Sitting at the Airport
Last night I played with David Pack's band in Gilbert Arizona. David was the lead singer for a band named Ambrosia that had a few hits back in the day. It was Friday the 13th and our hotel was in Superstition Springs. Pretty weird sounding hungh?
So - although I am not a superstitious person - at all - I did notice a higher than average degree of things going wrong for this trip.
1. Packing took all night. I finally went to bed at 6 AM for an hour, because I could not find my wireless transmitter for my sax mic. It is a small black box and the clip on mic hooks into it. I had told the tour manager for David Pack that I had a sax wireless many times and not to worry. It was the night before and NO MIC. I spent over 3 hours looking before finding it. It was in my music crate with all my charts - of course!
2. I slept for an hour, got up to 4 alarm clocks set around the room and ran to the airport. Got there pretty quick and with plenty of time. I have to do the shuttle thing because I carry a lot of gear on the road, and have 2-3 trips when getting everything to the check in counter or SkyCap.
The shuttle guy did not get the spot right next to the curb, but one lane out, was unloading my stuff, and I was carrying it over to the curb as he dropped it outside of the van. I turned around and saw this chick hit my sax flight case, knock it over and start pushing it down the street in front of her car. Both me and the driver started yelling at her and she did not stop until she realized something was wrong. We got the whole, hands in the air and lipped - I'm Sorry - thing. I was not happy, but that is why I have cases built like a tank to fly with. The Tenor case is a custom anvil, heavy duty hardware, 3/4 inch ply - as big and solid as they come.
The case was fine. The sax was fine - her car and the street were not.
3. Upon arrival in Arizona, we found 3 pieces of luggage missing - one of them was the car hood ornament that had just been pushed town the street in OC. We got behind schedule dealing with the very nice yet useless chick at the Southwest baggage desk. They could only tell us what we already knew. The bags were not there. They were either in OC or on there way to the next stop for the plane we had just got off -- duuuuugh!
4. Sound Check with missing cymbals, guitar amp and primary sax - was very lame. Add to it - a very new room with little experience found mixing a rock band in it. It was very long and a little painful.
5. As we left for dinner, I asked to stay and sleep at the hotel. I really needed to lay down if I was going to get thru this gig at all. I feel VERY asleep. At about 45 minutes in, a friend called to see how it was going in Arizona. I flew out of bed, screaming - really. Could not find the location of the ring and was convinced lobby call had past and I was supposed to be out front 10 minutes ago, ready for the gig. I did find the phone, and after a few moments realized I was not late and still had an hour to nap. That was not possible, but I didn't oversleep.
6. I went down to the lobby for call time and got a bad feeling again. I was the only person there. I called a few rooms and nothing. I looked thru my cell and found the cell for the keyboard guy and he said we still had 20 minutes - he would be down shortly. That's when I found out my room clock was very off too.
The gear did eventually show up but long after sound check and the only rehearsal time I got with the band for this gig. It really didn't matter though - when I saw my baby I was very happy indeed.
The actual gig was great. Sound check had been really Not good. The gig eneded up being great.
We had great players on stage and great music to perform. The gig went great and I had a great time. We finished up the 90+ minute show, packed up, loaded out and hit the hotel. Time to relax.
We had a bunch of great places to eat up the road and TGIF got picked. I went to my room, changed and dropped stuff off and started for up the street. It was probably a quarter mile to TGIF. I got there and they refused me saying I had to have my ID. I am not a kid, have not been carded in a long time, and argued very hard - to no avail. Back to the hotel and to the desk to get my ID.
As I walked back I passed another friend and he checked - he had his ID. Oh well - I got it and walked all the way back to the door with those guys in the green shirts that refused my entry. It was then that I realized - this was not TGIF. It was some Irish Pub and TGIF was the next building down. BUMMER.
I walked past the guys that sent me walking, and found the TGIF with friends and NO ID Required at the door. You know how somethings could just be ignored and it would be fine. Well, I get there and they are all freaking that none of them got carded and I did and was refused. I had to fess up to my mistake and - yes - they all enjoyed the story greatly!!
We hit the rooms and bed was easy - sleeping like a baby. The alarm was now set and the time was fixed in my room - everything went great. The next morning we were at Southwest and I am reminded that I should have logged in last night to get my seat assignment online. That's new and I never remember for the return flights. I ended up in the last group and decided to blow off standing in a line for this lame privilege.
I sat down and started this post. Very cool idea and I was making good use of the internet signal and time, and avoiding staring at my much smarter friends all in the A Group.
Well, next think I hear is - last call for passengers to Orange County. Will all stand-by passengers now approach the desk. You have had this happen - I am sure of it. You are trying to shut down your computer and it decides to lock up for a minute or 2 as you are freaking because you are late and needed it to be PUSH >> OFF.
I was screaming my name at the girl and finally got this article saved before forcing the computer off. Made the flight. Got home. Took 4 days to get back to this and finish it - DONE.
Thanks for letting me tell me story!
>
This 2 days? Pretty amazing - LOL
Reply to this