Monday 23 September 2013

Busy, Busy.

Some months ago I managed to agree to play two gigs on the same day, that day was yesterday.
They were approximately 25 miles apart.
This was not a problem for a man with a plan.

The first performance was with The Flying Aspidistras! (I typed that in bold green on purpose just to see what it looked like.) at the Uke at the Duke Ukulele Festival with Ukuleles.
We are to take the stage at 15:30, we will be playing around about a 10 min set of 3 songs:

  • Puttin'n On The Ritz
  • Rum and Coca Cola
  • There 'ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens.

The second performance with the Bamboo Band, in aid of the RAFA Club, at the Waverley Public House in Bognor Regis.
We are to take the stage at 17:30, we will be playing for around 45 mins.
I'll have no idea what we'll be playing until I'm stood, uke in hand, in front of the audience, waiting for Lord Jim to tell me what to play.

By simple subtraction we can see that the 1hr. 45 min. gap between the two appearances leaves plenty of time to cover the 25 miles from Shoreham to Bognor Regis.

The situation changed on Friday when a half hour got shaved off the Waverley gig start time moving it to 17:00.
Knowing how flexible festival timetables can become I started to worry a bit.
Sunday traffic levels always seem heavier than the normal week day load, I suppose it's made up of people like me going to ukulele festivals and such like.
I know it takes about an hour-ish to get from Shoreham to Bognor.

By Sunday morning I'd become overwhelmed by possible imaginary timetables and pre-gig nerves.
At 13:35 me and my best gal, Lindy Lou, were on our way to Shoreham.

It takes 54 minutes if you choose to take the A27 route BTW.

The clock is ticking and it ticks to 15:35:

Ladies and Gentlemen!


(filmed by Independent Film Maker, Ned Ouwell.)

It is now 16:00 and we're in the car, taking a different route, to Bognor Regis.
It takes 45 mins (including costume change) and:

...they all lived happily ever after.

P.S. I've only just realised what Lord Jim is singing about.

2 comments:

Le Sanglier said...

That was fun! You DO look quite slender. It is nice to be slender and wear a white t-shirt, right?

OutaSpaceMan said...

Truth be told, it's actually Linda's t-shirt.