I played a really unusual gig with L (my duo partner) on Saturday in a holiday park in Hastings. It was a fair distance to travel for a gig, let me tell you! I am based near Watford and this is a 2 hour plus drive (or at least it is the way I drive - plus the weather made conditions on the road abysmal). Anyhoo, we'd earlier discussed the option of meeting up halfway to travel on in one car, but I wasn't convinced that the kit we were both carrying would easily fit into one 
motor, so we agreed to travel to the gig seperately. L using her new Satnav and me using my beloved Google Maps directions meant that we both arrived in good time. I'd promised myself I would at least see the sea before going home. Light was failing a little when I arrived in St Leonards on Sea shortly before the time that the contract stipulated we should be there (6pm). Having found the place, Combe Haven Park, I spotted the coast to my left and so I drove on a little and parked up at the brow of the hill to look at the distant shoreline above the rooftops, while I ate my cheese rolls which my partner had lovingly prepared for me. I eventually headed for the gig and stopped at the security gate to ask where the Saxon Club was. I drove around for a bit and finally spotted L on foot walking away from the entrance to an entertainment complex also on campus. This place is massive, built on the side of a steep hill with mobile homes and caravans as far as the eye can see. L said that she had directions so I followed her as she drove down to another big building. We walked into this place and it was clear we were looking at a 'common folks' holidays r us' scenario; the whole scene was fairly typical - a big telly showing Sky Sports, round tables dotted around a big bar area (see pic above) with families with babies and kids, all the blokes were in shell suits of jogging bottoms with sweat shirts - women all dressed about the same. On the other side of the garishly-lit hall were pool tables and fruit machines. There was no stage. We met the entertainments manager who was a gushing teenager (she may have been older - they all seem so young to me these days!). We were told that usually bands set up in the corner but they hadn't had many people playing there anyway. No real surprise. A few of the staff moved some tables from in front of the corner of the room where the miserable-looking few who sat around watched a rerun of a football match on the oversized TV. We got the gear set up and were ready to roll. L was feeling very low unsurprisingly due to some recent events. We chatted until it was time to play our first of two 45 minute sets and then we commenced. 'Magic time' I said as we walked to our corner. It was like playing in a funfair marquee. The place was heaving by the time we started and we went down really well. I was a bit rusty on some of the numbers but we sounded great and it was a good gig. Afterwards, we broke the kit down and took it back to the cars whilst the quasi redcoats yelled and karaoked the throng into submission. One of the entertainments managers yelled and hollered herself hoarse introducing her colleagues to the vaguely disinterested crowd. As we trundeled back and forth with the kit, some hapless tone deaf fat woman was singing 'I Will Survive'. I have never heard anything so terrible. L and I were hysterical. Finally the gear was packed and we chatted for a minute before setting off home. I suddenly spotted that there was a guy about 20 yards to our left crawling in the road. As I watched him clamber to his feet, he staggered and fell really heavily so L and I ran up to help. He was pissed as a newt and had cut his head badly in the fall. I told L to look after him and ran inside to get help. One of the happy-clappy mob (Hayley), came out to assist and was followed by the security guy I had originally spoken to earlier. Eventually, the injured drunk refused all offers of help and brusquely and slightly more steadily, wandered back to his caravan. L suggested I follow her back to the M25 as she had the Satnav and off we went. During the long journey, we chatted on our mobiles which broke the boredom. All in all a great night which we agreed cheered us both up. I did feel quite nervous throughout as were right in the audiences laps virtually, but it was musically good; I think it was one of the best nights vocally I'd had for a long time and I was pleased with my guitar work too. L is always great and this was no exception. All we need now is to receive our payment for the gig from the agent and it will go down as one of the best we have done!
motor, so we agreed to travel to the gig seperately. L using her new Satnav and me using my beloved Google Maps directions meant that we both arrived in good time. I'd promised myself I would at least see the sea before going home. Light was failing a little when I arrived in St Leonards on Sea shortly before the time that the contract stipulated we should be there (6pm). Having found the place, Combe Haven Park, I spotted the coast to my left and so I drove on a little and parked up at the brow of the hill to look at the distant shoreline above the rooftops, while I ate my cheese rolls which my partner had lovingly prepared for me. I eventually headed for the gig and stopped at the security gate to ask where the Saxon Club was. I drove around for a bit and finally spotted L on foot walking away from the entrance to an entertainment complex also on campus. This place is massive, built on the side of a steep hill with mobile homes and caravans as far as the eye can see. L said that she had directions so I followed her as she drove down to another big building. We walked into this place and it was clear we were looking at a 'common folks' holidays r us' scenario; the whole scene was fairly typical - a big telly showing Sky Sports, round tables dotted around a big bar area (see pic above) with families with babies and kids, all the blokes were in shell suits of jogging bottoms with sweat shirts - women all dressed about the same. On the other side of the garishly-lit hall were pool tables and fruit machines. There was no stage. We met the entertainments manager who was a gushing teenager (she may have been older - they all seem so young to me these days!). We were told that usually bands set up in the corner but they hadn't had many people playing there anyway. No real surprise. A few of the staff moved some tables from in front of the corner of the room where the miserable-looking few who sat around watched a rerun of a football match on the oversized TV. We got the gear set up and were ready to roll. L was feeling very low unsurprisingly due to some recent events. We chatted until it was time to play our first of two 45 minute sets and then we commenced. 'Magic time' I said as we walked to our corner. It was like playing in a funfair marquee. The place was heaving by the time we started and we went down really well. I was a bit rusty on some of the numbers but we sounded great and it was a good gig. Afterwards, we broke the kit down and took it back to the cars whilst the quasi redcoats yelled and karaoked the throng into submission. One of the entertainments managers yelled and hollered herself hoarse introducing her colleagues to the vaguely disinterested crowd. As we trundeled back and forth with the kit, some hapless tone deaf fat woman was singing 'I Will Survive'. I have never heard anything so terrible. L and I were hysterical. Finally the gear was packed and we chatted for a minute before setting off home. I suddenly spotted that there was a guy about 20 yards to our left crawling in the road. As I watched him clamber to his feet, he staggered and fell really heavily so L and I ran up to help. He was pissed as a newt and had cut his head badly in the fall. I told L to look after him and ran inside to get help. One of the happy-clappy mob (Hayley), came out to assist and was followed by the security guy I had originally spoken to earlier. Eventually, the injured drunk refused all offers of help and brusquely and slightly more steadily, wandered back to his caravan. L suggested I follow her back to the M25 as she had the Satnav and off we went. During the long journey, we chatted on our mobiles which broke the boredom. All in all a great night which we agreed cheered us both up. I did feel quite nervous throughout as were right in the audiences laps virtually, but it was musically good; I think it was one of the best nights vocally I'd had for a long time and I was pleased with my guitar work too. L is always great and this was no exception. All we need now is to receive our payment for the gig from the agent and it will go down as one of the best we have done!
