So...What was I saying?

OK, last time I talked to you was through a mouthful of fish & chips. I'll be doing that a lot more frequently now, as Festival Season has officially started! Mmmmph, mmmph, mmm....

So, I'm thinking a lot about "festival season" and what that means to those of us who don't have two months of summer vacation to waste. Trusty companion and I make all our holidays into music holidays, really. In my job interview (like eight years ago), I told my boss-to-be that I needed a week in July for Irish Arts Week, and a week in February for Folk Alliance. There was no question of when I'd be using my vacation time. It was scheduled by the event. Now we're wedging stuff in left and right on top of our regular Saturday gig! Well, that's what you get when you ask to be "on the road."

I just love getting those phone calls from the Friar Tuck Resort or that place in Lee, Mass where they're trying to sell you a time-share. I always ask if they have time-shares in Ireland, and what about Irish music events? "That's all we do," I say smugly, as the harried voice on the other end struggles to find a way to "overcome the refusal." "But, Ma'am, you could bring your friends there for a reunion or something....In the deluxe condos, there's room for eight..." "No, look, you don't understand," I reply, "We'll be up ALL night playing tunes. How's the soundproofing in your condos?" They still haven't figured out how to work that one into the telemarketer's training manual!

I feel bad about shutting them down, but by the same token, do they really think it wise to give an Irish musician a Disney timeshare?

Well, look. You really can't ever play enough music, can you? So maybe there's a cheesy Disney gig out there waiting for a couple of wannabes to send in a lousy demo. I wonder if they have the booking agent's address at the timeshare office? Maybe I'll call that harried voice back, after all.....

Have a Happy Festival Season, All!