My Worst Acoustic Gigs -Crazy Gig Stories

Lets face it not all gigs go well and sometimes things just go wrong at your music gigs. I have played hundreds of solo acoustic gigs over the course of my life. Most of them go great but some solo acoustic gigs have a mind of their own. In this video I share some funny stories, and mishaps that have happened at some of my solo acoustic gigs. Please share some of your own odd stories from your live gigs as well. #soloacousticguitar #acousticguitar #soloperformance #acousticcover

[@johngdrakeguitar]

I’ve had the tip jar thief experience. Guy took it all, pretending to leave a tip. People are strange.

[@FrankPersico]

lol yes they most certainly are.

[@skintslots]

There's a song in there somewhere!😀

[@DrJoshGuitar]

Great video! Here is my craziest story: We were the house band at a club in Hawaii (about 30 years ago) and we felt we were being underpaid so our drummer called the manager after our show at like 2AM. The club owner hangs up, walks in and punches our drummer in the face… we all grabbed our equipment and walked and never played there again. A month later the place burned down to the ground. Turns out the owner (who was a lunatic) had burned it down for the insurance money. He went to jail shortly afterward.

[@FrankPersico]

OMG! That is crazy. What is it about the music world that brings out the nuttiness in people. ?!?

[@gregsmith29]

Frank, you just reminded me of a gig at a sports Bar a few years back. A Very Large younger Gentleman starts to have a "Pycnotic Episode" screaming at his phone while I continue to play. When a waitress asked him to quite down all hell broke loose. He through a glass Mug as hard as he could at that poor girls head, she ducked. Thank God he left finally and nobody was injured.

[@FrankPersico]

Oh wow. Thats horrible. Thankfully no one was seriously hurt

[@mailmusic]

It is all about the stories....I got a bunch and love to hear my peers stories, but I have NEVER gotten my tooth knocked out....dammit man!!!

[@FrankPersico]

Hahaah well you never know you may get lucky in the future lol just kidding of course.

[@philabama]

Love the channel. Here’s one. I’m playing bass at the time. A Steinberger with a pivoting strap attachment so the bass swivels. I accidentally step on my cable which attaches in the back. Makes the front of the neck bash me in the head. I’m thinking I’m concussed but then, no I’m fine. Singer comes over (mid song) says dude you’re bleeding. I touch my face there’s a little blood. Oh wow but whatever keep playing. He comes back and says no dude you’re bleeding real bad. I touch my face again. Hand soaked with blood. It’s dripping on the floor. Was the last song of the set. Got cleaned up and that was it. No stitches needed. Bought a wireless the next day.

[@FrankPersico]

Holy frieken cow!!! 🐄 I’m sorry that happened but glad you shared lol. 😂 does that makes sense? Welcome to channel

[@christophermartin7973]

Great stories what a great listen. Just found your channel and I'm having a blast watching everything you've made. Two quick stories. My father played a gig with his brother at an old age home and his brother got out to dance with an old lady who wanted to get out for a waltz while my father played. The poor lady had a cardiac event and died in his arms. He was a fireman and tried to revive her but she never recovered. I also played with my family at an old age home around Christmas time it was a volunteer thing we used to do every year and an old lady in a wheel chair tried to get me who was 25 at the time back to her room so she could show me her "mandolin" hahahaha.

[@FrankPersico]

Two very different extremes. Whoah. Who knows maybe YOU would have had a cardiac event if that old lady had her way with you! Lolol thanks for sharing

[@MrCheswickMusic]

Great stuff Frank, I'd love to see a "What NOT to do at gigs" video

[@FrankPersico]

Great suggestion!

[@johnsnow9232]

I’m sure your channel will be very successful

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for the vote of confidence. KZbin is a hard nut to crack

[@FASFatherandSon]

Amazing stories, makes me think how many lives you can touch as a musician. The story at the end is heartbreaking.

[@FrankPersico]

Yeah man we are lucky to play music right?!?…thanks for the comment and keep making your videos as well!! They are great

[@van1976]

I don't really "gig" but I bring my guitar everywhere I go--literally. For instances ...A guy saw me in Newton (MA) w/ my guitar (as I waited for my car to be fixed) he said he saw me inside the Somerville Home Depot--that was funny. Just yesterday at Waltham, MA "Watch City Steampunk" fest (good time) someone said--"Hey is that you in front of the Arlington Regent Theater"--yup that's me. For those occasional "detractors"..."The Comeback" is I go up to that person, play and sing "You Are My Sunshine"---it turns frowns into smiles...99.9 % of the time....they will start singing along too... 5 STARS! --Van

[@Mr666roger666]

Frank, thank you for sharing, the last one was particularly moving

[@FrankPersico]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching and commenting

[@Motorhead2you]

After the high top man I couldn't stop laughing.

[@FrankPersico]

Hahaah yeah it was pretty unreal

[@guitarnuccio]

Love the stories, and your story telling. I’ve got a sad one similar to yours. Long time ago. Was in a wedding band. Dinner had just ended and we went on to play. We couldn’t have been more than a couple songs into the set, and the father (if I recall, of the bride) passes out on the dance floor, and unfortunately died right on the spot. Unlike in your situation, since it was a private event, the reception of course ended right then and there. We expressed our condolences to the family and to this day I feel bad for the whole family, but especially the bride and groom who had what should’ve been one of the best days of their lives marred by tragedy. Such is life, indeed.

[@FrankPersico]

Wow. That is heavy. On a lighter note I am glad you relate to the delivery of the story telling in the vid. Welcome to the channel. All the best

[@1man1guitarletsgo]

In the early '90s I was playing in a duo at a local social club, when an 80 year old man (we'd all just sung "Happy Birthday") collapsed. Lights up, we stopped, an ambulance crew arrived and everyone watched while they tried to revive him, which I thought of as some unexpected extra entertainment for the audience. They took him out in a wheelchair, but he didn't survive. We felt unable to go back on stage, so the DJ who was also there put on some easy listening music. Several audience members were unhappy about this and left, each with their 50p entrance fee refunded.

[@LicksoftheLegend]

Loving the channel Frank. Great content and great advice. That dog story at the wedding was super funny.

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for the kind words. Glad you are liking it. Yeah man was hard to sing after that … I had to concentrate so hard not to laugh

[@JoeReblMusic]

The Back Fence! I played there in 1995... lol!

[@FrankPersico]

Oh wow that’s awesome. That place was interesting to say the least

[@GAZolloYT]

Hi Frank, love the channel, thanks for the great content. The diaper change really made me laugh but I also appreciated the casino story. Doesn't necessarily sound like a bad way to go out ,listening to some good live music!

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for the kind words. It’s nice to hear when you are just starting out on a new path. All the best to you

[@bluenotgreen63]

Had to laugh. You do sound like Adam Sandler. Still laughing at 4am. Love your videos brother and you should definitely sing the Hannaka song.

[@FrankPersico]

Go change your diaper lol jk…. Yeah that lady pretty much cut me down lol

[@stephenlennartz3466]

Not too crazy or unusual... but two weeks ago at a winery gig we were drenched by TWO storms that rolled through. Once the sun returned, we completed our last 1 1/2 hours of music.

[@FrankPersico]

But still these stories stay with us. Part of your journey . Thanks for sharing

[@MeccaVideoPro]

I love your channel. Sax player singer who uses tracks in my solo show. Still trying to gain traction but getting there thanks to info from you and others. Keep up the good work

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for the comment and inspiring words. You keep it up as well and you will get the traction you want.

[@mikeholper5992]

Great stories Frank! Thanks for the laughs! I sometimes bring an extra mic if I’m going to have a friend or two join me for harmonies on a few songs. Unfortunately I’ve had quite a few drunk patrons decide to do the same without asking. I usually try to laugh it off, go with the flow, etc., and sometimes it’s a great crowd pleaser.

[@FrankPersico]

Ahhh yes I could imagine. Back in the day when we used to play and open a hard case on the floor for tips I once had a drunk guy fall backwards into my case falling into it and snapping the hinges off.. fun lol

[@kellermax]

It's not my story, really, but the one of a drummer I played with. His stool stood exactly on the edge between two floorboard of the makeshift stage, they weren't attached well to each other. While playing, the floorboards separate and the stool drops with drummer and all, mid-song Drumming stops, everyone is confused, but he clambers back on stage, unscathed, and continues playing...

[@FrankPersico]

That is an awesome story ! 😎 thanks for sharing

[@davidbrandt6925]

My friend asked me to play her favorite hymns on the violin at her wedding. A lady comes up to me with a boom box, mid hymn mind you, and asks me to stop so she could play recorded, commercial pop music. Oh how i wish that i would have asked for $100 to stop.

[@FrankPersico]

Oh my goodness. People can be amazing lol … you must have felt like you were in the twilight zone lol

[@argyle6674]

Well, as a jazz guitarist playing in a trio gig at about 7pm one night. I woke up in the morning to wash up. Wash my hair under the bathtub faucet. I went to shut off the water turning the old porcelain faucet handles off and one broke off in my right hand, gouging out a perfect circle in the web area between my thumb and index finger! It started bleeding profusely. I thought it might coagulate and stop bleeding, but nol So I went to the hospital and got stiched and bandaged up. But they numbed it up with a shot before the stitches. So all day long my right hand was numb and I thought I'wouldnt be able to play. But by the time I got to the gig, the numbness had worn off and I was able to play although I had an uncomfortable large bandage around my thumb. But I managed to play anyway.

[@FrankPersico]

Oh wow. that was tough to even read. Dude you are a trooper!

[@argyle6674]

@@FrankPersico Thanks!

[@zapwai]

Awesome channel man, thanks for sharing all of this advice. (And uhh, crazy stories!)

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks so much. I’m glad you are enjoying the channel! Thanks for taking the time to comment

[@shivadasa]

Great video. Thanks for sharing your wisdom and insights. 🙏✌️

[@FrankPersico]

My pleasure. Thanks for commenting and watching

[@argyle6674]

Anothe solo jazz guitar gig story. I had a downtown gig in Chicago. And it was the time of terrorists threats happening around Thanksgiving time, as I recall. So I had an evening gig for a wedding reception. I gave myself 2 hours to get to the gig. Which was only about a 20 minute drive away. But as I got to the downtown area, the police had completely blocked off traffic due to some threat, and was rerouting traffic. And it was moving at a snails pace, barely moving. I eventually made it out of that maze and searched far and wide for a parking lot which I found 3 hours later! Parked the car and took my guitar and slung my small amp around my shoulder and started walking to the gig, about a mile or more away. On the way, the amp strap broke and I had to rig up a way to sling my amp over my shoulder. I'm in my mid 50's already worn out from all this stuff and I was dressed in a Tuxedo and after much effort got to the gig drenched in sweat and totally exhausted. Got to the gig, played, got a huge tip. Made great money. Called a cab to take me back to the parking lot where my car was. Got into the cab, looked at the parking stub ticket and it had no address on it! And I couldn't remember where the car was parked. OMG! The cab driver drove me around for probably 45 minutes around downtown Chicago looking for the parking lot, and we eventually found it! I was totally wipe out. And after that gig , I never wanted to play a gig downtown anymore, and I haven't as of yet.

[@FrankPersico]

Oh man! I love it (not the fact that you had a rough night) but just how I can relate and im sure many others can. Playing music live can be like an extreme sport at times. lol

[@argyle6674]

@@FrankPersico Yes, I'm retired now, and while I occasionally think about getting gigs, I can't convince myself to go out and get them. Love your vids!

[@ttaurus393]

Hi Frank, I'm a solo musician here in Florida. I just subscribed to your channel I find your content Very entertaining. Love the stories and couldn't agree with you more about Sam Ash and Guitar Center kinda going down hill. Looking forward to watching more videos tonight when I get home from my gig. Have a great day. 👍

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for the comment. I wish you the best

[@robertgrimsted877]

Part of your equipment you should have a body guard ha haha

[@FrankPersico]

Hahahah if only I had the budget lol

[@johnsnow9232]

You’re brave 😜

[@FrankPersico]

Ahahah

[@tueseptlikha7274]

definitely a brain injury. he just hasn't realized yet

[@FrankPersico]

You may be right, ha ha ha