Hotel Quite Acceptable, Los Angeles.
Rising at 03.45, after lying awake for nearly two hours. I am considering a GC project just beginning - compiling The History Of Guitar Craft. This is better undertaken while memory is fresh & living, part of our present, rather than waiting until memories become acts of reconstruction.
17.48 A personal disappointment leaving the UK: missing The Schizzies playing in the UK. Their venue in Holland (see Pal The Wallace's diary) tried to stitch them up over paying their fee - the first envelope had their fee in euros, although the fee had been agreed in pounds sterling. When queried & argued, the second envelope was handed over, ready & waiting to go - the fee in UK pounds. The second envelope would only have been presented if the band made a fuss about being underpaid.
Perhaps reasonable readers of this diary may feel my view of the industry, as fundamentally exploitative & corrupt is, well, unreasonable. I wonder - how would they feel if their wages were paid at 60% of the agreed sum, and only honoured in full if they argued & fought? Or if they were prepared to litigate to get 100 cents in the dollar?
Ian's is only one of many stories to be told by working players. But at least The Schizzies had Hotel Completely Unacceptable to return to after the gig. Others get into a van & set off into the night.
In Los Angeles the sun is shining & the temperature is around 90F.
"We pay our own tab."
