Big Netball Gig 7 Oct

The Negotiators played at the Marleston Leageball Centre on the night of 7 October. The Combined Australian Netball Associations had just concluded their annual weeklong carnival, attended by over 700 netballers aged 7-21 and a large number of family and supporters from around Australia. Despite inclement weather towards the end of the week, around 400 were present for closing ceremony and the party that followed. We had volunteered to provide entertainment for this, and played 7–11pm. In terms of numbers it was the biggest gig since Peterborough, and at least as big a buzz!

We knew it was going to be an interesting night when we arrived to see about 300 netballers and a couple hundred associates in the hall we were to play in. It was filled to capacity and spilled several layers around the building’s wall-long windows. Somehow and without drama, room was made to let us get our gear in (although we couldn’t set up until the multitude decided to conduct their presentations outside between rain showers). By good fortune, experience and organisation, we were set up by 7 pm, when the award ceremony had concluded and people began lining up for food (a huge bbq and salad).

The organisers said we could start when we wanted, so we started. Even before we’d begun, there were around twenty teenage girls clustering around the front of our ‘stage’ (we played at floor level). They were obviously quite excited.

They didn’t let us down. We had the whole place rocking into the first set. It didn’t stop until the last song. Over the evening, it was funny to watch the dancing/foot tapping contagion spread from the dancers in front of stage (who were pretty good), through the queue of people waiting to eat and those serving them, to those that were sitting in ‘quiet’ spots at the back and, finally, even to those outside.

Highlights of the evening were varied. Some of the ‘dancing circles’ of netballers were amazing to watch, fun beautiful interactive. My favorites were the Tasmanians at the start and, towards the end, the Queensland/South Aussie remnants that kept going to the last song. Lots of parents, coaches and associates particpated at various times also. At one point all the lights in the hall were down, leaving only the coloured stage lights. Looking out, I couldn’t see the back of the hall because there was a solid wall of people as far as I could see (most of whom were taller than me!), arms up and singing along. Not every pub/party band gets this experience! I was pretty busy, but was able to think ‘wow’!

The band enjoyed ourselves, no problems at all with the fact that this was our ‘charity show’ for this year (we usually fit at least one in). ‘Twas interesting to see that most of the girls knew most of the songs in our repertoire, even if we didn’t know the songs they probably most thought they’d like to hear. I think it disproves the theory that we need ‘modern’ songs if we are to keep the attention of teenagers. Again, as at Milang F.C., ‘Decisions’ went down a treat (the only original we played on the night).

Musically, we did okay over four sets without a sound check. I don’t think we’d played together since the Glynde, but we held it together fairly well and had no major crashes. Steve was fluid on the guitar, didn’t sound forced at all (he’s been gigging independently a bit). Sox and Terry did their usual solid backing. Nancy engaged well with this audience, and brought a young fellow up for a couple of songs (Old Time Rock’n’Roll and ‘500 Miles’) which his friends loved. We also had a group of older netballers up to help with Eagle Rock, which was fun. I didn’t hear my guitar in the full ensemble until I turned up in the second, but the mix sounded okay from there. I kept it simple, reflecting the fact that I’ve played less in the last month than I should have (mainly because of the demands of my ‘day job’).

My favorite moment: between songs near the end of the second set, an aged lady (75+) came up to the side of stage on her way out and said that she’d really enjoyed it. She said her husband (“gone twenty years”) had been a drummer and would have loved it. I thanked her, and said I hoped he’d enjoyed it. She smiled and left. You can’t buy moments like that…
Next Gig, a fiftieth at the Lockleys, and then we play the Glynde again on November 12. Should be big.