Yes, it's true. It has been a while since my last post, thought or idea made it's way to the pages of StrictlyLampin'. I've been pretty busy. Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you that's the self professed story of my entire life (which is true). I can't help being important, I've got a lot fo things to get done and only so much time to do them in. For this very reason it has become important to plan my time wisely, to pay attention to things that I have no control over and attempt to schedule them into my life. One such event that is seemingly impossible to schedule correctly is the mid week concert.
This past Tuesday I had tickets to see the newest soul sensation from across the pond "Duffy", who would be performing one of a very limited number of shows in North America. Let me qualify that, myself, my girlfriend, and a few others had tickets for the show, one we were anticipating for weeks. The tickets arrived in the mail and read 7:00pm ddoors open. That is one thing that has always bothered me about ticketed concerts. Why do I care when the doors open? It's such a random yet effective way of ensuring I have no idea what time the show starts, when I need to be there, or even how much money to bring along when I'm stuck holding the bar up for 3 hours waiting for the headliner (or anyone in some cases) to light up the stage and make something happen. How many shows have you been to where the mere sighting of a roadie can set off the drunken masses into a hysterical rush of hoots and holla's. No doubt they, like myself have fallen victim to the idea that a time posted on a ticket is really a marathon starters gun shot, announcing to the world that you may begin spending at the bar. Is it too much to want a utopian society where concert times are posted for paying customers to ensure they can arrive when they feel ready? Even movie theatres stick pretty true to the formula of starting 15 minutes of comercials and previews at the exact time the show is posted to start. Whay can't we get it right in the music industry (bar profits aside, which I suspect is the only logical reason for such ambiguity surrounding start times). Moving on...
Mid week concerts are tough to take in. Actually make that early in the week concerts are tough. When you work full time (not from home Ryan) in an early to start office environment you can rarely afford to take a significant hit in sleep so early in the week. Drinking compounds this problem. For this reason I had decided to use my experience with club shows over the past 10 years or so to my advantage as an older, wiser, office wolf in mid week concert going sheeps clothing (so to speak). If the doors opened at 7:00pm, I'll show up at 10pm, catch the set I've paid to see, and head home. I'm so clever. No, make that strategically equipped. Despite the concerned stares from my girlfriend, who on several occassions had this worried look on her face regarding my strategy, I was instilled with confidence. I know how these things work honey. Relax, and enjoy a drink in the less crowded confines of our dining room, taking in the warm up sounds of Rockferry (Duffy's first album).
As we exit our cab in front of the Mod Club at approximately 10:15pm it is immediately apparent that people are laving the club, and not in any sort of a "we're all heading out for a smoke" fashion. No, I had become a victim of my own creation. My clever idea had turned on me, and the music industry decided at the worst possible moment to take an interest in something I have always wished for - earlier mid week start times at club shows. I for one feel there is a valuable lesson to be learned from this situation. If and when I figure out what it is, I will let you know.
