[CAUT] who's got dibs??

[Nichols]

Michelle,
     Your responses so far have been empathetic and sympathetic and I 
agree, somewhat. For some performance gigs, scheduling is very tightly 
interwoven with the costs to the venue. On the other hand.... some gigs 
just require extreme flexibility. I don't punish the folks that are trying 
their hardest to make things work, and I have no guilt about what I collect 
from places that refuse education.
     Places with high noise quotients and healthy doses of distractions can 
be very entertaining. Earplugs should be worn anyway, no? It's much easier 
to charge a healthy fee if I don't complain or fret, and just work through 
the challenges. Production staff won't notice the quality of the tuning 
near as much as how quick and painless I make the process for them.  I have 
"drawn the line" at two gas-powered leaf blowers moving the trash around at 
a basketball stadium, but otherwise, the other workers have jobs to do, 
also. Ironically, the only rock gig I did where the stage manager shut down 
other activities was a Rod Stewart show, way before he went "mellow".
    At the Steinway reception last week in L.A., I got to watch Eric 
Schandal tweak 5 new Os on stage as the wait staff put out the place 
settings for 300 diners. Silverware is noisy!

He was smiling.


Semper Gumby,
Guy Nichols, RPT

At 04:56 PM 1/30/2006 -0500, you wrote:
>Okay- I might catch alot of grief for this one- but maybe some of you
>have run into this... maybe???
>
>I work at a place that does N-O-T (ugh...) have a true/designated
>performance space.
>There's about 4 different places any type of recital or concert can
>take place on this campus. (I might at well be on the road again...)
>Anyways..
>
>I had previously reserved tuning time in the "main" performance spot
>from 9 until 12 for a concert *that night*.
>I called today to make sure this was still Kosher- and I found out
>that my tuning time may run into their still yet undetermined
>rehearsal times.
>
>OK.
>
>Long story short- I am giving up my tuning time to go there later (at
>3PM day of concert) for at that time they will be in a different
>building altogether. No worries.
>
>I don't even know why I'm writing this for it'll all work out- but
>I'm wondering if any of you have "strong feelings" about sorta, kinda
>being bumped from a reserved tuning time for (possible) rehearsals.
>The pianist couldn't give me any concrete rehearsal details for he
>didn't know when the other musicians would be getting into town-
>hence the lack of scheduling info.
>
>I certainly know I wouldn't have a job if it wasn't for the musicians
>and their performances but...
>
>:(
>
>I don't know....
>
>Maybe it's because I wasn't even asked and everyone just assumed I
>could NOT tune at that time.
>
>I adore each and every person involved in the planning and playing,
>but "what's the rules"???
>
>(You'd think that 11 years in this business I'd know by now...)
>
>:B
>Stranges
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