New Opportunities

I can’t believe how much crap I’ve had to do this week. I thought I might have a nice relaxing weekend, but fate has yet again intervened to rob me of precious slack time.

I’ve been doing some work for an opera company in Saint Louis that is a continuation of some work I did last summer. I programmed and set up synthesizers for a modern opera which is now going on tour. I’m basically the only one in the country who knows exactly how to set up the synths, so I got hired to write a little startup guide to help out the new techies as the show travels from city to city. Who knows, maybe I will be shipped of to some far away state to once again hear the strains of minimalist opera. I can only dream…

Anyway, the startup guide has to be done Monday so I can ship it, but the problem is that something has come up and I’ve got to finish it a little earlier than expected.

I heard a rumor that a symphony in town is looking for a bassist ASAP, so I called one of the guys in charge and he confirmed that a bassist was needed. In fact, if all goes according to plan, I’ll have a rehearsal with them at 2:30 and then get on a bus with them and drive to Colorado Springs to spend a few days playing for school kids. I’m a little stressed out about playing classical music again on such short notice. I haven’t played any classical music on bass in 6 months, and though I haven’t lost my chops completely, style, phrasing and perfect intonation are proving quite challenging. If only I had a few more days. At the bar, nobody cares how your bowing looks; at the symphony, they do.

Tonight I also had a gig with the Celtic band at Connor O’Neils. It was a good show but I‘m now exhausted and need sleep. I’ve got to go to the coffee shop tomorrow morning which also doesn’t help my stress and sleep levels, though I’m surprisingly unstressed right now. I guess that’s what Celtic music does to you.

Today’s lessons: Get your work done early, take the opportunities that come your way, and don’t try to learn Bach in 2 days.