Yesterday

Yesterday was Tuesday October 11th. And, I think that that day was too short ! 

Yesterday, Josh Beech and the Johns were playing in Paris, again. It was hard, but the night was amazing. I'm really happy. Really tired, but so happy.

It was hard because this concert asked me very long hours of work, and I knew they will be here just for the afternoon and gig, and that they will leave quickly after.

The first time I heard about this gig was in June. Just after Music Day. The boys were touring in Germany and because they will drive, they thought it will be better to stop by Paris after their last German gig and before going back to London. They were supposed to play two nights, and they finally say one gig. 

Since the beginning, for Paris, I was thinking about one venue. Only one, l'International. Cuz it's a very very good venue, with a very good sound, and a lot of people all the time. 

Only problem, because the venue is free, everybody calls it to book gigs all the time, so the agenda is always full.

After 10 emails, the guy finally said "Ok for me."

I was really really happy, cuz the relationship between this guy and me was... complicated. The first time I called him, it was for Gloria Cycles, he was ok, and I had to cancel because the band split. The second time, it was for A Joker's Rage, they played, there was a lot of people, it was a success. I called another time for A Joker's Rage, called back to cancel. Another band, another cancelling. And this time Josh Beech and the Johns.
The only problem was that the boys were leaving on tour with another artist, Sofi, and she also has to sing. Impossible. I tried to negotiate with the venue : impossible, it's a 3 bands night, cannot have one more. And, impossible for me to cancel and find another venue. The gig is on a Tuesday night. Tuesday night in Paris is desert ! People are not going out. So, we confirmed the gig. 

After that, as you know I spend every minute of every hours of every days on Photoshop to create the poster. I don't know how many times I screamed against my laptop, against Photoshop, against the pictures, against the world. Everytime I was trying something new, there was something bad about it, and I was losing all my imagination and hope.

At this moment, I made a mistake. In July, when I thought that everything was ready for Gary's tour, and that I was working on the posters, I was wrong. I lost a lot of time on that stupid poster and forgot to re-send emails/posts/everything possible for Gary's gigs. So, for both, not a lot of people. 

I was really really angry against that f* October Tour poster ! 

Anyway. Poster. Holidays. Poster. September. Gary. My Aunt's death. Pain. And October.

When Gary left Paris, I took one or two days to not work. After that, I worked a lot on Josh's gig. Newsletter, professional invitations, websites, interviews, everything. The problem was that I was still in pain, and I had good times and bad times. And working when you feel bad is awfull.

Few weeks ago, I needed to send an email to Jack. I sent it. And read it again and thought "God, I'm so rude in that email, and it's not his fault, what the hell am I doing ?"

I was seeing bad everywhere around me and was really negative, so yes, yesterday was a little bit hard.

On Sunday, I needed to check some things with Benoît, the photographer. And he told me "There are strikes on train and subway on Tuesday, so I don't know if I will be able to come or not."

Oh no ! Not again ! Everytime I have a gig there are strikes !! On Monday night, he sent me another email saying that it was impossible for him to come because he had no train !

So yesterday, I left home after lunch. Scared. Paranoid. Everything. 

Walking from the subway to the venue, Jack texted me. I was almost arrived and decided that no, I didn't need to call him back (that's what he was asking). I was almost arrived, and saw he was there, so, yes, I didn't need to call him back.

The first mission was : finding a parking lot for the van. Impossible ? He left me to go back to the van, they turned left, right, right, left, made a lot of detour, at this moment, in front of the venue, one car is leaving and just after, the one behind leaves too. Perfect. They were able to park the van in front of the venue.

The second mission was : learn how to deal with a guy who's more stubborn than you. I thought noone can be more stubborn than me. I was wrong. 

Then, soundcheck, interview. Jokes with the staff. 

 

And then, Josh and John M. go to the van, put on the music, go on the roof, and dance. WTF ?

They danced during 5 minutes, and all the people who were walking there at this moment stopped, took pictures, laughed, made videos. It was great. The good evening was really beginning for me. 

 (love this one !)

Diner was served at 19:30. People were arriving at 20:00.

I started talking with girls I met outside, and other, and I wasn't seeing my friends coming. So, of course I was a little bit worried cuz the girls told me they will come, and there were nobody. Jack told me to not be worried cuz my friends were already here. You have no idea of the power of a simple sentence like this one. I keep talking with other people, and saw Mijie arriving. It was so good to see one of my friends ! Julie arrived a little bit after, and Pauline texted saying she was inside. 

And so, yesterday evening they discovered the band and the guys. The venue was FULL ! Never saw so many people inside for one of my bands ! I was so happy. There were some important people, the guys made good impressions and may have some good news for the future. 

They seduced everybody ! 

After there set, they loaded the van. I made my report on the phone, my friends told me they had an incredible evening, public was keep saying the gig was awesome, it was only good news. We were talking, joking, drinking, smoking, and I knew they have to leave around midnight...Midnight still here.

We made the final goodbyes around 1:AM and it was so heartbroken for me. 

So many hours of work for just few hours with them. Not fair ! ;)

I catched a cab few seconds later, and 30 minutes later I was at home. I fell asleep around 2:AM, and woke with a start at 5:AM. Impossible to go back to sleep. So, I'm sleepy since this morning.

Now, I let them sleep, I think they well deserved it, and wait for the news. In between, I'll try to buy some Eurostar tickets... 

2011 was a shitty year, I want a travel late December, maybe I'll choose London. I have to talk about it to the girls !

(I finally have a message from the boys, they are well arrived in London now, after getting lost in Dunkerque for the ferry ! Did I tell them that maybe it was a bad idea to leave just after the gig because they will be tired, excited, some of them were probably drunk... Love them !)