I'm pissed off

Some say it's better to be pissed off then pissed on. But... if somebody was pissing on me, I could just kick the shit out of them (a reasonable thing to do considering their misdeeds) and feel better about life in general. When you are pissed off, the only reasonable thing to do is sit there and seethe.

What I'm massively pissed off about is peoples general disregard for fucking me over. Let me set the stage for you.

Monday, a holiday in the good old USA, I'm booked to play a show. When the person that booked me set the date and time, I wrote it in on my calendar. When I got to the show, somebody else was scheduled to play “My slot” and I wasn't featured on the schedule at all. Remember how I told you Monday was a Holiday? Well I was at a party to commemorate the holiday and I had to leave early because I had a show.... or so I thought.

I sent the venue operator a note card asking when it was they had me scheduled to play, and a day later I still haven't gotten an answer.

Tuesday was NOT a holiday at all. But on my calendar was a early morning show, so I set my alarm clock and made sure I was good and awake. Once again... somebody else was booked in my slot.

While I didn't have to leave a party, I did get up way before I wanted to in order to play the show.

My next show was booked at Melodies and thank you Twiz for being so freaking reliable. You rule dude.

My last show of the day was a really late show. While I did get up early for my morning “no show”. I did stay up late for what turned out to be my late night “no show”. With less then an hour before show time, the owner sends me a note card informing me the venue was closed until further notice.

Now I feel I should mention, before I logged off of Second Life after the Melodies shows, I checked the Live Music Events Listing, and the late show was listed. So somewhere between 4 PM in the afternoon, and 10:03 PM, the venue closed.

I did contact the guy that sent me the note card. I expected a little... commiseration. Perhaps even an apologetic posture. Of course that didn't happen. The guy blew me off saying, “My booking manager told me that the show was canceled three weeks ago”. Way to pass the buck venue owner. When I told him I was a bit upset about the late notification, he didn't say anything. I guess once the buck is passed he doesn't have to deal with it any longer.

You know, a few sympathetic platitudes could have basically fixed things. But the general feeling of just being dismissed left a bitter taste in my mouth.

There are some great venue owners in Second Life, but the sad fact of the matter is just about anybody can rent a parcel of land, sling a few prims around and start booking people.... for tips only of course. These venues seem to last until the ill informed owner grasps the fact that Live Music Venues require a good deal of effort.

You may not think so, but I work my ass off during a show. I do what I can to promote the show and frankly, that's not even my job. I'm suppose to show up, and play the best show I can play, and if somebody is coming on after me, I need to respect their time and get off stage in a timely manner.

I do understand that stuff happens. But I'm not so upset about people constantly letting me down. I'm upset about the fact they don't even seem to care I'm upset about it.

I feel I should suggest that venue owners are NOT doing me a favor by having me play their venues for tips. I do play for tips because I respect the money spent by venue owners to provide a place for me to basically “Roll the dice”. Some times I win, sometimes I'm a bit disappointed, but I always suggest those enjoying my show, demonstrate their appreciation by tipping the venue. If the venue owner receives 1 L$ during my performance, they have profited from my labors. The reason they profit is because I didn't incur the expense of a fee.

I've known some venue owners for a very long time. There are some very devoted music supporters in Second Life, more the willing to undertake all the work required to have a good live music venue. Salute to those that get it right. And to those that mean well, but don't do well.... at least they mean well. Just say you are sorry when you fuck things up. People really just want to know you care about their itty bitty hurt feelings.

And when you waste somebody's entire night because they think they have a show, but your venue is actually closed, pretend for just a moment, you are not a festering anal pustule with no manners or breeding. Be a....well I guess asking you to be a MAN might be expecting too much. But act like a grown up, and apologize.

And in case you are wondering, my itty bitty feelings aren't hurt at all. I'm just pissed off.