I have to agree with what you're saying. We shouldn't forget about the
love of music and 'doing,' despite less-than-ideal moments. I do keep
trying, even though I go for long periods of being pissed off or busying
myself with other things, that itch never goes away. Once the semester
is up I can't wait to finish a mix I was supposed to do in Nov, get out
to see a friend play in Dec, and already have prospects for gigs in Jan.
But ... those times when things are setup properly, when ego monsters
are few, and equipment is better than one step away from being a fire
hazard,,, those can be nice nites.
Kent Williams wrote:
You guys talk about those 'everything is wrong, no respect gigs' --
but they have made up a large part of my 'career' as a DJ and live
performer.
My latest -- playing in Des Moines, in the game room of a coffee
house, with the lights full up, when the headliner was on the main
stage a block away. Without monitors, on a system that distorted if
it went above living room volume. Not even the other guy I came from
Iowa City with stayed for my set.
I also played a house party -- with Merrick Brown of Tektite and
Chalant, and Tristan Watkins -- when people kept bugging us to see our
request book, like we were the mobile DJ who plays at the skating
rink.
That being said ... I'm a complete sucker for the experience. I would
go anywhere within a day's drive of my house to play, if there was
going to be anyone there to listen. I'd play in your cat piss
smelling basement for an audience of meth heads going through the
pockets of the junkies taking a nod.
