At a show last night, before we got on the stage. I had a teensy bit of a hissy fit before our set. Some one in the band scheduled to play before after ours had placed their amp on the side of the stage, a few inches from the wall. Our set-up was without a full drum set, so we said it was okay for the other band to store a couple of their items on stage to minimize their set-up time.
Me? I felt that it was a tripping hazard and it was in MY WAY. And, you know me, I have a couple of specifications necessary for me to be comfortable before the show. I like a long mic cord to travel where I want to go while performing. I like a lot of space on stage to roll around, should the mood strike me. I have other minor requests, too, but I digress...
This guitar amp was in MY space. It was a threat to my territory.
So, I tried to move the amp, to pick it up. It wasn't a half-stack, but it was heavy as hell. That thing wasn't budging. I did what I usually do when I can't pick up a heavy piece of musical instrument; I tried to push it with my leg. I probably looked somewhat similar to how our genetic cousins, the monkeys, trying to manipulate objects. My rudimentary way was also to no avail.
So, I asked Bassist to move the amp to the back of the stage, far from my path. He said that he wouldn't. Robert, ever the peacemaker, tried to convince me to reconsider. I told him that it was in my way and would have to move. Bassist backed him up saying that it's bad form, bad band relations. However, I was far from reasoning. I told him that if someone didn't move it, I was going to do it myself, any limb I could.
I totally pulled a Diva Threat and stated that I wasn't going on stage until it was sufficiently out of my way (FYI- be wiser than I am and don't do that). Bassist was kind enough to acquiese and moved the amp to the back stage wall. All was right with the world.
Didn't stick around long enough to see if there were any repercussions from my Diva Threat. You can share a stage with me. But, be a hero and make sure your stuff is hugging the wall.
