No Gig This NYE - Good Or Bad?
Well, here I am, the last day of this year, thinking about how out-of-place I seem to be on Chicago's south side (I'm not from Chicago OR its southside - it's a long story how & why I got here). I really don't think I fit the culture down here - or, to be more accurate, it's kind of hard to FIND much culture down here besides lots of bars, and I really don't think I"m being a snob by saying that.
I'm also thinking about how, for the first time in 3 years, I'm off for NYE. I'm also thinking about all the NY events that I've worked over the years, so I guess I'm ambivalent about not working (or having any plans) for tonight. I'd have to put a some thought into it, but I'm not sure what I've done more for NYE gigs - food/catering or music?
MUSIC. Although it's been pretty thin this year, I sometimes play with a fun, excellent CCR tribute band (Creedence Again). Last NYE, we were at an Indian casino in the U.P., with a Johnny Cash tribute band playing first. FYI, for the unfamiliar, the UP is the Upper Peninsula in Michigan, a stone's throw from the Canadian border, about a 7 hour drive from Chicago. The year before that, it was a REALLY fun event at a newly-restored 500 seat theatre in Ft. Scott, Kansas. That was one of the better New Year's events - they flew us in, put us up at a B & B, nothing but big fun in a small town.
Although the $ was good, one of the worst NY events I can recall was being a fill-in bartender at an all-gay party in Chicago. I remember the clock hitting midnight, and I escaped to the outside balcony to avoid all the dudes making out with each other. I remember thinking: Do I really need the money this bad? Whatever they wanted to do with each other was fine by me, but I didn't need to see that up close & personal - is that bad to say? Is it also bad to say I would have hung around inside if it were a bunch of hot girls doing the same thing? Discuss...
Finally, if there's anything I can say about sitting here on this computer right now, it's that I am feeling pretty optimistic - against all reasons to believe otherwise with current events & the economy - that 2009 will be really something special for me & my pals. I just really have WAY too many irons in the fire for something groovy not to happen, just not sure which one will pop first & biggest. Is that optimism, blind faith or just stacking the deck, and making a subjective observation? Beyond all that...
HAPPY HAPPY EVERYONE
marty
I'm also thinking about how, for the first time in 3 years, I'm off for NYE. I'm also thinking about all the NY events that I've worked over the years, so I guess I'm ambivalent about not working (or having any plans) for tonight. I'd have to put a some thought into it, but I'm not sure what I've done more for NYE gigs - food/catering or music?
MUSIC. Although it's been pretty thin this year, I sometimes play with a fun, excellent CCR tribute band (Creedence Again). Last NYE, we were at an Indian casino in the U.P., with a Johnny Cash tribute band playing first. FYI, for the unfamiliar, the UP is the Upper Peninsula in Michigan, a stone's throw from the Canadian border, about a 7 hour drive from Chicago. The year before that, it was a REALLY fun event at a newly-restored 500 seat theatre in Ft. Scott, Kansas. That was one of the better New Year's events - they flew us in, put us up at a B & B, nothing but big fun in a small town.
Although the $ was good, one of the worst NY events I can recall was being a fill-in bartender at an all-gay party in Chicago. I remember the clock hitting midnight, and I escaped to the outside balcony to avoid all the dudes making out with each other. I remember thinking: Do I really need the money this bad? Whatever they wanted to do with each other was fine by me, but I didn't need to see that up close & personal - is that bad to say? Is it also bad to say I would have hung around inside if it were a bunch of hot girls doing the same thing? Discuss...
Finally, if there's anything I can say about sitting here on this computer right now, it's that I am feeling pretty optimistic - against all reasons to believe otherwise with current events & the economy - that 2009 will be really something special for me & my pals. I just really have WAY too many irons in the fire for something groovy not to happen, just not sure which one will pop first & biggest. Is that optimism, blind faith or just stacking the deck, and making a subjective observation? Beyond all that...
HAPPY HAPPY EVERYONE
marty
Labels: NYE
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