Gig Stories

Gig Stories from over the years..
by Jonathan Fink

1. I played a wedding somewhere in town with a certain violin player and when we tried to leave the job early because they were basically setting up tables on top of us, we ended up running around in the hallways with our stuff trying to get out of the building without running into the bridal party. I never laughed so hard in my life.

2. Once at an Arboretum in Chestnut Hill...back when someone I work with alot drove a Volvo 240, she asked me to go get the car after a job.. I went and got the car and drove it down this little road to where we were set up. It turned out it was one of those cart path roads and very quickly became not a road at all but more like wet grass...I promptly got the car stuck in the mud (volvo wagon's aren't known for their traction in mud it turns out) and ripped up a pretty good sized area of landscaping before getting free. It was getting dark and I remember leaving...quickly.

3. I played every day for a year in the Ritz Carlton when they first moved to the Broad Street location. The job was with a group of people in various combinations and it was really great! We all talk about it to this day and we say "Remember the Ritz?" You know who you are!

4. The Musical Christmas Tree-in the 80's and early 90's there was a big tree that had holiday music on it everyday for a month. 300 lights, 30 Musician, 100 feet tall...or something. It was in the Gallery outside Radio Shack. Mall Sushi was the highlight of the day. Santa sang White Christmas every show. There was a guy who used to come and dance every day named Dancing Homer. Actually that wasn't his name but that's what we called him. People got married at "the tree."

5. The gig by the People Mover in AC-yes it was outside. When it rained-we were required by the Casino to stand on the spot at the time we were supposed to start-then we could leave. Very Glamorous.

6. Korean Concert in AC where the shows were at 10:00 -12:30 am and the 2nd show started at 2:00 am! Everything was in Korean and I was the only English speaking person on the gig. I had a set sheet in English which was useless cause all the lyrics were in Korean. There was a very nice Korean singer who sat next to me and pointed now and then at my music to let me know I should be playing...it was really funny.

7. Chita Rivera at Resorts in 1998 - I will never forget that run because my son had just been born and I was tired and somehow it is all linked together in my head. It was a fun summer and there were two marriages that came out of that run.

8. Wayne Newton when he plays that white electric violin ...

9. Philly Pops with Elton John-watching his band work was amazing and seeing that many people on the Parkway always freaks me out.

10. Israel Pops Tour...so many stories. no more space...

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