I find myself in a theater in Florida that I have played on a few occasions. It’s a good load-in and the gig is actually a decent venue to play. But as we are driving up to the gig, I hear the production manager bellow, “Let’s just get this one over with.” I ask him why he doesn’t like this particular place. “The gig is just fine, but wait until the stagehands start in with their attitude.” I never recalled this being a problem when I walk in, but as the day goes by I get what the PM said. I’m getting back talk and snappy answers to many of my simple questions. I ask if they have a hole on the side of the stage — I have to run the snake through. I’m met with a snazzy reply. “Of course we have that,” the guy says, adding, “and we will get to it in our own time. We’re not like those crap theaters you guys have been playing, we are pros here. We’ll let you know when the time is right.” I just asked a simple question. I didn’t ask for any lip.
—From “LD-at-Large” by Nook Schoenfeld, PLSN, Jan. 2014
