Long story short: my 18yo son now in college studying bass (on scholarship!) has been doing pro gigs for years with local orchestras along with our local university putting on musicals a few times each year. So it happened they needed a guitarist last minute for the musical they're doing now (Bright Star) and he volunteered good ole dad to audition and I got the part!
I literally got the book Saturday, went to the first practice Sunday, and we did our first live show last night. Mind you, I'm not a great sight-reader (which is why I'm out of my comfort zone), but playing this kind of gig is a unique challenge that I'm really enjoying -- especially doing so with my son standing right next to me playing bass!
Anyway, I figured I'd also share the crazy first casualty of the shows we are playing (from last night):
Yep, that's my son's upright bass with a broken neck!

We were on break during intermission, and he thought he had it propped up securely (ahem, instead of laying it on it's side), when it crashed on stage making a huge racket. Luckily nothing else was damaged (like my guitar, or the other players' banjo, guitar, mandolin, etc.).....and double-luckily the mandolin guy also teaches at the university and was able to quickly grab another upright during the break so my son could finish the show!
So yeah - did I mention I'm having fun?


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