December 1, 2012 - Cheat Day

December 1, 2012 (Saturday)
(Post 667, Day 336 of 2012, 701 days since starting this blog)

Daily Comment

A rare situation tonight where I had to exercise musical control over a group of musicians to make a gig happen. I had to do it without saying I was doing it, I had to do it without drawing audience attention to myself, and I had to do it without drawing attention to the reason why.

The reason for it was an inadequate drummer. The drummer is a very nice guy, a gentle soul who just happens to be very timid in his approach to drumming, with a lot of insecurity and lack of experience thrown in.

I think I pulled it off. I know that the other good musicians in the band 'got' it and appreciated it. They are all, like me, just hired on. The core of the group is the leader/main singer, the occasional other singer, and the drummer. 

The singers have good voices, but they can't sing - they have no feel for the songs, the timing, even the emotions it takes to put a song across. They are actors, who don't know their cues. having come from a karaoke background and not having an on-screen guide to tell them what to sing, and when.

The drummer doesn't put forward a steady beat until someone else establishes a rhythm. He often loses the 'one' when he does fills. He gets 'upside down' on the basic rhythm a lot.

So it was hard work for very little pay.

I am grateful for the opportunity. Gigs (actually, this sort of thing is rare on gigs, it is unusual for a group with such a weak basis of performance to get gigs) or jams where this happens are quite challenging to make musically satisfying, and I got a few spots that I was very happy with the music. I was pushed and pulled in unusual ways, and managed to step up, giving me a different sort of satisfaction with the night than is usual. 

So yes, grateful for the gig and grateful to the other musicians, both the accomplished ones (guitar and harp) and the less-experienced, still-striving other players on the gig (vocalists, drummer, sax player). 

Namaste.

  

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Food and Diet Section

Year 2012 daily weight from December 31, 2011

 Today's Weight:        203.4 lbs 

Yesterday's Weight:    204.6 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:     - 1.2 lbs

Diet Comment

Typically for a weekend day, I slept in, and just ot up in time for the Regional market and lunch.

Food Summary

• From the Regional Market: Apple Crisp, macaroons.
• From Mama Nancy's:

  

  Half-size Big Anthony fritatta ("New" Hot Italian Sausage style): Eggs, potatoes, broccoli, onions, peppers, sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, swiss cheese. Rye toast (dry),and  hot sauce. Not shown: Grapefruit juice.

• Brownie and cookies.
• Ice cream.

Liquid Intake   

   Coffee:  24 oz,  Water: 120+ oz. 

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