Ernest just texted me to come to work Friday. Governor is letting us open back up under some severe restrictions. 25% capacity, 10 feet between tables, etc.
Can't wait!

Best wishes, Don ...
Stay safe, Stay well, God Bless ...
I'm sure your fans are as excited as you ...

Congrats!

Wow - that is great news!

Yes it is. I'm going to be very careful, but there won't be anyone very close to the bandstand, and the dance floor will be closed.

All the best, Don ! ! !

Best Wishes Don...That's where You belong!....Harold

Great news Don.....stay safe and good luck.

Enjoy that return to fun...err... work! Glad to hear you're heading back Don!

Congrats on getting back to work!

Be very careful Don, but congratulations. When you hit that first note, it'll remind you of your very first gig

Happy for ya, bud. Earlier in the year, my summer haunt booked me for Mondays (again) and 1/2 hour ago - they posted THIS on their fb page> sigh ...

... hope it changes by JUNE!

The way people are acting I think its going to be dam bursting when things open up more and that may not be good. I've gone to both Lowe's and Home Depot in the last week and its a free for all. 50% masks some distancing and a lot clueless people.
We haven't bee hit very hard here but the tourists are coming.
Hope everyone gets some gigs back in a safe way.
My community is restarting food truck Fridays at our pool area (pool is still closed ) and I offered to play with my sax player as "The Jersey Guys" for tips for our communities charity, the local food bank. Be good to get out.
We're stressing safe behavior but we'll see what happens.

Good news Don! I know you’ll give ‘em a great show

I was talking to a friend of mine who has his own construction company ... he was in Home Depot and most customers were not wearing masks ... if someone said something to them they started yelling about their individual rights !!! ... how about the individual responsibility not to bring harm to another ?!?!?

+1

Interesting...he's having a little trouble finding people to work, even though some of them have been there many years. They are making more money on unemployment and incentives and don't have to work.
They'd better be careful though, it could cost them a job when this is over.

I could see that happening, Don, ... I can understand people being reluctant to go back to work in such a public environment, but it has to happen sometime ... and to say it's because you are better off NOT working, is kind of a slap at an employer who might have held you on even if times were not good ...

Oh, you don't know how many times he has done that over the years. I'm sure enough of them will come around. Don't need the entire staff right now anyway.

The club asked me to start back this ?Friday. I will not go inside. They said they would build a little raised stage (for separation) out on the covered patio.

I am thinking about it, but it may be time to hang it up.


Russ

BTW, Don, that "you" was not the personal you ... I'm sure you knew ...

Oh, I know. I'm not drawing anything, but there's a reason for that.

That’s good news. Just take care.

We've had to shut off reservations for Friday, so many people wanting to come.
Ernest did have the virus so he closed entirely for a month, even including takeouts.
His symptoms were extreme weakness, fever, pneumonia, headaches...they gave him antibiotics for the pneumonia. He was never hospitalized. Took about two weeks for symptoms to go away. He has now been tested negative for nearly a month.
I may take my gear over tomorrow and set up and set levels, etc. No customers will be there, so it will be better than trying to go early Friday. For now, and actually most of time, I'm the only person in this area with a "sit-down" music job. The other places are opening up too but they have different acts each weekend, and most often they are for only one night. Most of them are not having music right now because they aren't big enough to allow enough room for a large enough number of customers to make it profitable.
Bars and venues that don't serve food still can't be open, unless they seat people outside only.
We have four large rooms, and my music will be streamed throughout the building.

Not surprising about the need to shut off reservations ...
Don, you are fortunate to have such a set up, but you've earned it through your hard work, and giving Ernest and the clientele what they want ... Good that you are going to set up when no one is there ...
Also good to hear that Ernest survived all that ...
Be careful, my friend
God Bless

PS What's the first song going to be?

"What's the first song going to be?"
I'm Back In The Saddle Again!!!

YEAH !!!

Good deal! Be careful, but glad you're back!!

So, Don, how was it ?

Better than Hot Blooded. "I'm hot blooded test it and see, I got a temperature of 103"

It went great! My favorite cu$tomer was there. Started at 6:15 and quit at 10:30. Pretty tired now.

Of course it went great ...
Are you on a regular schedule now?

So how was the crowd control over the weekend, Don ? ...

Everything was fine. Friday was pretty busy, but restricted to about six large tables in the lounge, plus a few at the bar. All except two tables turned over once. Those two tables stayed all night, one with 10 and the other with 8 people. They made my night for sure. All the tables were separated by at least six feet. I didn't take a break so didn't interact with anyone at close range. I even parked my own car--imagine that.
There is an iron rail around my bandstand, so even the few people who danced were no nearer than 10 feet from me. I set the tip jar outside the railing.
I emptied the jar, took the money home and sprayed each bill with disinfectant and let them dry, then washed my hands.
Saturday we had lots of reservations but our WEEKLY storm came through and lots of people stayed home. But still it was o.k. Again, had two really good tables and that is enough to make me pretty happy at this time.
The last hail storm totaled out my beloved 06 Expedition, so I purchased another vehicle Friday. Got a 2015 Chrysler Town and Country. I love it so far! My wife's car was also totaled, but she says she wants to take the money and keep the car, so we'll see how long that decision stands. It really doesn't look bad though, once we replace the windshield.
Getting a new roof and new gutters on the house this week and then things may get back to normal, whatever that is.
I don't plan to work again until the weekend, unless something big comes up. All my stuff is set up again so I don't have to move. I did book another outside party at the lake for a Sunday in June. I have three of those on the books now. This one is near my house but the other two are out of state; one in Texas and one in Oklahoma. I almost sold my second set of Maui Five speakers a while back, but glad I kept them so I still have two sets of everything, except the keyboard. Keeps me from having to move the gear at the club.

It sounds as though things are shaping up well for you, Don ... glad to hear it ...

Good new Don...stay safe out there and make $$$$$$$$$