It’s a Dog’s Life…

(Gig)

So the plan is; Dj up to the Birthday cake, then band for the final hour.

In a perfect world “the band” would have set up long before the Dj was ever on the scene, sound checked, gone away for a pint/coffee/fish supper, then returned to play the short set requested.

However….. for various reasons, this party starts early, and the assorted musicians are coming from diverse compass points, and work. This means setting up while the DJ is performing.

Professional courtesy demands, that while a certain amount of tapping and banging (and muted cursing) is anticipated, it would be extremely bad form to interup “I’m in the mood for Dancing” (yes – the Nolans) by actually playing anything aloud.

The audience is not, perhaps, our usual demographic (observes the drummer), which does beg the question, what woud be our “usual demographic?” , but we are here by the express request of the birthday boy, and a promise to play has to be honoured.

It is no great surprise that when we open (after the buffet) we are not filling the floor, but to be honest much of our attention is on our own sound, trying to figure out what is audible, what is tooo loud. For those not of the musical persuation , this is very hard to do from the “stage” (my kingdom for a sound man!).

It is several numbers before anyone spots that the keyboard – clear to us, because there is a little speaker* pointing back for the players benefit – is not actually plugged into anything facing the audience!

Luckily, due to the hasty set up, we are surrounded by kit bags and cable so this is quickly rectified, and we launch into the next number with renewed concentration – listening intently to apraise the new sound.

A ragged cheer draws our attention back to the party. Have we finally found a song that touches them? Is it the impressive (now audible) keyboard solo?

no.

The entire crowd is cheeering for their group photo at the other end of the hall.

Oh well. In it’s own way, while everyone does like to be the centre of attention once in a while, being relegated to “background” does take all the pressure off, and we can relax and jam with impunity.

Birthday boy, sixty years young, had a great night.

Next week on IaDL : Wembley!