Have you had "When the cat's away, the mice will play" experiences?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (205250)
Walnut Creek, California
March 21, 2018 8:16pm CST
Is this an idiom? An analogy? A metaphor? Anyway, you've probably heard it. When "Mr. Big" is not there, those who he controls get to have some fun.
At the preschool, when our boss is off with her Grandson, we (the teachers) have a little extra fun. An extra break to get coffee for all. Having lunch a bit late if we're having a great time with the kids.
It recently happened in my music world. Our band leader (the one who thinks he's Johnny Cash but isn't) had to miss a scheduled gig at some kind of outdoor County celebration.
He doesn't allow me to tell jokes or "pretend start" songs like "Hey Joe" or "Sunshine of Your Love" to make the audience laugh. The focus has to be on him.
When he was gone, we "hired" two friends of the bassist, and had one of the most enjoyable gigs ever with that band.
We told bad jokes. We "winged" songs we'd never done together before. We "pretend started" several rock classics (maybe even "Stairway to Heaven") and had the audience in stitches.
Have you had "When the cat's away, the mice play" experiences? Having your husband or wife out of town counts.
20 people like this
18 responses
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
22 Mar 18
Well it sounds like maybe you need to ditch the band leader and go a different direction!! Me, I always do what I want lol
4 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
23 Mar 18
@vandana7 Are you suggesting Johnny Cash-Not is causing indigestion or that he is constipated, vanny? (grinning and teasing you!)
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (48890)
• United States
22 Mar 18
It looks like ya'll were having fun
3 people like this
@TheHorse (205250)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Mar 18
@spiderdust Exactly. The most enjoyable bands at least give the appearance of having a great old time.
2 people like this
@spiderdust (14741)
• San Jose, California
22 Mar 18
I was thinking the exact same thing. Heavens forbid that you actually enjoy your gigs or something.
3 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (45437)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
23 Mar 18
An adage is a traditional saying expressing a common experience or observation; an idiom is language peculiar to a people or to a district, community, or class.
2 people like this
No comment! 
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
22 Mar 18
LOL i've seen a lot of bands pull that one.usually the lead gets pissed later
eh..mine's been limited to playing music at work when the boss goes somewhere.she doesn't allow it when she's there.
eh..mine's been limited to playing music at work when the boss goes somewhere.she doesn't allow it when she's there.2 people like this
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
22 Mar 18
@TheHorse one of the funniest things i've seen live was extreme's "bass player blues" they improv'd when their bass player pat broke a string and had to change it on the spot
2 people like this
@TheHorse (205250)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Mar 18
@scarlet_woman Heh. We try to finish the song when someone breaks a string. But when that happens all the other strings go a bit out of tune.
2 people like this
You wrote that like it's a bad thing, vanny!
@FourWalls (61951)
• United States
22 Mar 18
You need to get Mr. Band Leader a Homer & Jethro or Minnie Pearl record or two.
And yes, we have that all the time at work. Even though our boss is pretty lax, it's even more lax when he's out on business.
2 people like this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
22 Mar 18
Yes. That did sound like you all had a good time.
3 people like this
@DesirousDreamer (34783)
• Peoria, Arizona
22 Mar 18
Heck yeah, that makes it all the more fun! Sounds like a great time!
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
5 May 18
Nothing like an uptight bandleader. Wait, what? Most of them are like that?
1 person likes this
