Take Nothing For Granted

Take nothing for granted.   

Six months ago, I was invited to participate in a reunion of a local club in which I performed years ago.   

The person who put it together and who invited me told me delightedly that I was the first person to say yes and to agree to perform.

As the time grew closer, I got more posts from her thanking me for participating and letting me know how it was going and growing.    I told her I was looking forward to it and that a recording partner of mine who played their many more  times than I have should be invited and she agreed and invited him.

I was given the idea that I was performing and I invited  my recording partner to perform with me.   I contacted the producer and ascertained the date and the time and somewhere got the information that I would only be doing a song or two.

When we arrived at the venue the night of the reunion, an old friend of mine was on the door, with the list of performing VIP’s and guests.    He told me that he was sorry, but I wasn’t on the list.   I was stunned to hear that particularly from someone  who KNEW that I performed there, but I kept my cool and asked for the promoter.

She showed up in a moment and told him that yes, we should both be on the list (my partner and I).    Then she told me that the stage manager had already put the performer’s list together and that we weren’t on it, but we could stick around til the end and  join in the jam.

I was surprised, but I perform for a living, so I’m okay with not performing for free, but still I was surprised.

When I walked in, a friend of mine greeted me and asked if I was performing.  I pointed to the guitar on my back and said, that yes, I thought I was but I was just told  I wasn’t included in the line  up.    He said, that’s no problem, I am up here playing with everyone, so take my slot.

How gracious, I thought, and immediately went over to the stage manager and let him know that we had been given the slot of a performer who was in the line  up.

He told me that no, I wasn’t performing, as that performer had no right to give up his slot to me and my pal.   I explained that it was no problem, I wasn’t trying to intrude and I would just back off, no problem.

I don’t wish this kind of awkward and uncomfortable experience on anyone.    If you are invited to participate in any kind of event, ask all the questions right from the get go.

What time is the event?   What is the schedule of performers?   Who is the person in charge of that schedule?   How do I contact that person?   

And after you’ve done that, then follow up and make certain several times that things are going as you understand them to be unfolding.   Stay in contact with the people and keep them informed of your understanding of what is transpiring.

If I had done that, I could have stayed home as I only got back from the road late the night before and would have enjoyed an easy evening  home with my wife.  

Instead I got to drive across town at rush hour and be dissed by someone I didn’t even know.  

Everything I’ve ever learned in life, I’ve had to learn again.     When will I learn?

Comments

[Bobby Brogan]

What an unprofessional group of people!