At 8.40 am yesterday the Mayor's secretary telephoned me. I already had the prospect of a speech to deliver at Mayor-Making in the morning, in the face of a painfully re-opened ribcage injury, and was looking forward to not having to make any speeches at the Mayor's dinner in the evening. For once I would be able to relax and enjoy the food and wine I had willingly paid for.
"Hello Paul, It's Jenny. I've got a problem." Not with an absent speaker for this evening I thought - I'd already had to replace one who let me down.
"I need an accompanist for Father Peter and his brother who are singing at the dinner."
My heart sunk, knowing how very good their regular accompanist is. I'd rather make a speech.
"I couldn't possibly do that Jenny, especially at short notice."
"Of course you could. Everyone says what a good pianist you are."
"That's all very nice, but I really don't think I could do it."
And so the conversation went on, with my eventually agreeing to try out the music with Father Peter in a morning break in the proceedings, just to confirm that I would be incapable. I thought I was, but Father Peter seemed happy (maybe he thought I was better than no one) and I took the music home to practise, instead of catching up with a pile of work.
At about 11pm, at the end of a very sober dinner, I got up and did my Les Dawson impersonation which seemed to satisfy both singers and audience.
I waived my fee - the lengths I'll go to to save Council costs...
"Hello Paul, It's Jenny. I've got a problem." Not with an absent speaker for this evening I thought - I'd already had to replace one who let me down.
"I need an accompanist for Father Peter and his brother who are singing at the dinner."
My heart sunk, knowing how very good their regular accompanist is. I'd rather make a speech.
"I couldn't possibly do that Jenny, especially at short notice."
"Of course you could. Everyone says what a good pianist you are."
"That's all very nice, but I really don't think I could do it."
And so the conversation went on, with my eventually agreeing to try out the music with Father Peter in a morning break in the proceedings, just to confirm that I would be incapable. I thought I was, but Father Peter seemed happy (maybe he thought I was better than no one) and I took the music home to practise, instead of catching up with a pile of work.
At about 11pm, at the end of a very sober dinner, I got up and did my Les Dawson impersonation which seemed to satisfy both singers and audience.
I waived my fee - the lengths I'll go to to save Council costs...
7 comments:
It was a most memorable concert. (NB my wife was singing!) But why wasn't the printed programme tied into the Festival? That is not political question purely organisational.
As an aside there were quite a number of people who laughingly commented to me as a programme seller that they wouldn't buy one if continued to show the full back page advert for the Cattle Market Redevelopment.
You were willing to pay for the oppitunity to play in public?
Mark - I suppose those who commented thus were quite happy for their programme to be subsidised by Centros Miller - or would they have preferred to pay £4?
BB - I don't understand your comment.
Mark - I suppose those who commented thus were quite happy for their programme to be subsidised by Centros Miller - or would they have preferred to pay £4?
BB - I don't understand your comment.
Paul. The suggestion is that you Paul Farmer, were willing to pay the council for the oppitunity to play in public, and thus willing to over look the fee. Rather than as you indicated no fee to you, was paid, or asked for.
eh, sarcasism is a lost on some people.
Sorry BB, and I'm normally fairly sarcastic myself!
Hey wake up out there! Councillors fees assume 50% of their time is voluntary.
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