I'd NEVER let myself in for one of those Chuck Berry gigs. Depending what side of the bed the 'artist' fell off that day, you're NEVER right as far as they're concerned. They start trotting out the 'too' list: Too fast, too loud, too slow . . . . and too dumb to have turned this down to begin with !
I once knew a crew who turned up to back an 'artist' who'd learned his hits six-ways-of-Sunday, to which this clown advised them he HATED the way all of them were produced, and trotted out pig-track charts that were in notation no one had ever seen, 'THIS is the way I wanted 'em', and these guys had seen everything. Right after first telling them of his recent Come-to-Jesus conversion, told in a slurred, drunken monotone. Musta been the Cross on the Jaeger bottle.
What the Hey, there's No Bidness like Show Bidness ! !
In fairness, there are pros out there (usually they're musicians at their core) who are great to work for and with. If you find one, it's a breath of fresh air after the above-mentioned, paying-your-dues experiences.
J o e y
