Welcome musicians and other curious music lovers...this is the place to share your experiences in the proverbial pit. I was talking with one of my fellow musician friends about the worst gig we ever did and I thought a blog was in order. For my first post I'd like to share a gig from way back when that has never been topped in its nightmarish quality...
I was in high school in NY and got a call to do a gig in Brooklyn. They said a friend had recommended me so I thought I had to say 'yes'. What a fool I was! I headed out to Bkln not even asking what I'd be paid. I got lost and finally found the church and was late(!) A musician is never late or they never work again. PS long story long I walked in and the gig was doing a recording for The School of Mystical Sciences in NY. The concertmaster had a broken arm and was bowing with his arm in a sling. The conductor had huge frizzy hair and wore a yellow jumpsuit. I sat down in the "violin" section and we recorded "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum". As a high school student I was no prize as a sightreader so it was a challenging evening in many respects. We ran things once and recorded as we went. No retakes if you know what I mean. When we had our break we were offered potato chips and hot chocolate. This turned out to be the only payment we received for the gig. I've learned a lot since then about when to say 'no'.
