fundraiser set up outside the Sam's exit doors. There was a DJ there with a pair of older EV Force cabs on sticks. Also was a LCD screen and a couple of mics on stands... perhaps a karaoke setup?

As I was pushing my shopping cart across the lot I heard the DJ on the mic. Echo effect was a nice touch but a bit overdone. Them 15" 2-ways suck for vocals and this was no exception. The DJ had a nice voice and presence but sounded tired. As it was in the mid 90s with high humidity, I'm surprised he was able to function at all. This August heat is unbearable... I broke a serious sweat just loading the groceries.

During the drive home I thought about the DJ and surmised that, since this was a fundraiser he may have donated his services. I've never seen him nor heard of the company before. He had a plastic banner across the front of a banquet table that advertised his service. Open back console with cables and wiring on display.

Yet, I had to give the old boy credit ~ he was out there working in unbearable heat, trying to raise money for a worthy cause in a venue where few would notice nor care. The exit at Sammy's isn't exactly the ideal market for a DJ company nor a fundraiser. No captive audience... and people rarely carry cash to put in the pot these days. :(

I got home and unloaded the groceries. Put the froze stuff in the freezer and the cold stuff in the fridge. Stocked the little fridge with me beer. Then, as I sat down for a rest I thought of the DJ again, sweating it out for little or possibly no pay. I was surprised he didn't have a fan on site ~ it was seriously hot out today.

Then I thought... better him than I. I've been there, done that. Played all damn day in the heat for next to nothing. Wolfie don't do that no more. I can set home on a free Saturday in the AC. Guess I should count me blessings. :)

Thoughts?
 
Not to down play whatever he was playing for, but he should have a fan, I have a 10" in my trunk that goes to every gig with me. I hope that he had shade.

If it was a cause that he really cares about, more power to him.

But even if he was a "bottom feeder" lets just say he was making $200.00 for let's say 5 hours, that is I bet more than he makes at his "day" job.

Years ago I had a agent book me for a mom and pop hamburger fast food place opening, in a strip mall. they paid for a full light show, and Fred, you know what my full light show was back in da day...

This event was from 11am to 3 pm,,, me and my light guy were just crackin' up. there we were, set up on a sidewalk, playing whatever we wanted to play, bubble machine running, lights a flashing and we were waving to people as they drove by! LOL

been there,,, I made better money than that guy did.... but would I do it now? Only if it was for something that I REALLY felt strongly about, or they paid me a lot... :)
 
Thanks, Chuck.

Yup, he was set up in the shade at least. There's a roof extension over the exit at Sammy's Place. But dear lord, it was unbearably hot and muggy out. Not what I'd call an ideal venue. You're performing to a retail store parking lot.

I was reminded of the street festivals back home in VA. All day long, hot, muggy and sometimes it got rained out. Just push the Play button and wave at people as they walked by. It was fun but there were never any referrals. Handed out a lot of biz cards over the years... but it isn't the place to market for referrals. I just wrote 'em off as filler shows.

Oh yeah... I sure remember Spectrum in the old days. Guess we semi-retired from these gigs for a reason, lol. :)
 
You tell 'em, Rick.

There's been days when I could've set my sammiches in front of the sub amp grille to heat 'em. That hot air blast should be used for something other than making my shins sweat, lol. :)

Oh... this Sammy's has a liquor store next door in the same building. They ain't got no Coors Lite in 30 pack cans nor no cooler.
 
When we were doing the street festivals back home, we always had a thermoelectric cooler stocked with cold beverages and ice.

Vodka and diet Pepsi for the Shewolf and Coors Lite for Wolfster. I'd mix them drinks right there behind the rack stack. :)

It was an eight hour show by contract. We'd arrive in the wee hours and get loaded in and set up then take a nap. By the time the fest started at 9:00 AM, we were ready for dinner and drinks. We're night owls by nature. ;)
 
Chuck The DJ said:
But even if he was a "bottom feeder" lets just say he was making $200.00 for let's say 5 hours, that is I bet more than he makes at his "day" job.
Click to expand...

And probably for less hours than he works at his day Job
 
Fred Stewart said:
When we were doing the street festivals back home, we always had a thermoelectric cooler stocked with cold beverages and ice.

Vodka and diet Pepsi for the Shewolf and Coors Lite for Wolfster. I'd mix them drinks right there behind the rack stack. :)

It was an eight hour show by contract. We'd arrive in the wee hours and get loaded in and set up then take a nap. By the time the fest started at 9:00 AM, we were ready for dinner and drinks. We're night owls by nature. ;)
Click to expand...

Fred you are an animal...:sqlaugh:
 
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