Sublime To Rediculous

[Robin Harrison]

I posted a message last week on how much fun it had been to go to a school and do some music( for free of course) and what a mutually rewarding time it was.

Well, my agent phoned on Friday (I didn’t know I had an agent until he told me I did……….and I realized he was genuine because he took 10% ! ) Would I play my accordion at Casino Niagara (Ontario) in the lobby as the punters arrived. I was interested although it was not really a first choice venue, ( like a rural pub in West Sussex or something ) but when he told me the outstanding fee, I agreed.

Now this is the “ nub “ of the story……………The lobby of the casino is a lovely black marble rotunda with a great circular, central area that you can sit around. They had festively decorated it with pine-twig reindeer and metre-long, inflatable lobsters !!…………I couldn’t work out that cultural influence . This rotunda led through security to the “business” end of the casino. Entering it was like stepping into a vision of hell……….nightmarish………….. Literally acres and acres of slot machines on three levels (at the fee I was getting, I felt like a two armed bandit ! ), each one with flashing lights and making pointless noise. Muzac piped in playing tunes you almost recognized and worst of all from a musician’s point of view, a desert of carpet disappearing into the distance.

Now here’s your part………….do you think they wanted me to play in the reception area with the wonderful acoustics or the “ they wouldn’t really , would they ? “ area.

Well, you guessed right. There I sat, heaving away on the bellows but apparently invisible. No-one heard me or saw me ! The only time I was sure I still had corporal form was when a lovely older gentleman came up and asked if I knew where the wash-rooms were.!………Talk about a mortgage job.

Finally, the fourth level of management (truly) said to the third level of management “Why isn’t he in the rotunda ?” Third level told the second level and first level, who thought the rotunda was a great place to play two hours before, smiled at me and I moved.

It was a strange feeling being surrounded by 100’s of people and yet seemingly transparent. It probably won’t surprise to know that when I did start to play in the acoustically lovely place, people noticed me as they came in. Some people would do little polka shuffles and become animated for moment or ….gasp….make eye contact and smile at a “live” musician.

The preparation for the gig was also interesting. I realized they wanted an almost constant stream of music as people arrived and so decided I would not use music but rely on tunes I could play by ear. I spent probably a couple of hours compiling a play list and out of curiosity counted them …….it came to about 150.

Has any-one else has ever had to do this and what number did they come up with. I would guess 300 – 500 is a conservative number for many people.

So, I’m there again next Tuesday at 9.00am………..come by and say hello ! There are 5 cent slots if ,like me, you’re not even vaguely tempted but want to experiment.

Robin

 

 

 

...............I do know how to spell ridiculous !! Agghh!

[Henk van Aalten]

What a story!! I would like to come and see you, but there's this little distance problem.

Thanks for sharing this and good luck the next time.

Maybe you should carve a slit somwhere in your Tina so people can put their money in

[Mark Evans]

There I sat, heaving away on the bellows but apparently invisible. No-one heard me or saw me ! The only time I was sure I still had corporal form was when a lovely older gentleman came up and asked if I knew where the wash-rooms were.!………Talk about a mortgage job.

 

Reading your post gave me the hives. I spent several years in Houston doing post graduate study and was fortunate enough to fall into a singing job in a west suburb Italain restaurant four nights a week (payed very nicely).

 

Pino on PA, Ivano on guitar and me singing... we did a good job I think. Sometimes the Texans noticed us, sometimes not. I looked forward to the Japanese business men who would come in from time to time. They knew all the songs and sang at the top of their voices.

 

It was a very good experience for me. I learned a lot of literature and now speak a very salty Roman dialect that is not fit for mixed company. It sure brought me out of my shell. At some point during the 2 years I got over myself and realized I should enjoy these guys I made music with. In the end we even did a number of gigs away from the restaurant (patrons who I thought didn't listen).

 

Pino didn't like the sound of my Aeola, however I was allowed to pull it out and play Rossini's "Tarantella" as a novelty number. Pino would grumpily play chords behind it with Ivano. Other than that I was expected to beat on a tamborine during instrumentals...reminded me of the banjo

.

 

Enjoy the gig Robin.

Edited December 21, 2005 by Mark Evans

[geoffwright]

Playing wallpaper music is know as "playing to furniture" in the trade.

As you say, you do need to be able to play for hours without music so repeats are a good idea. The people paying generally have even less idea than the punters about what sort of music the punters want to hear so the simple rule is - play to amuse yourself.

I guess rule number two is - watch what makes the punters do "polka shuffles" and play more of it.

It is mind-numbing but often pays well - warning - just like busking, if you try it on a regular basis (more than twice a week), it will start to tell on your elbows.

 

What colour (sorry, color) do you have to be to be "rediculous"?

Edited December 21, 2005 by geoffwright

[Paul Read]

Geoff,

 

You're safe with 'colour'. Robin's based in Canada.

Edited December 21, 2005 by Paul Read

[Rhomylly]

Oh, I thought Robin meant REEDiculous, as in "crazy concertina gig"!!