Did you like New Years Eve Gigs?

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 20 Nov 2009 4:45 pm

Other than the money did any of you Forumites really enjoy playing on New Years Eve ? I remember the House passing out Horns and Clackers early in the evinening and they could pretty much destroy your Ear for the Evening. No matter what key you played in the Horns the people were blowing on were between the cracks. If the place you were playing in was packed then you couldn't hear yourselt or anyone else very well in the Band. Then, years ago, you had to put up with the Drunks during the evening and then dodgeing them on the road when you drove home.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 20 Nov 2009 5:21 pm

Billy, New Year's Eve quickly became my most dreaded night of the year for all the obvious reasons.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 20 Nov 2009 6:38 pm

Well, it can be a chance to make good money, but I don't know that, once you've averaged the year's income out, all the unpleasantness involved is worth it.

I earn my living entirely from music, yet I've avoided doing a NYE gig for about six years now...

It's lovely to be home with my wife and, as we're not night-owls, we rarely get to see that silly ball thing dropping; we're in the Land of Nod by then! (Anyway, the celebrations are far more spectacular in Paris, London or Sydney, and they're long over with by our bedtime.)

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 20 Nov 2009 11:50 pm

After playing smokey honky tonks for fifty years. New Years is just a normal gig. With two kids and two grand kids always look forward to the New Years gig to pay Santa.I just tune the little extra racket and noise out,Have grown ammune to that. Let it rip. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 21 Nov 2009 3:05 am

our normal NYE gigs last from 9pm to about 2:30 am. This includes the mandatory serving of black eyed peas for good luck. Since I am now 2 months of being 81 the last NYE gig I played was two yrs ago. I knew I could last the entire gig so a steeler friend of mine took over for me at the 11pm break and I went home. Pretty good deal for both of us. The band was getting $1000 each. I gave him $800 and I kept $200 and we were both ticked to death. cc

Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 21 Nov 2009 5:11 am

Billy T.....my favorite New Years Eve gig of all time would have to be 2003 when we played the "White Tail Nudist Park" in Zuni, Virginia for their dance. When we got there to set up there was just one old guy in clothes sitting there. As we were putting up the equipment the people started slowly coming in and they'd disrobe at the tables and place their clothing or robes under their chairs.

Sure, there were a lot of "bluehairs" and "flabbies" but it made for an interesting night as there were a lot of "hotties" also!

At one point we were playing "The Electric Slide" and these d@mn blinking lights above me kept blinding my sight. About the time my eyes would recover they'd blink again. I was on lead guitar so I took my guitar neck and pushed the light(s) up and away so they wouldn't bother me. Then I could enjoy the sight of at least 90 naked women dancing unobstructed! That was a sight I'll never forget......

At midnight one naked lady who looked pretty decent walked up to the bandstand right in front of me with a bottle of champagne and a couple of glasses and said "Are you with anyone?" I couldn't hardly speak but I croaked out "Yes, I am".... I really wasn't but she caught me off guard. I guess I missed a great opportunity on that one......JH in Va.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 21 Nov 2009 5:42 am

I worked NYE gigs for many years and just took them as what we did. Now, I would just as soon stay home as work a NYE gig, but we are booked this year and have a signed contract for next year already.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 21 Nov 2009 6:54 am

That reminds me of the banjo/piano accordion duo that do a NYE gig and are so enthusiastically received (

) that the club manager asks if they'll commit to December 31st the following year:

"Yeah, sure!!! Can we leave our gear?"

(I know - the old ones are the best...)

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 21 Nov 2009 8:02 am

According to what I've been reading, there's only three more New Years Eves to deal with, since the end of time will be December 21, 2012.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 21 Nov 2009 10:27 am

That's it, Rick. I'm going to start practicing right now!

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 22 Nov 2009 10:49 am

Last New Years Eve I played at Sullivan's Steakhouse in Anchorage Alaska,I guess that they're a chain?I played guitar with a band that did some Soul a few Country songs,and some Blues songs.The bartender who is my neighbor charged me $4.00 for an iced tea,The gig pretty much sucked.I waited on the sidewalk in front of the club for our very drunk bass player to pick me up after the gig,He couldn't remember which parking garage he parked in?and it was 30 below zero,I froze my face off,Then I got to watch a bunch of fire engines race up the street to put out a fire.In 2000 I played at the Performing Arts Center and we were yanked off of the stage for a bomb threat,Also about 30 below.Not my favorite night.this year I'll be playing guitar at a place called the Petroleum Club,It's a private club mostly people who work on the North Slope and make big oil money...I'll be stealing silverware.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 22 Nov 2009 12:21 pm

Stu, prepare to be ignored. $:\$

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 22 Nov 2009 2:15 pm

If December 31, 2011 will be the last news years eve gig that will ever be played, we should all try to get involved and make it a good one. We could plan some kind of show for December 20, 2012 as a dooms day eve show, but everyone will probably be busy visiting friends and loved ones for the last time. We've got a couple of years to look at the evidence and form our opinions about how accurate this might be. I'm reserving judgement until I can do some more research.

The confusing part for me is that, due to time zones and the international date line, it can't possibly take place on December 21 and this be the same time all over the world. It would have to come in stages. Or is the reference of time to a particular location and the other parts of the world will end simultaniousy? Lot's of things to think about.

Maybe it won't happen at all, or maybe even before then.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 23 Nov 2009 10:45 am

Barry,I hear ya talkin!

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 23 Nov 2009 10:52 am