Here's my surprised face:

 

 

I had the privilege of doing one show with a New Jersey transplant who was playing with our cute little theater company here in San Jose. He was a pro-class percussionist/drummer. Anyway, he tells us the story of how his teacher had him sub-in for CATS on Broadway back in 1999 while the teacher had a better paying recording session:
So, he arrives at the gig an HOUR early, gets his drums set up and tuned, and is reading through the score noting any hiccups, odd-markings, etc. He had spent a few hours the night before listening and reading the part. He came in really well-prepared. 30 minutes before the gig, no bass player. 15 minutes before curtain, no bass player. 10 minutes before curtain, no bass player.
5 minutes before curtain, the bass player shows up. . . WITH NO MUSIC on his stand; just a copy of Wired magazine.
Throughout the whole show, the bass player is just reading Wired. . . AND playing the show. Plays the show perfectly, while our percussionist is sweating bullets on his first Musician's Union gig.
Later in the week, our drummer talks to his teacher, and asks, "WTF with the bassist?"
"Oh, Steve? Yeah. He's been playing the bass part on Broadway since opening night (October of 1982)."

 

Haha that's awesome!

 

you actually READ all that

 

What can I say, I was on a break at work.

 

 

 

That's a bull-riding monkey. . . not a bull riding a monkey.

 

uSHURE