“Coming right up. Tough day at work?”

“You said it, Joe. Working for the largest concert promotion company in the world isn’t for slackers, that’s for sure. You’re constantly on the move. But I guess that’s the price I gotta pay if I want to stay in concert business.”

“Concert business? You? But you’re a database manager. Sure, you may work for the largest concert promotion company the world has ever seen, but you’re still a computer jockey. I mean, it’s not like you’re booking The Rolling Stones or routing the Neil Young tour.”

“So, I’m on the back end. But I’m still a part of the team. I’m still in the concert industry. Great shows, like Tracy Chapman or Crosby, Stills & Nash result from everyone working together, from the receptionist up to the person who closes the deal. Just because I move data, like Cher playing in Denver on June 17, from one computer to another, that doesn’t mean that I’m not an integral part of the biz.”

“Yeah, whatever. So, what’s the toughest part of your job?”

“That’s easy. Name changes.”

“Oh?”

“For example, you know that major amphitheatre north of Detroit?”

“You must be talking about Pine Knob. I’m going on one of those cruises to Detroit for my summer vacation, and that’s where I’m going to see Jackson Browne and Jimmy Buffett.”

“You better check your tickets. They changed the name to the DTE Energy Music Theatre a couple of years ago.”

“No!”

“Uh, uh. And you know that place near San Bernardino?”

“Glen Helen? Where Lollapalooza and Brooks & Dunn’s The Neon Circus & Wild West Show are both playing this year?”

It’s now the Hyundai Pavilion of Glen Helen. I’m going to have to work double shifts all week to change that one.”

“Sounds complicated.”

“Oh, it is. Then there’s that amphitheatre that’s changing its name to Verizon.”

“Which one?”

“All of them.”

“Uh?”

“It’s a joke. Get it? That kills ’em down at the office.”

“Yeah, right. I’ll bet all these name changes get confusing after a while.”

“You said it, but it’s nothing like when the artists and bands change names. Like a few years ago when Matchbox 20 changed their name to matchbox twenty. I’m telling you, if it was up to me, once a band picked a name, they’d keep it – forever!”

“I’ll agree with you on that one.”

“Like San Francisco band that changed it’s name to The Other Ones.”

“I saw that tour last year. Can’t wait to see them again this year.”

“Yeah, well you better pay attention. They changed their name. Again.”

“Another problem, eh?”

“Uh, uh. However, the big problem is, I can’t remember what they changed it to. I mean, they were The Grateful Dead for years, then they regrouped and changed their name to The Other Ones. And just as I was getting accustomed to that, they went and changed it again.”

“And you can’t remember, eh? Well, I’m sure The Dead’s new name will come to you. Want another beer and a shot?”

“No thanks, Joe. But I sure could use a cup of coffee. Looks like I’m going to be up all night figuring this one out.”