26 September - Winnipeg
How hard is it to start a show? Artist appears in the wings, gives nod to back-line tech who flashes his torch at the soundman who puts on the intro music from which the lighting man takes his cue to dim the house lights and bring up the stage lighting, at which point artist magically appears from the wings. We do it every night. Easy. Or so you’d think.
For some reason – maybe he’s just getting old – my soundman Grant Showbiz has begun to lose the knack of getting the intro track to play on time. He suggested in Halifax that, instead of the flashlight, he should take his cue from when Andy James, our back-line man, puts out the set list. Okay. Let’s try that.
Here’s what happens in Ottawa: Andy, preparing to walk out with the setlist, tells me that, since we started using this new system, he has to ostentatiously tape the set on to the floor to be sure that Grant has noticed. As he walks out to do said deed, Grant suddenly appears around the corner and asks me ‘Are we going on then?’ only to have to sprint back front of house when I tell him Andy is at that moment placing the set list. No sooner has he shot off than Andy reappears in a panic. ‘Grant’s not there!’. At which moment the intro tune strikes up (‘We’ve Got To Get Ourselves Together’ by the Staples Singers – a somewhat ironic choice given the circumstances) and I take the stage – in total darkness.
Fumbling for my guitar, I manage to strap the thing on and fire off a test chord but still no lights. While the audience go crazy, I scream at the monitor man ‘Where are the fucking lights!’ Eventually, someone somewhere flicks a switch and we’re away…
2 Responses to “26 September - Winnipeg”
By kindofjudy on Oct 7, 2006
Well how can you expect Grant to be able to turn down the lights, when he cant even remember what he did with the master tapes for the Falls new album?
By ericthehalfab on Oct 9, 2007
Sounds like you need the “When I nod my head, you hit it!” routine. LOL