11/03/2025
Wanted to take a minute and vent and explain, as I sit here very frustrated and searching for answers π
This past weekend was my 3rd time trying a Halloween party of some variety at Mad River Farm Market. The first was fine, 2nd was lighter, but WOW did you all show up this year! Not only did we have 15 TEAMS (π€―) in the house for Name That Tune, but there was literally not an empty seat in the house when we FINALLY fired up for the night. And there were costumes.. on costumes.. on costumes. EXACTLY what the place should be!!
I say "FINALLY", because while we were scheduled to start at 6pm, I didn't start until nearly 6:20pm. The reasoning? When I fired up my music, the system crashed. Hard. I own over 75,000 songs (some are duplicates, live versions, etc.) and the system couldn't find files for 90% of them. While 10% of them would have been ok and worked, it's so sporadic and random, it would have been a giant mess.
So after 35 minutes of searching for answers, system resets, update checks, etc., I made the call to abandon EVERYTHING I had planned, and I played the entire night from my PHONE. From the first song to the last.
I had so much lined up. I put more work into that night than any other night I have planned. Several new categories, over 50 new songs, a special segment to give away more stuff..and it was all gone. Just like that. No explanation. So I went back to a basic game that I knew would work, and wove a few easy, small extras into it to get by. Cell service isn't great in there all the time, so nearly every song I played I happened to have already downloaded to an app on my phone (although I did stream some). And we got it done.
I am sharing this for 2 reasons..
1. I always tell people this is the easiest, funnest way I've ever made money. 95% of the time it is. But I had spent so much of my month prepping, planning, organizing, buying and printing ads, lining up prizes, racking my brain for new stuff, stopping in and discussing plans ahead of time, and adding new music. And the time came to literally "push play" for a sold-out crowd for an event that I PLANNED..and it all died.
All of that to say, I know my mood wasn't where it normally is or where needed to be for the night, and to all of you that were there, I am sorry. But hey.. I made it work! I just can't tell you how truly disappointed I was.
2. Very few knew of that situation, and most of them found out after it was all over. However, I have now been asked a couple times since that night about things, and I will officially say I have absolutley NO plans to cancel any Name That Tune events.
We have an off week this week. You can bet your bottom dollar I'm getting a new plan and system lined up. I donβt know exactly what all that entails at this point, but I just wanted to throw it out there. I had spent nearly 10 years with my old system (of some variety/update level). I'm not totally starting from scratch, but I am definitely starting over. So bare with me..and I know you will!
Until then, have a great couple weeks, and I'll see ya all out on November 13 at Mad River Farm Market. Thank you SO VERY MUCH to the Market and to all of those who showed up. The event turnout was everything I hoped it would be. You were there in full force, and although I wasn't, I hope you had a great time π€