Last night's show was a weird one. Bitchy, bitchy.
Pool players started doing 9-Ball on Wednesdays about a month ago. This, as a favor. Two weeks in a row now I've had a player come up as I was setting up my show and asked if I could turn my lights off because (they're bouncing off the tables). Uh, no. What's the difference if I annoy you now with my lights, or in 20 minutes. Everybody has the same disadvantage. Pool players and karaoke enthusiasts have to co-exist. Besides, they've got a stranglehold on Saturday nights. I do Fridays, I want Saturdays too. I can't have it because it's pool night. I don't mess with them on Saturdays because - that's their night to shine. Karaoke nights are mine and strictly for partying!!!
Then some older transient type who doesn't like music above elevator decible, asked me if I was crazy. When I asked back ... "I don't know, am I?". He said, 'turn the volume down.' He was a little agitated. Might have been short-circuiting his hearing aid (He tells me the same thing each time he comes in). I kindly told him it was karaoke night and it was going to be even louder once the show started. I suggested he go somewhere quieter. He then said, 'I won't be here if that's the case.' I got stuck for a rebuttal because I wasn't sure if I cared.
If you've read some of my old posts where I talk about this couple who comes in and complains about there not being enough country music ... they were in last night. I started the show off with eight country songs, mainly because the crowd at the time was country - including them. (I start my shows a little early, play some music and encourage people to bring up slips). I even sang all country songs myself last night. Well, at the end of the show, as I was playing my hip hop/rock set to close, both of them started getting lippy with me. Some history:
1) They are long-time regulars
2) They've complained to the owner on several occasions because they don't like my style (but none for a few months until last night).
3) I just started dating her son's ex (they have children together). This woman is my girlfriends' kids' grandmother.
4) I broke up a fight last Friday (where he was on the ground getting pummeled). Essentially I saved his
(@$%!).
My girlfriend was telling me this week that this woman doesn't like me (because I'm a city boy in the country). No big deal - I get that all the time. Then they both come in and starts booing and heckling me. I played one song that totally offending this woman (Fxck the Police, by NWA), even though most everyone else was getting off on it. She was serious too.
![yes :yes:](./images/smilies/emot-nod.gif)
I know it's offensive, it was written to be.
Mind you it was closing time and the Ozzy, Metallica and Accept went over ever better than the NWA (the country crowd normally gives way to the rock/hip hop later in the evenings). I was playing requests. I had two guys (first timers) who said they'd be back because they had so much fun.
So as these two (the bitchers) were mouthing off, I got on the mic and said, "Okay, you two, that's enough. This place comes equipped with a door, if you don't like what you're hearing, leave." You should have seen the surprised look on their faces. He asked me, 'Did you just ask us to leave." I said, 'Yep, I get paid to do a job I don't need the hassles or your disrespect." He followed with, "Fine, I'll tell Lisa (owner) you asked us to leave." I said, "What? You're still here?" She (the woman) ended up writing a note, lecturing my girlfriend, and storming out of the place. They left skid marks tearing out of the parking lot.
Some notes:
1) My girlfriend supports me and my show 100%. She didn't see a problem with it.
2) Nor did the bartender (from the place next door) and her friends, who actually gave me props for sticking up for myself.
3) The bartender, who is all too familiar with these two, said don't worry about the note, 'I ammended it by stated they were both drunk, and asked Lisa to talk with me (her) about it' - she didn't see anything wrong with the show or my 'get the fxck out' suggestion either.
4) I don't like those two any way. I don't care who they are to my girlfriend (actually she doesn't like them much either - too much drama).
5) Did I mention I played an eight song country set to start with - for them, so they wouldn't have room to
(@$%!) later - my bad, eh?
6) After saving this dude's
(@$%!) on Friday night (or at least the remainder of his face), he didn't even say 'Thanks' or anything. He totally dismissed it. This was a 4 person knock down drag out fight - two faces bashed in, two people ended up in jail, and 1 86'd for life (all over a girl). I don't normally get involved, but I was showing off to my new girl.
Anyway, we were the only place left open (of the eight bars in town) after midnight last night, so everybody that wanted to be out drinking had one option. My show. It brought people together that may normally have been scattered about the town. Lot's of annoying people too (the kind that follow you around like puppy dogs, talk your ear off regardless if you're in the middle of a song, setting up, tearing down, q-tipping, and one that keeps hitting me (hard) and thanking me for being such a good friend, even though I do my best to avoid him).
It was a weird night, but it made me think of this discussion. I will never cater to someone or a group of people that treat me with the same disrespect (disdain) as this couple did last night (and has in the past). In fact, I'm seriously thinking about 86'ing them from my shows for a couple of weeks to make a point. I've done it with another girl for similar BS behavior and it proved to work. Everybody wanted it their way last night. I couldn't win any which way I turned.
Shows are like a box of chocolates.