Ain’t Life Strange…..
Another instance of right place, right time, or not.
Wednesday nights are the nights my blues duo, me and Smokey, Dog and Cat Daddy, Big Dog and Rico … perform at an Appleton, WI venue. Last Wednesday started off as a nothing unusual night. There was an agent in attendance, that had contacted me about representation, and maybe fifty other folks in the club, some I knew, some I didn’t.
Me and Smokey were having a ball, in this smokeless club, as is all of Appelton’s businesses now. No big deal to me, but Smokey is called “Smokey” for a reason! Any how, it was approaching 1130 pm, and the club owner approached me, with a gentleman I didn’t know, and asked if we would be willing to play awhile longer for a party of folks scheduled to arrive around 1230am. Being the natural gentleman I am, I politely asked “How much?” Without blinking an eye, a generous offer was made, and Smokey and I played til almost 4am for the cast and crew of Johnny Depp’s new movie, being filmed in Wisconsin!! Yes, including Johnny Depp!!!! I had the pleasure of meeting Johnny and Steven Dorff (Blade) and several others among the actors and crew.
As they were departing, I was shaking their hands and receiving their compliments and thanks for playing for them. When Johnny shook my hand, I was already to blurt out, “Mr. Depp, if you ever need a blues band for one of your pictures, let me know!” As he thanked me, and commented how good we were, all I said, “Thank you. Thanks for hanging out with us!”
I figured, he was there to relax, and have a good time without being hounded by autograph hounds (I also didn’t ask him for that - damn!), and folks asking to have their picture made with him. So, I did none of that, although I really wanted to. Who knows, maybe he had such a good time, such a relaxing morning (because it was!), he might remember me, perhaps in conversation about filming the movie, although I doubt it.
This young cat has to see so many faces, and hear so many voices and bands, and photos and stuff, I didn’t want to be in the “bothersome” category, even though, as the old adage goes, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease!”
It was very cool meeting Johnny Depp, and everyone else. Guess I am lucky, in that respect, of being in a business that every so often, puts me in the right place, at the right time … or not!
Big Dog
Scooter said:
And Lucky ME!!! I get to tag along too!
April 18th, 2008 at 8:10 am #
oldwoodchair said:
Wow!..thanks for sharing with us!!…I’m hugely jealous!!!
April 18th, 2008 at 8:37 pm #