Handing Over The Reigns

Still waiting.

Just got the ticket sales projections for the first three weeks at Ameriquest Field. The April 18 game -- the one where I'm singing the Anthem -- is projected to have the lowest tickets sold for the entire month of April. [Sigh.] So much for performing in front of 35,000 people.

While work has had me in an entirely foul mood this week, the advent of the 2005 baseball season has perked me up quite a bit. Watching the Rangers, Red Sox, Tigers, Tigers, and even the hated and feared Yankees all day long for a solid week has gotten me so energized. I'm certain it's psychosomatic, but I am so much more healthy mentally when there's baseball around somewhere.

For whatever reason, either by design or otherwise, I'll only be in the DJ booth at Rawlings All American Grille for the first two games this year. I'm training my replacement, Taz, in the ways of the Baseball DJ. He'll be shadowing me on the first game, alternating innings with me the second game, and on April 13, he'll be on his own. I won't even be in the building (if I'm not in the ballpark watching the game).

He's a good kid, but he's far too timid. When I tell him that the restaurant is his and his alone on game days, he nods but doesn't fully comprehend it.

I suppose my background differs so much from his that the lack of confidence isn't surprising. By the time I first hit that booth, I had been a club DJ for seven years, and had been trained to make people scream and sweat on cue. The booth at Rawlings, and Friday's Front Row before it, is its own unique beast, as is the DJ position there. With over 90 TVs, eight sound zones, twelve video sources, and 700 patrons, the job requires a person to be equal parts DJ, producer and game show host.

That gig is its own reward, and I'm reluctant to pass the torch, but I'm handing it off because it's time to. I don't like to think I'm hogging the fun, but I know I am. Taz will be fine, and after a while, people won't remember me -- they'll only know Taz's presentation. Which is the way I want it.

Mostly.

Comments

[Linds]

"I had been a club DJ for seven years, and had been trained to make people scream and sweat on cue."

For some reason I REALLY like this line. It stands out from the post.