In researching this artist, Pegi Smith, I noticed on her web site that she also plays violin. So I had called her and asked if she'd like to play a couple tunes with me. I was just hoping to do some kind of collaboration to draw more attention to her. So I was already open to an unknown sit-in, altho pre-planned.
Ed just happened to show up that night as well. Had it not been for the fact that I'd heard him sitting in with the entertainer at that venue on the previous Wednesday, I would've been more hesitant. But I had heard him and he was a decent player. Besides that, he played viola - a little unusual. As it turned out, we worked together well. And when Pegi joined us, the violin/viola combination was quite exciting, actually.
Now, a couple months previous to this, a guy showed up with his guitar claiming I'd invited him to sit in, tho I don't recall ever doing that. He opened his case on the "stage" under the assumption that I would call him up at some point. I had never heard this guy before and didn't have a clue if he was any good. I told him that I do a lot of original music that he'd never heard before (hoping that might scare him off) but he sat with his lady-friend in the audience for about an hour before he realized that I wasn't going to invite him on stage.
And I felt bad about it afterward, but I just didn't want to interrupt my show, get him plugged in and sound-checked and then hope he'd do something to compliment my tunes.
A couple weeks later I heard this same guy sitting in with another solo entertainer and I was glad I'd passed on him. He was trying to follow this poor guy's arrangements and he just wasn't cutting it.
Woe to the entertainer who is approached by the proverbial harmonica player in the audience. Fortunately, I play harp myself, so I always say, "Thanks anyway - got that covered."
One thing I will say - playing at a bar, or in this case a wine-tasting room (same thing sans pool tables) you're not in a really demanding situation. This is all a little new to me - I haven't played these types of venues in years. But it's certainly a lot more casual than doing a concert, and as I observe the other local entertainers in this environment, it seems to be acceptable to allow the wanna-be's on stage. Still, I'm a lot more comfortable having an opportunity to audition someone before I take a chance.
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