my favorite kind of "retail job"

And possibly the only one I will ever do on a regular basis, is that of "merch girl" for bands.

(I am not a groupie. I could go on a very long rant about the fan vs groupie argument... plus often these days I do it as a favour to her anyway, regardless of who the band actually is).

I may grumble about it sometimes. Sometimes you're essentially on your own with it; the band having forgotten about you as soon as they drop the merch in your lap - they do have other things to do after all. Sometimes, when you do the same job for a band show after show, without needing to be asked...there is a certain taken for granted feeling that can arise (believe it or not).

But not this night. This is perhaps the closest to "rock stardom" that my collection of bands has come. I tend to do this for indie singer/songwriter types and folk/rock bands. These guys are the "big time" - with a full-to-bursting club and fans who buy insane amounts of whatever merch there is to offer, before the show even starts.

These guys have been in it for a long time and it shows. Their interaction with the merch table is (always) at first business-like and efficient, after the show tending towards warm and appreciative. I like these guys. They are different than most, although I'd have a hard time describing how (I don't mean musically, although that is also true). I have been around them enough to observe their quirks and pre-show rituals. To see how they deal with the endless parade of people who come up to them before the show, who want a piece of them, who need to have that long conversation with Dave about his book or tell Martin how brilliant the last CD artwork was, or want them all to sign the shirt they are wearing, the one they just bought...from me.

It never ceases to amaze me that they've been together for so long, that there are no less than 10 albums (plus 2 missing ones) there on the table, that their fans compare them to the Beatles and get giddy when they are near them (both guys and girls seem to either lose their tongue or trip over it in conversation with these band members).

And to be honest, although I don't really get it, I can appreciate it. In fact, I think I enjoy my detached appreciation most of all - I don't always have that luxury. And that's why I will always do this, given the chance - to see that room full of rapturous fans watching, cheering, singing along. I love to see that. To be there in the room and feel that energy.

There's nothing like it.... except maybe that next rock show.