SF 49 ers in first place, Washington Nationals win the World Series.. And just the other day I observed what I believe was a V formation of purple cows heading south. What is happening?
On this day in History:
1938: Seabiscuit defeats War Admiral in the “Match of the Century”
1944: Donald Watson English Animal Rights Activist coins the term ‘veganism.”
1962: Cuban missile crisis ends.
1965: Vietnam War officially begins.
1969: Abbey Road by the Fab Four reaches # 1 and stays there for Eleven Weeks!
Happy belated Halloween! What a wonderful evening y to enjoy. In our little town of Turlock decorations began going up rapidly about three weeks ago. Something tells me Halloween is becoming a force to be reckoned with.
As a child I loved the idea of dressing up in costume, walk the darkened streets, slowly creep up the long driveway to a neighbors home, ring the doorbell, and when they answer, you proudly display your pillow case teeming with various bars and bags of sugar, tasteful chocolate.. And here is the good part. They put MORE chocolates in your bag. It’s all free! Only in America!
I would like to see a Halloween for adults. We could dress up, arm ourselves with a martini glass or beer stein and spend the evening walking lazily throughout the neighborhood stopping to knock on each decorated door, presenting our martini glass or beer stein ,smile as it is slowly refilled again and again and then continue to amble down the darkened streets enjoying the brisk Fall October evening.
I enjoyed J.D.’s column the other day about bands being stiffed, etc. I didn’t enjoy that bands got stiffed but as I read his column the hackles on the back of my neck began to slowly rise asI thought back to the days when I was in a band and went through some similar situations.
“ $200 Fiddle”: My first band was a joy to be in. A young high school fiddliest and his guitar playing father invited me to join them and their mandolin playing friend to play in their Americana string band. It was my first band experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
One night the father had booked a gig for us through a friend of his. We played a nice 45 minute set to an appreciative audience and met backstage to each receive our $50 paycheck.
The gentleman who booked us walked up to the father/guitarist carrying a somewhat battered violin. He began to explain how he had found this old fiddle and it was probably worth about $200. He had an idea. Instead of paying the band $200 how about taking the fiddle, a nice gift for the young lad, in lieu of payment? “What a grand idea!” responded the father. He looked at the rest of us and asked us what we thought. The silence was a bit awkward. Our young fiddle player was turning red. “Well, said the father, I guess we will go ahead and stick with the original agreement and take the cash.” That could have been a rough situation to deal with,
“ The check is in the mail.” You know the drill. One of your band mates books a gig, you practice, have fun, get all prepared shower , shave, dress nice, show up on time, be polite and perform quite well. After your last song the person who hired us approaches and says, “Fellas, I was in a hurry to get here so I could see your opening number and darned if I didn’t leave my stupid check book at home. I’ll drop your check in the mail tomorrow for sure. Is that O.K. with you?”
Two weeks later you ask your band mate, the one who set up the gig, if the check has come yet. He shakes his head. He says “it’s only been two weeks,” Two weeks later you ask your band mate, “It’s been a month now. Any word on our money?” He replies, “Gee Brooks it has only been a month. Have a little patience.” I thought I did.
The Chuck Berry philosophy: Every time Chuck Berry had gig he brought his guitar and a leather briefcase. If his fee was not inside his briefcase before he went on stage he would not perform. Simple as that. Chuck Berry never got stiffed.
I did my share of bookings with various bandmates. I would tell them what we were being paid. I would go to my bank and withdraw that amount of money and then pay my bandmates before the gig. Just like with Chuck.
Maybe that is a bit OCD but to me it is the right thing to do. No band member should ever have to leave the the playing facility empty handed unless it was agreed on by the group that they would be paid at a later date. I feel a bit better now. J.D.’s column got my juices flowing.I guess that might be one of the reasons I am no longer playing,.
A shout out to the bands I have played with. I loved playing music with all my band mates. It was always a thrill.Thank you all for helping me become a better musician.
The Heartland String Band, Yesterday’s Country Roads (Dan Bonds, a true class act) Fog Valley Drifters ( versions 1-6) the Rambling Phudds, Mojo Klarke, Grass Menagerie ( Rick Cornish without him no bluegrass history. Thanks, Rick) Judd Mountain Boys, Shattered Shamrock, Hick Symphonium, Well Strung String Band, Goats for Sale, Merkin Brothers and sister Kate, Doctors Orders.
Don’t forget to set your clocks back. Have a great Thanksgiving!
Until December 6: Read a book, hug a child, pet a dog, stroke a cat,eat a bar of chocolate, and IKIRU