It was raining a little, which was badly needed. The room was filing up with people and I was in the middle of "Listen To The Rythm of the Falling Rain", in fact just singing the bridge. All of a sudden a blinding flash of light outside, then another a few seconds later and all electricity was dead. I quickly pulled the power cord from the wall.
Lightening had struck a transformer just outside the building. The large power cable broke in the middle and fell atop a row of customers' cars that were valet-parked.
A 2005 Mercedes was directly underneath and the cable came to rest on top. Somehow there was no damage to the Mercedes or any of the cars.
The staff brought out extra candles. The chefs continued cooking (with gas of course).
I went into the main dining room and played the new Yamaha piano for the next hour.
Even though I'm not a piano player, the customers were kind enough to applaud!
The bad news is I've never really played piano and my hands started cramping and hurting. Maybe I should practice in case that ever happens again.
About 10:00 I gave up and left and went down the street to where HankB was working. Of course I had to get up and sing. In the middle of the first song--THE POWER WENT OFF there too! Unfortunately for the crowd, it came right back on. Hank rebooted the Midjay and PSR3000 and we finished the song. I decided to go home before I caused more damage.
I only hope when I go to the club today that my equipment is functioning and wasn't fried by the lightening. I know the laptop is o.k. so I would expect the keyboard and p.a. to be alright as well.
DonM

This is a shocking story!

Sounds like this one needs to go in your book. There's nothing like this business. Hope your gear is ok.

Joe

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Songman55
www.joeayala.com

Hey Don....congratulations...you are a real trooper.......remembering the slogan...the show must go on...I'm sure that the owners of the restaurant will not forget your dedication.....Good Work.....
Tony Rome

Don,

You had better wear rubber underwear just in case lightening wants to strike again.

Al

Was your gear running through a surge protector?

If it was that close of a hit it may not have helped anyway. But as much lightning as we get in Florida, I wouldn't be without one.

Eddie

Don:

Perhaps Mother Nature is trying to tell you something? I think maybe you have a great story-line for a new song. If I write one are you gonna expect credits? (LOL)

Hope none of your gear was damaged.

All the best,

RICE

And I was trying to finish recording so I could come catch your show. I would probably have parked right there and it would have totaled a Ford Taurus.


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Bill
Yamaha PSR2000

Well it got my attention! A couple of bogies on the golf course today didn't seem nearly so bad.
I actually use TWO surge protectors. I'm not expecting any damage, but I'll know for sure in a couple of hours
Rice-go ahead and write the song!
Bill, you should have come on down. We could have gone to Hank's and then a customer took me out for a steak dinner.
DonM

Just got home. There was no damage to any of my stuff. That's good because there's not any keyboards out there that I've been able to personally try out that I would consider replacing the SD1 with at this time.
DonM