Klarinet Archive - Posting 000176.txt from 2002/05

From: "John Blegen" <jblegen1@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Speak!
Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 08:12:39 -0400

As for the worst gig, here's my entry: a few years ago I played a dixie gig
for a union picnic at the Ford Stamping Plant in Chicago Heights, IL (way
south of Chicago). We arrived and started to set up in a tent when the
heavens opened and the rain came pouring down. So they moved us inside.
Inside the stamping plant. Which was running. They had us set up about 20
feet in front of a conveyor belt carrying huge chunks of scrap metal. The
din was incredible. You could only hear the band if you were within 20 feet
of us. People filed by on a tour of the plant and would start walking in
rhythm as they entered the band zone, and then they would lose the beat as
they passed into deeper factory noise. There was a sign posted right behind
us that said something like "Protective hearing gear required for workers
staying longer than one hour." It was a seven hour gig.

John Blegen

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