The alley was empty. Soon it would be full of delivery trucks and people preparing for the day.
Del half noticed that the lamps were dark and the street light. It was the other way around when he was heading home to change after the gig.
He hated his work and was always tired.
As the newbies they played their three sets after the popular bands had played theirs. Made for late nights and small audiences.
He played through a tough line in his mind, wishing he had time to practice.
“You’re late,” Bob said as he opened the door.
***
word count = 100
Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week’s prompt is here and uses a photo by @ Roger Bultot. If you want to join or see other stories, go to the inlinkz linkup.
Trent's World (the Blog) 
The other side of the entertainment business nicely captured.
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Not very glamorous… Thanks.
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Performing music can be such a joyful experience. I hope Del has some of that joy, even when he’s playing for a few drunks.
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If he isn’t enjoying it, even when he is just playing for a few drunks, maybe it is time to start concentrating on finding a day job he likes…
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Always the “second fiddle” so to say. Great story! Happy Thanksgiving!
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Thanks! Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you are havign a good weekend.
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Seems he’s trapped in an unsatisfying job. Hopefully one day he’ll use the exit door one last time.
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Even if his music doesn’t form an escape, hopefully he’ll find something he enjoys more than what he is doing.
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Dedication and hard work can become disheartening if the rewards never seem to compensate.
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Yep. Putting in “your dues” sometimes is just that with no reward for it…
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Oh my, Trent, so many lines play in my head from “The Sad Café” — Well done.
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Now that’s a song I haven’t heard in quite a few years.. Thanks!
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Overnight sensations take years to happen… The life of a musician is not an easy one but you have to pay your dues…
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You have to pay your dues, and so few actually make it even with years of toil…
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Absolutely. So many are not willing to.
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The prevent jitters affects us all. Nice one.
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Yep. Thanks.
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He has rehearsed in his head.
Am sure he’ll play really well.
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Sometimes rehearsing in your egad is almost as good as doing it with your actual fingers – hopefully the hard work and long hours do pay off…
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Better than frying up eggs and mushrooms for the customers in the caf, in the morning I suppose, but sounds like he is caught bang in the middle of a rut he’s never going to climb out of….
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Not sure what the day job is, but it might be even worse than a short order cook… Maybe some day his night gig will pay off…
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Maybe he can find another job that gives him a bit more time for practice.
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Maybe, and hopefully more time for sleep!
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Dear Trent,
I should think the small bands would open for the bigger ones. I hope Bob is understanding. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle, when my brother’s band used to play in NYC, the all night bars would have the most popular band at prime time, say 9 to 11, a pretty popular but smaller opening band open for them, another pretty popular band at 11, a not so popular band at 1 and the newbies at 3, playing to like one or two drunks. Hopefully Bob does understand, but…
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