Rllink
Well-known member
A somewhat seedy bar downtown, known for live music, is having an "up and coming singer and songwriter showcase" every third Tuesday of the month, through the end of the year. Three individual performers do a thirty to forty minute set, on stage, with lighting, a sound man, the whole shebang. They even have an off stage room for the musicians, with comp beer and drinks, a couch to relax on, and a TV. So last night was the first night for it. I got a group invitation about a month ago, and I decided that I couldn't let the opportunity pass, after all, my goal and vision has been to play in a seedy bar with pool tables, rowdy patrons, and lots of spilled beer on the floor. They also said that they would pay the performers a percentage of the nights proceeds. So I went for it and signed up. I was second up and took the stage at 9:45 last night.
It was everything I thought that it would be. The sound man helped me get set up, did a sound check, and told me just to sing and play my ukulele in a natural voice, not to worry about how loud or soft I was, that he would take care of everything. That was cool. There was lights in my eyes when I tried to look out over the bar room. I could make out the shapes of some of the people sitting at the tables right in front of me, and I could see people in the back sitting at the bar, but not a lot in between. While played I could hear the people back in the corner shooting pool. There was some hooting and hollering going on somewhere, but I didn't know if that was for me, or if it was the pool players. I could also hear some people singing along with me, but I couldn't tell where or who they were.
Anyway, I was supposed to do a thirty to forty minute set, and I think that I hit the forty minute mark, maybe went over a little. I think that there is a lot of room for improvement, but all and all it went pretty well. Several people came up and talked to me, both after the set, and at bar closing. I had to stick around till bar closing to collect my money, and I'm not in the habit of closing down bars at my age. It was fun though. I told the manager that I would do it again if the opportunity came up. He said that he would have me back. So that is where I'm at in my ukulele journey right now.
It was everything I thought that it would be. The sound man helped me get set up, did a sound check, and told me just to sing and play my ukulele in a natural voice, not to worry about how loud or soft I was, that he would take care of everything. That was cool. There was lights in my eyes when I tried to look out over the bar room. I could make out the shapes of some of the people sitting at the tables right in front of me, and I could see people in the back sitting at the bar, but not a lot in between. While played I could hear the people back in the corner shooting pool. There was some hooting and hollering going on somewhere, but I didn't know if that was for me, or if it was the pool players. I could also hear some people singing along with me, but I couldn't tell where or who they were.
Anyway, I was supposed to do a thirty to forty minute set, and I think that I hit the forty minute mark, maybe went over a little. I think that there is a lot of room for improvement, but all and all it went pretty well. Several people came up and talked to me, both after the set, and at bar closing. I had to stick around till bar closing to collect my money, and I'm not in the habit of closing down bars at my age. It was fun though. I told the manager that I would do it again if the opportunity came up. He said that he would have me back. So that is where I'm at in my ukulele journey right now.
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