War stories...man, you guys have got war stories!

The wonderful little southern Ontario town of Collingwood has an Elvis festival which attracts a quadrillion people, many dressed as Elvis. However, the town's "Celtic Continuum" festival attracted almost zero people one year, and only a handful the next. Literally. The first year we played it, it was on a downtown paved parking lot, and aside from a few volunteers, there was nobody there. We've attracted more folks to a midwinter band practice. The following year, in a nearby pasture, there were maybe a half dozen people, mostly band hangers-on, and a few merchants/vendors. Sure we got paid (thank goodness for corporate sponsors) but without an audience what's the point in showing up?

One little combo I played in was booked to play a pub where the stage was in front of the big screen TV, whereon the hockey play-offs were in full tilt. The crowd, more intent on replacing their blood with booze, ignored us and the TV. I might have been the only one in the room who actually wanted to watch the game, but since it was directly behind me I missed the whole thing.

Lighting equipment falling on my Telecaster, drunken bar wenches falling on a Gibson SG, stolen gear, shorted payments, awol musicians, bad food...it's a wonder I'm not seeing a therapist.

I like hecklers though, they give me an opportunity to vent, and they can be twisted into comic relief. But that's another thread.

Peace. Mooh.