The Diary Game 3: June 6, 2025. Three Gigs, Two Surprises, and One Late Night Cancellation

Today was one of those days where music, adrenaline, and a little bit of chaos all came together. As a freelance saxophonist, no two days are ever the same, but today was especially packed with three birthday surprise gigs lined up back to bck.

I woke up at 7:30am which was early for me because i basically didn't sleep through out the night. But i had surprise birthdays, so timing was everything. The first surprise i had for the day was at 11am, so i needed to make sure my sax was in perfect condition.
I spent the first hour going through my usual routine:

• Reed selection – Picked two of my trusty Vandoren Java Reds (my go to for bright, punchy tones).

• Horn check – Made sure my alto sax was clean, keys oiled, and no pads were sticking.

The first gig was for a lady named Lisa, turning 30 and so her elder sister out of town arrange for me to casually start playing the saxophone while the event planner hands over her birthday cake and gift in her shop, where she sells clothes. Lisa's was happy as we were doing the surprise and her friends who where around erupted in cheers. Mission Accomplished.
From there, i played different songs before leaving.

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After a quick lunch, i headed to the second birthday surprise. This one was for a teenager whose parents had set up a small surprise party for her.
This birthday was different, and i think more intimate with about 20 people sitting on picnic blankets. Her parents wanted something soft, so i played"

• "All of Me" (John Legend cover, instrumental)

• "A Thousand Years" (Christina Perri, but jazzier)

• "Don’t Stop Believin’" (improvised sax solo over the chorus)
  So i am right to say that gig two was a success. I have never had this kind of experience with the picnic vibe.

The third and last birthday surprise for the day was a man in his 50's and the plan was to surprise the birthday guy during his home late night party organized by his wife by 10pm. That time was not convenient for me as it was really late, couple with the insecurity in my area. I am all for playing any gig, but safety comes first. The wife assured me that her area is safe but i still had my doubts.

At 8pm, i called the wife, and explained my concerns. She was disappointed but understood with me. We agreed that i will refund the advance payment she had giving me.

What other way for me to end my day after a fail late night deal but to watch a friendly football match between my country Cameroon and Uganda which ended in favor of Cameroon as we won 3-0

Thank you for reading my diary, see you next time.