The night shows that I play keyboards in are usually at 8:30 and 10:30. Today, however, they were switched to early seating for whatever reason, meaning the shows were at 6:45 and 8:30. I, however, didn’t notice the change, and totally blew it. When they were playing the show at 6:45, I was losing a game of chess to the golf pro. It didn’t even cross my mind. I completely missed the show.
Grounds for dismissal, right? It’s a tight leash we’re on around here. That should be a written warning or something.
Nope, not a thing. The band noticed, but didn’t say much. The performer I was supposed to play for complimented me on a good first show when he saw me at the second. The cruise director gave me a cheery hello when I saw him. The music director laughed and handed me my review (he’s leaving tomorrow, hence the review), which gave me a satisfactory on everything, including puctuality.
You know what? And I’ve thought this for a long time now. I don’t think that they even put my keyboards in the house. As in, I don’t think they even turn me up. There’s my amplifier next to me, and I can hear myself loud and clear, but the drummer, who sits next to me, has told me many times that he has never heard me once.
Tonight’s performer also played earlier in this cruise, and he came up to me in the first rehearsal and asked, “Why aren’t you playing?” Of course I’m playing! Loud and clear back here! He asked the sound guy to turn me up in the house, which lasted for maybe the rest of the rehearsal. And tonight he didn’t even notice I wasn’t on stage.
Was is most frustrating about missing the first show is that no one cares. Shouldn’t I be is some sort of trouble?
David J. Hahn
David J. Hahn is a Broadway conductor and keyboard player. He co-founded MusicianWages.com with Cameron Mizell in 2008. Visit his new project, Songwriter.fm and sign up for his songwriting newsletter.
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well the catchphrase among techs and musos at our cheery little corporation is “80/20 rule.” meaning 80% track, 20% band. i’ve skipped whole songs before just because i was sick of playing them… and realized quickly that no one noticed. i’ve missed a set or two in my day as well… oh well, beer fine on me. no one else cares, why should i?