My first experience as a professional musician came when I was thirteen years old. Czech is my ethnic heritage and I grew up in a Czech farming community in Texas. Just for fun, me and a bunch of my eight grade band buddies use to get together yo play some of the polkas and waltzs our parents danced to when they were young. It was fun, we were pretty good and this lead to performing at wedding and bar-b-que’s during the summer. There was no pay involved, but, at that age at least, eating as good we did at the functions was worth more than money.
We even made it to radio; being featured on the local Sunday afternoon American Czech hour that was broadcast live from some of the events we played at. We were a hit, being just kids and playing the music that the grown ups like to dance to.
Then one of the Dads decided to try and take this a step farther. After one of our live radio performances the owner of a local dance hall approached him with the prospect of hiring us for their New Years Eve dance that year. I am sure the dollar signs started to dance in the farmers eyes as thoughts of his son being in a soon-to-be world famous polka band took over his thoughts. On the spot the two neophyte entertainment entrepreneurs hammered out what was expected of the dance hall to provide for the band, and, what the band was to provide for the dance hall. Hands were shook and the deal was done.
There is not a memory more vividly burned into my mind than watching the parallel rows in the freshly plowed field we drove by, illuminated by the car lights, fan past as I looked out the car window on the way to my first “gig”. I will remember the thoughts that crossed my mind at that point for the rest of this life… and probably for many to come, “This is what I want to do with my life. I want to be a professional musician and play my trombone for everyone.”
Well as can be expected; the mix of pre-pubescent teenage musicians and an adult New Years Eve crowd did not mesh. I do believe the only thing that keep beer bottles from flying was the age and innocent of the band members. After an hour and a half the would-be merrymaker had gone on to merrier circumstances. All that was left was the clash of management and band manager as to whose fault the failure was and who owed who.
Yes you can say I was exposed to both the highs and the lows of professional music in my first night on the job. The naiveté of youth is the only explanation I can come up with for my joy as I went home with the first few dollars I had earned as a musician.
We even made it to radio; being featured on the local Sunday afternoon American Czech hour that was broadcast live from some of the events we played at. We were a hit, being just kids and playing the music that the grown ups like to dance to.
Then one of the Dads decided to try and take this a step farther. After one of our live radio performances the owner of a local dance hall approached him with the prospect of hiring us for their New Years Eve dance that year. I am sure the dollar signs started to dance in the farmers eyes as thoughts of his son being in a soon-to-be world famous polka band took over his thoughts. On the spot the two neophyte entertainment entrepreneurs hammered out what was expected of the dance hall to provide for the band, and, what the band was to provide for the dance hall. Hands were shook and the deal was done.
There is not a memory more vividly burned into my mind than watching the parallel rows in the freshly plowed field we drove by, illuminated by the car lights, fan past as I looked out the car window on the way to my first “gig”. I will remember the thoughts that crossed my mind at that point for the rest of this life… and probably for many to come, “This is what I want to do with my life. I want to be a professional musician and play my trombone for everyone.”
Well as can be expected; the mix of pre-pubescent teenage musicians and an adult New Years Eve crowd did not mesh. I do believe the only thing that keep beer bottles from flying was the age and innocent of the band members. After an hour and a half the would-be merrymaker had gone on to merrier circumstances. All that was left was the clash of management and band manager as to whose fault the failure was and who owed who.
Yes you can say I was exposed to both the highs and the lows of professional music in my first night on the job. The naiveté of youth is the only explanation I can come up with for my joy as I went home with the first few dollars I had earned as a musician.
Jim
Comments