Beach Blanket Babylon

For 13 years (1979-1992) I was the understudy band leader for this long-running show. The bandleader seat was one of several that, if nobody was in it, the performance would have to be cancelled (other such slots were the onstage leads, the stage manager, etc.). Therefore I wore a pager and was paid a retainer to be available starting one hour before each show, eight performances a week.

I learned a ton from this experience, from what worked and didn't work for an audience (the show was constantly being edited in response to the audiences) to the mechanics of band-leading, and all sorts of unexpected accidental wisdom. Playing the show was hard work - it was essentially a 90-minute medley - and a lot of responsibility, as the bandleader kept the show going and set the tempos. God it was fun and a lot of the performers were just terrific. I got to work with Val Diamond on other projects and even wrote a couple of songs for her.