The Berlin Extravaganza 2

Continues from The Berlin Extravaganza 1

We got to the Max-Schmeling Halle, where Chic were going to play, by 8:30pm. But at approaching the building, I could hear Chic playing Dance Dance Dance inside. My heart sank. We hurried to the door but there was no guest list there. My heart sank a little more. Off to the VIP entrance, and they didn't know about any guest list either. It was my own "aw-f*ck-off" moment.

Side remark: The aw-f*ck-off story is pretty funny, watch Nile Rodgers telling it here:

 

So, there I was at the door, saying "I'm a guest of Nile Rodgers", all bright eyed and bushy-tailed. And the response was "Raus!", which is an approximate German version of "get the f*** outta here".

My hubs and I almost went back to the hotel to write a song called Le Raus, but we decided to keep trying to get in instead.
 
It took a lot of comings and goings and argumentation before we, and another group of people in the same situation, managed to finally get inside, with only normal tickets in our hands. Over a good half-hour had gone by, and by the time we got inside, Chic were, appropriately and ironically, playing Le Freak.

After running around like a headless chicken (husband's description, not mine, but it's probably accurate), approaching someone who said "I'm with Kool and the Gang, I know nothing about those dudes", and someone else pretending not to hear me or speak English, I learned a lesson: telling somebody, who is standing by what looks like the backstage door, you're the artist's guest - is useless - they're not going to believe you.

By then Chic had been playing the last song on their set, with a stage full of fans, dancing to the groove of Good Times. There's something about that song that turned something hopeless into something great. Good times were coming! 

The set ended and we found we were on the right side of the stage (left stage). My husband, the absolutely wonderful dear, called out to me saying, "Nile is here!", signing autographs, taking photos and talking to the fans. I called out to Selan, another wonderful dear and keyboard player with Chic, and asked for his help. Soon enough, this:

All is well that ends well. Everyone that had been invited got in. My heart lifted. Everything was perfect again.

(The Berlin Extravaganza III)

PS: Those dreads are so soft and smell so good - I thought I'd share that with you.