Getting Fired

Jon,

I've considered you my friend all this time, I've been playing your event for two years, since April 2014. I'm really disappointed that I have been dismissed. The haters have appeared. Last month, an old Irish man came all the way up the hill to ask me to stop singing and performing. I told him I would not. I assume this was one of the haters. I want you to be aware of of what I am doing as a performer. I was offered all four days at the Temecula County Fair this weekend and I turned today down, because of my loyalty to your Swap Meet. My band and I have been hired in July for 5 weeks at $400.00 each week for a two hour gig each Saturday. I've played the Riverside County Fair last month. and will be returning to the San Diego County Fair this year. I did 102 gigs last year and made sure or tried to make yours each month.

There has always been great support from your vendors. There were a couple near me that always applaud and make sure that I have made enough tips to make me want to return. The food truck guy and his wife have always made sure I had food and drink if I needed it. I've met great people out there. Got several private party gigs from your customers. I've always made $30 to $50 there each month, which means at least 30 people like what I do.

I love the acoustics there, I always have. I've had customers walk all the way up the hill to find me to give me a tip or compliment what I do. 

I know you have a responsibility to your event and your bosses, but I would suggest, in the future, that instead of reacting to the haters that you take a vote. Each of your vendors have to pay you- have them cast a ballot to decide the fate of the performer. I think you will be surprised.

Anyway, I'm sorry to lose you as a friend. I'm sorry to lose the Swap Meet. If you ever manage to find anyone willing to perform out there again, I'd suggest you work harder to keep them. The venue can't support a band and the power is problematic. I'm afraid it's going to be somebody like me.

With regret,

Dan McNay

Bar 20

So, I had a very good 45 minute set that the Bar 20 on the Friday night Surge Event. There were a lot of late twenty- early thirty women in residence. I started with "January Wedding" by the Avett Brothers, which ALL of them know. I do a very old song by Tom Paxton "When Annie Took Me Home" which I've discovered with my voice and whatever I'm doing goes over really well with women of any age. So I'm applauded every song. There's a group of Canadian women that are really expressive. At the end, one of them wants to know if I can play a John Prine song. I know one. I warn her ahead of time, she won't know it. I do "Grandpa Was A Carpenter" which Ed Zimmerman used to sing with the Rhubarb Band, which I have have been singing now forever. Anyway, afterward. Their want to have their picture taken with me. They want the CD. The Surge Guy there doing sound sort of notices how well I've gone over. So I get these email. Yeah, reality check. I'm going to work a Tuesday night small group into the same thing? I'm going to randomly attract total strangers to come to the hooky forgotten bar on Sunset on a weeknight to pay a cover to see me?
I think you have to look life Tom Cruise and sing like Michael Jackson to pull this off. Wake up, there is no La-La Land.
It's never gonna happen. And I ain't going.

3:15 PM (5 hours ago)

to T, bcc: me
THANK YOU for performing at Bar 20 this weekend!

We have some openings for artists to perform in the Downstairs Acoustic Lounge at the Viper Room on Tuesday April 5th. Cover is only $10 and we ask that you be able to try to bring 10-15 persons to see you.

Let us know if you are interested and thanks again!

T

T-roy

Westchester First Fridays - Episode 7 - March 2016

Where I'll Be

Where I'll Be This Month

A Man Came Up From Town

After 40 some odd years, I've started singing this at my markets. It was the only song I learned on banjo at 22. This is not quite what I do with it. This isn't even Kenny singing it, which he never did. It's still a work in progress. If you overhear me and hear 'they curse his birth' its this song. I wrote a screenplay with this as a title. Somethings will never let you go.