Had a winery gig last weekend. An outdoor gig. All week the weather reports were all about a dangerous heat wave with heat index running 105° and higher. Add to that air quality advisories saying don’t be outside for any amount of time. I was hesitant and dreadful. That’s just too hot to do a show outdoors.
Who would ever sit outside with that type of forecast? Especially when there’s an air conditioned tasting room serving up cold wine, slushies and all sorts of other refreshments too. I called the venue a couple days beforehand and strategically asked if I should pack for an indoor show or outdoor show based on the weather. I was hopeful they would concur that an indoor show would be best. Alas, my hopes were dashed, “the weather is so crazy here, let’s make a call before the show”.
Well, show day arrived. Hazy, hot, humid but also quite windy. I arrived at the venue armed with 2 ½ gallons of ice water, 4 shirts and a steely resolve to power through three hours of great music. By the time I finished setting up, shirt #1 was drenched. I guzzled about 48 oz of water and went into sound check mode. I play a verse or two of a song, stop mid way through and there’s a couple sitting at a picnic table applauding. They said “wow, sounds great”. I could only say “just wait until you get the full show!” Very encouraging.
I finish sound check and a young lady walks up and asks if I travel for shows. She’d like to book me for her wedding but it’s in Chicago. Unfortunately I already had commitments for her date. I just finish that conversation and another young lady comes up and says she’s a wedding planner and would love to work with me. She asks for permission to send out my contact info to clients and post some video of me on her IG account. Of course! Best sound check I’ve ever had!
Show starts up and whoa, there’s people sitting in every shady spot available! Super engaged and rockin along with me. What started as a hot and humid adventure in personal endurance turned into one hot show, maybe one of the best I’ve ever done. And the amazing thing!! they all stayed. It made my day, they made the show that much better. My thank you’s at the end were truly from the bottom of my heart. I couldn’t have done it without them.
That is exactly whenI figured out The Stones said it best “Sometimes you get what you need!”