I’ve got the bug!!!

Well folks...it has started…I’ve got the “Band-Search Bug”! Chris and I decided fairly last minute yesterday to head out to a wedding showcase that the band Full House (*cough* Michelle Tanner *cough*) was giving. We looked at their schedule online and saw that this was the only wedding showcase they were doing for quite some time, and pretty much decided it was now or never. We had a 40 minute drive out to their location, but it went really quickly and really was not all that far away.

We both had very different ideas of what the night would be like. I envisioned a dance hall with about 10-15 engaged couples sitting around in chairs with the band playing on a small stage. I envisioned the band getting us out on the dance floor and pretty much creating a feeling of “This is what your wedding will be like.” I mistakenly told Chris before we left that he better have his dancing shoes on because we were going dancing!

Chris was envisioning a small bar with tables for two and a waitress bringing us drinks. Some people may dance…others may not, and he…most certainly…would not be dancing.

We took bets on the way there…though not actually for anything, which turned out to be for the best because BOTH were very wrong. This took place at the Eko Music Recording Studio in Deer Park. The band was set up on the sound stage, with 10 chairs in front of them to watch. We walked into the actual recording studio section with all these high tech mixing devices, and walked around to the sound stage with the Band. Chris and I were 2 of 9 people in attendance. There was one other couple, a girl about our age with her parents (who looked sooooo bored the entire time, I wanted to punch her) and two women in the first row who I think were there on behalf of one of their daughters? We couldn’t tell.  Chris and I sat in the back on a couch, and proceeded to be entertained by a live cover band for the next 45 minutes!!! For free!!!!…and they brought donuts!!

I mean..how cool is that? Especially given the fact that our plans last night consisted of eating oreos on the couch while finishing up the movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Don’t get me wrong…I was excited for our big night. Buuut this? This was pretty cool. They did shortened versions of all the classics, The Beatles, The Four Seasons "You're Just too Good to be True", Tina Turner's "Proud Mary", Etta James "At Last", "Don't Stop Believing" etc. etc. etc. I LOVED the three horns they had (saxophone, trumpet and trombone) they sounded really great and added a lot to the sound as a whole. It was all I could do not to get up and dance.

I had a fabulous time and of course…now I want to go see every band in the tri-state area so I can just be entertained live for free every week. I have two more showcases that I plan on attending in the next two weeks that we already know are scheduled. Before, I was dreading this and the time it would take...but now I’m excited!

We talked to the band manager and lead singer, Joe, afterward. He was nice and so chill…he totally has a laid back rocker/guitar-player feel. He was the main singer of the band, very talented and very charismatic. The band has been together for almost 30 years, so they have a long standing reputation. Chris and I both agreed we would be very happy if they played at our wedding…but of course, want to go see some others before deciding on anything. The good thing is...our date is being tentatively held with them since we already went to see them. Joe will now call us before booking anyone else on that date to let us know that if we don’t decide soon we could lose them, which I think is very professional and courteous!

On another note, I got the following email from a member of the band Code Bleu on Tuesday night. This was sent to me after I told them that Monday night showcases were difficult for me to get to because I teach piano on Mondays, and asking if they could please send me a DVD:

Hi Laura,

My band Code Bleu is performing again on March 8th. I hope you can attend. May 20th just booked, but the 21st of May is still open. Perhaps you can make arrangements to make it down that evening. A few of my guys teach as well. I know you'd have to juggle students, I'm all too familiar with that, but I believe you will be glad that you did. The band is extremely tight, very appealing and is one of the "first call" bands in the Tri-State area.

 Unfortunately, we don't mail out DVD's because it's a poor representation of our abilities what we offer. All of our clients say that although the DVD is good, it doesn't come close to seeing the band live.

Again, I know juggling students is a pain in the neck, but truthfully, shopping bands by DVD is one of the biggest mistakes a bride can make while planning her wedding.

Please know that I am only trying to be helpful!!!!

 let me know if you'd like to attend.

 I look forward to meeting you.

Regards,

Sean

I can't tell whether to be frustrated/insulted/or very grateful. Obviously, Sean is giving me some great advice and trust me...I took it to heart. Honestly, the fact that they are already booked Friday, March 20, 2011 is both terrifying and exciting at the same time. The fact that he is the ONLY person that has said to me "you know what? No..YOU come see us. We're not going to make this easy for you" makes me want to know if they really are worth it?. He's playing "hard-to-get" and why I don't technically appreciate the "game" of all this...it's working, and I am indeed interested in seeing this band perform. I merely was trying to break down my options based on DVD's not pick entirely based on them, but whatever. So I may switch around my Monday March 8th teaching schedule so I can schlep out to Milleridge (which is actually a venue I was interested in seeing) to see Code Bleu perform. Oy...The things I do for love I mean, bands.

Full House: Check