power play

you can take the boy out of the frat, but you can't take the frat out of the boy.

performed last night at my regular friday night gig. sets went well, crowd clapped regularly, were visibly groovin to the tunes for most of the evening.

after about an hour and a half of playing, i informed the crowd i'd be going around with tip jar to collect contributions for the band. i was about 7 tables into my rounds where people were happy to give what they could when i came upon a table of men in their mid forties.

when i approached them i was met with smiles and a compliment. as they reached into their pockets a buddy of theirs returned from smoking outside and took out his wallet to reveal a five dollar bill (a standard minimum as far as tips go). he held it out flat between his fingers and paused. he stared at me , face serious, "can i have some change for this". his buddies smirked and laughed behind me. "for a five?" i questioned. "yeah, can i have three dollars change please." his buddies behind me were laughing muttering, he's joking, he's just joking. but he wasn't. i tilted the jar toward him and told him he could take it out of the jar if he'd like. "i'm not putting my hand in there". he wouldn't budge and was staring me down, enjoying his little game, fuckin prick. my blood was boiling and it was all i could do not tear a strip off of him. instead i stared right back and said " you know what, that's fine, i'll just move on". i turned and left him there and went to the next table. his buddies roared with laughter.

as i was talking to the next table i felt a tap on my shoulder. "i'm not being rude you know. i'm not being rude" i didn't even look him in the eye. he reached around and shoved the five dollar bill in the jar.

as i continued to make my rounds i was running through a series of scenarios where i alternately threw the jar at him or went on a tear where i eviscerated his masculinity and shamed his compadres for taking part in the shaming of a woman.

it was really difficult to be in a public dining space where i had to react professionally rather than personally. probably for the best though, screaming at the guy would have gotten me nowhere. someone who belittles others for amusement is not going to phased by an emotional rant.

this is why i have a day job. don't know if i could stomach being at someone else's mercy for paying the rent.