Why I walked out of a good gig...

[tonym]

Now to a lot of you guys, especially the gigging ones, you've probably seen all sorts of behaviour at gigs over the years. I though, have been lucky I suppose in that all the ones I've ever attended have been patronised by fairly courteous, eager-to-hear people ( bar the one girl at a Dave binney gig who insisted on discussing Chet baker with her friends.... ) who want to experience just more than value for money.

However, on Wednesday evening my wife and I planned to go to hear a band playing at the new Jazz Bar in Edinburgh, Scotland. It's a new venue, built after the last one was victim to a huge fire in the old part of the town. It's also run by a drummer who was playing on the night with the trumpeter Valarie Pomanerov.

We arrived about 20 minutes late but the band had only been on for one tune and the place was getting quite full.

We sat, quite near the back as it happens and over the course of the next 20 minutes many more arrived, some content to stand at the back after getting a drink frm the bar yet the majority proceeded to edge their way near the centre of the room and crowd the bar and obscure the view of those sat at tables. One couple of blokes stood and talked about football for a good while without actually acknowledging there was a band playing unitl I asked them to shut up.

Several tables near the back were occupied by people who's conversations grew louder and more raucous over that time.

Eventually, I approached the manager at the door and said that although it was a bar, I, along with others, had come to listen to music yet I seriously couldn't hear myself think. I suggested that although I didn't want to be a pain in the arse, I would be leaving with my money back or there would be some serious words with the offending parties . I was met with, "I dinna blame you mate, this woman here, (pointing) is doin' ma fuckin' heeed (Scottish accent) in". The woman looked up, paused then went back to her howling and cackling.

Where do people get off? It's just so rude. I'm aware that it was festival time in Edinburgh and many folk just go to these venues to hear some 'jazz', any jazz, or some other genre that they don't normally experience, but this was a good band, not some local students playing for exposure or indulgence.

I really felt for the tenor man who, when he oozed into 'Everything Happens To Me', struggled to be heard above the rising volume.

Rant over but how do you fellas feel about behaviour like this?

I did insist to the manager that I would return to the club in future, just not when these arseholes were hanging around.

Was I the pain in the ass the whole time?

[7/4]

No.

[Jazzmoose]

Waaaaay off topic, but that's got to be the best written example of a Scottish accent I've ever seen!

[Jim Alfredson]

At organissimo gigs, if the crowd isn't talking as loud or louder than the band, we feel out of place!!

[ghost of miles]

I went to a jazz bar in D.C. about 13 or 14 years ago, right before I really fell in love with the music, and remember being surprised that the bar strictly enforced silence from its patrons during the sets. Later on I "got it."

[robviti]

i don't think you were being a pain, but perhaps your expectations exceeded what the venue was offering. the clubs i frequent on a regular basis have a strict policy of "limit your conversation to a whisper in respect for the artist" that's stated at the beginning of the show and consistently enforced. i go to these places expecting to hear the music, and so do most others in attendance. there are a few other nearby establishments, however, that have no such policy. once, when i complained about the fact that several tables were holding loud conversations, i was told by the manager: "it's unfortunate, but if i told the people who come in here for food, a drink, and conversation to quiet down, i'd go out of business." obviously, i rarely go back to these kinds of places. yes, it's annoying, but what do you expect? if the people where you live choose to run this type of club, i suggest going elsewhere for your music.

[GA Russell]

The worst town I've lived in for that sort of thing was Atlanta.

I suppose these are the same jerks who loudly speak on their cell phones in public places.

[Sundog]

This thread reminds me of a story I once heard about Jim Hall who while onstage in the middle of a performance forgot to turn his cell phone off. When it rang, he actually answered it and told the person to call him back during the bass solo.

Edited August 26, 2005 by Sundog

[AllenLowe]

Different kind of noise:

Bob Neloms told me that when he played a gig with the drummer Beaver Harris, Harris and the rest of the band played so loud that, when Bob was introduced after the first song, people looked up in surprise because they hadn't realised there was a piano -

Edited August 26, 2005 by AllenLowe

[sheldonm]

This thread reminds me of a story I once heard about Jim Hall who while onstage in the middle of a performance forgot to turn his cell phone off.  When it rang, he actually answered it and told the person to call him back during the bass solo. 

←

[Rosco]

I am constantly dumbfounded by people who go to gigs in order to have conversations. I can never tell if they don't realise or just don't care that they're being an irritation to people trying to listen.

Just as irritating if you're playing. I was playing a gig once where a couple seated near the front spent a good 20 minutes having a conversation at the top of their voices despite being seated within two feet of each other. Eventually, during the middle of a solo, I came off the bandstand and stood over their table, playing loudly at them. They got the message pretty quickly and shut up (Don't think they were too pleased though as they left a few minutes later).

[tonym]

i don't think you were being a pain, but perhaps your expectations exceeded what the venue was offering. the clubs i frequent on a regular basis have a strict policy of "limit your conversation to a whisper in respect for the artist" that's stated at the beginning of the show and consistently enforced. i go to these places expecting to hear the music, and so do most others in attendance. there are a few other nearby establishments, however, that have no such policy. once, when i complained about the fact that several tables were holding loud conversations, i was told by the manager: "it's unfortunate, but if i told the people who come in here for food, a drink, and conversation to quiet down, i'd go out of business." obviously, i rarely go back to these kinds of places. yes, it's annoying, but what do you expect? if the people where you live choose to run this type of club, i suggest going elsewhere for your music.

←

That's the weird thing because of all my expectations, this place was the one 'sanctuary' where I assumed there would be good music in a suitable environment; the club owner is a well known British jazz drummer and it has a reputation nationally for offering high quality acts.

The thing is, where I live, some 250 miles from London and 180 miles from Edinburgh, good jazz clubs are thin on the ground and I don't get chance because of my circumstances to visit other cities to listen to good music. So it's special occasions like this (a few nights away with my good lady sans child) that I get the opportunity; if my expectations exceeded what is being offered in a joint like that, then I am up shit creek

[tonym]

I am constantly dumbfounded by people who go to gigs in order to have conversations. I can never tell if they don't realise or just don't care that they're being an irritation to people trying to listen.

Just as irritating if you're playing. I was playing a gig once where a couple seated near the front spent a good 20 minutes having a conversation at the top of their voices despite being seated within two feet of each other. Eventually, during the middle of a solo, I came off the bandstand and stood over their table, playing loudly at them. They got the message pretty quickly and shut up (Don't think they were too pleased though as they left a few minutes later). 

←

well done that man

[robviti]

sorry you lost your "jazz sanctuary," tony. despite the fact that i live near boston and the berklee college of music, there are relatively few places to hear jazz where the music is most important thing on the menu. of the two premier jazz clubs, one books predominantly smooth jazz and adult contemporary r&b acts. the other, my favorite club for the last 15 years, has changed drastically over the past year. it's now booked by the people who run the blue note clubs. there are far fewer bookings now, and the kind of acts they frequently feature aren't exactly my cup of tea. these sad conditions make my jazz weekends in nyc even more special to me. now there's a place to hear live jazz!

p.s. one of the last times i went to a jazz supper club, i found myself repeatedly annoyed by a guy at the next table who wouldn't stop talking to his date. the thing that enraged me the most about this guy was the fact that before the show i spoke with him briefly. he introduced himself as a classical pianist. all i could think of was how could a musician disrespect another artist in this manner?! my revenge fantasy: find out when his next recital would be and return the favor!

Edited August 27, 2005 by jazzshrink

[Dan Gould]

p.s. one of the last times i went to a jazz supper club, i found myself repeatedly annoyed by a guy at the next table who wouldn't stop talking to his date. the thing that enraged me the most about this guy was the fact that before the show i spoke with him briefly. he introduced himself as a classical pianist. all i could think of was how could a musician disrespect another artist in this manner?! my revenge fantasy: find out when his next recital would be and return the favor! 

←

Do so with a Pez Dispenser.

[tonym]

p.s. one of the last times i went to a jazz supper club, i found myself repeatedly annoyed by a guy at the next table who wouldn't stop talking to his date. the thing that enraged me the most about this guy was the fact that before the show i spoke with him briefly. he introduced himself as a classical pianist. all i could think of was how could a musician disrespect another artist in this manner?! my revenge fantasy: find out when his next recital would be and return the favor! 

←

Do so with a Pez Dispenser.

←

Or scat á la Keith Jarrett through his solos.

[DTMX]

my revenge fantasy: find out when his next recital would be and return the favor! 

←

Make yourself a card that identifies you as someone with Tourette Syndrome. Then you can bark your way through his set with impunity.

[robviti]

guys, your suggestions are totally inappropriate. -_-

i love it!

[PHILLYQ]

p.s. one of the last times i went to a jazz supper club, i found myself repeatedly annoyed by a guy at the next table who wouldn't stop talking to his date. the thing that enraged me the most about this guy was the fact that before the show i spoke with him briefly. he introduced himself as a classical pianist. all i could think of was how could a musician disrespect another artist in this manner?! my revenge fantasy: find out when his next recital would be and return the favor! 

←

Do so with a Pez Dispenser.

←

Good one, Dan!

[Chuck Nessa]

If you play Chicago, expect the audience to talk back to you. It may be "go brother" or it may be "do something". Real Chicago audiences will let you know.

[JSngry]

If you play Chicago, expect the audience to talk back to you. It may be "go brother" or it may be "do something". Real Chicago audiences will let you know.

←

There are Dallas audiences like that (as well as the dolts), mostly nin-white. I wouldn't take for them. My favorite is "TAKE your time!" You get somebody to say that, you know it's gettin' good to 'em.

[Rosco]

Speaking of Chicago audiences...

I wish that idiot who talks incessantly through the first night of Miles at the Plugged Nickel would shut the hell up!!

It's a bit late to get worked up about it now, I know, but...

[Alexander Hawkins]

i don't think you were being a pain, but perhaps your expectations exceeded what the venue was offering. the clubs i frequent on a regular basis have a strict policy of "limit your conversation to a whisper in respect for the artist" that's stated at the beginning of the show and consistently enforced. i go to these places expecting to hear the music, and so do most others in attendance. there are a few other nearby establishments, however, that have no such policy. once, when i complained about the fact that several tables were holding loud conversations, i was told by the manager: "it's unfortunate, but if i told the people who come in here for food, a drink, and conversation to quiet down, i'd go out of business." obviously, i rarely go back to these kinds of places. yes, it's annoying, but what do you expect? if the people where you live choose to run this type of club, i suggest going elsewhere for your music.

←

That's the weird thing because of all my expectations, this place was the one 'sanctuary' where I assumed there would be good music in a suitable environment; the club owner is a well known British jazz drummer and it has a reputation nationally for offering high quality acts.

The thing is, where I live, some 250 miles from London and 180 miles from Edinburgh, good jazz clubs are thin on the ground and I don't get chance because of my circumstances to visit other cities to listen to good music. So it's special occasions like this (a few nights away with my good lady sans child) that I get the opportunity; if my expectations exceeded what is being offered in a joint like that, then I am up shit creek

←

Tony - who's the drummer who owns the club? I think I may be up there in a few weeks, and was wondering!

How was the gig? I know someone else who was planning on going - not sure if they made it, although it sounds like it might not have been ideal anyway...

[Clunky]

I think you chose the wrong venue in Edinburgh. Henry's jazz cellar has a no smoking and no noise policy as it describes itself as " a listening venue". People taking above muttered asides or whispers my be asked to leave (this happens only occasionally).

Even when packed in the festival it's atmosphere remains electric. Saw Fredrik Nordstrom, David Binney, Trio AAB and others during the recent jazz festival and the atmosphere was superb.