JOURNAL OF A GIG (THAT SUCKED)
Before I proceed, it is my sincerest prayer that none of
you will ever have to experience this. I am sure that a
lot may have worse stories to tell. But as of now, this
is my worst and I hope you'll have better gigs than this.
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A certain University holds a fair and bands from all over
are invited to play. fortunately, I was placed within the
program time itself (which I thought was really good since
the featured ones were put there).
I rushed from work in Makati to get to the gig because
I was told that I needed to be ther by 9 because I play
at 11. I arrived just in time because traffic was so bad
and my car is a bit of an ancient one (and is showing it).
I met up with the organization who hooked me up with the
gig and told me that I'll be playing after this certain
band, so I said ok and waited. 11PM came and when I checked
the band list, there would be around 5 bands before me!
Plus the fact that each band was given almost 30 minutes
each... you do the math.
By that time, I was pissed but not that bad since I had
a couple of friends there. So we hung out and I tried to
enjoy the time I had with them. (we hung out at their booth
and stacked all my gear there. Imagine a small booth where
floor area was taken up by some FX, a groovebox, a backpack,
my AVR, etc...)
While waiting, I tried to look for a table to place my
stuff on for the gig since the organizers failed to produce
one when I told them to do so. (Note: from now on I'll bring
my own table as taught to me by Malek of Rubber Inc. "having
your own table is more professional.") After goin around,
still no table... I even asked the ones handling the event
and they just told me, "go try to look for a table.
There must be one out there." and to think the event
was held at a football field! table in a football field?
Now who would have a table in a football field except if
a football festival was held there early during the day
then there must've been a table for the officials. Oh well...
Finally, I chanced upon God's blessing... a table with the
exact size I needed for my gear which was set aside because
nobody was using it. At Last!!! Now all I had to do was
wait... and wait...
My friends band came up and I was really glad and started
to do my pre set-up set-up - It's where you set-up your
gear beside the stage before you set-up on stage. hehe.
I was glad because they really rocked the place and people
were in a party mood already and they were dancing with
high spirits. To add to the excitement, one of the last
songs had a 4-to-the-floor beat, which for me, would do
good since I do electronic dance music...
The band ended and I was about to get up on stage (this
was 3 1/2hours after the said 11pm time) when suddenly,
some band came up before me and I was kinda shocked but
I just thought they didn't know it was my turn and so I
went to my friend and talked to him to handle the misunderstanding...
UNFORTUNATLEY, the organizers moved me 4 places down!!!
Now I was really flaring.
Just think...
1. I rush to the place on friday traffic, payday traffic,
plus it was a holiday!
2. Got there on time but they moved my time.
3. I played for free... I had gas expenses, toll, etc.
4. I missed a paid gig just to play there out of good will.
5. No table.
6. Then they moved me 4 places down again.
7. There's more...
Now the wait was killing me... all my friends who were
kind enough to wait after I told them I wouldn't start at
11 didn't really feel like waiting another hour coz they
already waited for 3 hours (which I understand). So of course
they went home already.
I tried talking to the organizers why I was moved again
and they kept on pointing fingers at each other so I didn't
pursue the issue coz I knew my efforts would be futile.
Four bands finished and it was time for me to take the
stage... there was hardly any crowd left compared to when
i was supposed to play but we have to be professionals so
I set up and prepared... during preparation, the hosts kept
on saying here's DJ Cyril!
WHEN WILL PEOPLE STOP CALLING US DJS!
During set-up, the stares of the people waiting were the
typical "what's he doing?", "what the hell?!",
"hmmm... looks interesting." type and it was understandable
since Live PAs is fairly new to them. But the horror started
when I played. They all sat down and stared blankly. Worse,
they kept on shouting "Is it still gonna take long?!",
"Are you done?" I wanted to walk out because it
was the first time I encountered people so low that they
had to do that. I just kept my composure and played on..
I tried to enjoy myself instead with my tracks. I tried
to imagine I was the only one there and I pictured in my
mind that I was just practicing and having fun, but they
weren't content with what they were shouting... whenever
my track hits a breakdown, they'll shout "at last,
he's done!" and some of them will start clapping just
give me a hint to stop already.
There was a group of DJs there who was digging the tunes
so I focused on them instead 'til my set ended. I ended
with claps of sarcasm that really ripped through me. It
was very traumatic.
I've been a performer since I was 4 or 5. I did dances,
played and performed with bands all over manila and the
Philippines and never have I experienced a gig so crappy
as to what I went through.
The gig ended. I drove home and bought some food to go
so I can at least enjoy a meal before I end my 'sucky' night.
It's all part of life... we win some, we lose some.
Cy
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