Here’s an email we recieved from MusicManEntertainer. It’s obviously a Rat Pack Tribute act and someone Paul-Hayden has worked with in the past as he remembers the booking and standing in to help out this other Rat Pack act. In Pauls own words he says ” Thanks for the compliments, It was a fun gig for some nice people”. The email goes as follows ——————————————————–
Royal Bank of Scotland and The Rat Pack
Dear BritishRatPack.com and particularly Paul-Hayden,
Hi you guys, I’ve got to say you’ve got great websites at both www.BritishRatPack.com I also like www.Paul-Hayden.co.uk site I’m impressed with the layouts and information on both of them.
Having read your blogs which I might add are well written and mostly quite amusing; I wanted to pass on a story of an un associated Rat Pack act and gig I performed with one of you guys i.e. Paul-Hayden who stood in to help us out on a performance for the Royal Bank of Scotland. I believe the timing of this correspondence is quite apt as the RBS are making head lines in the current world press.
Just for the record the following is about an experience with one individual from the RBS and not the RBS company as a whole.
The intimate function was for eighty of the banks most lucrative and wealthy investors who were apparently making as was said “a cool million at every heart beat”!
This was a very posh affair as on arrival each guest received champagne with a difference. In every glass but one there was a two carat zirconia, the one particular glass had a two carat diamond for the lucky recipient. These wealthy guests were all very friendly, forthcoming, grounded and pleasant to talk with throughout the event.
However; Behind the scenes while the prestige guests were finishing the main course and just seconds away from our making an entrance the host for the RBS stormed out of the room demanding a bottle of wine from one of the caterers. This individual who will remain nameless was asked to go back to his table as a bottle would be brought to him immediately. However this was not good enough and while stamping on his hat he demanded “I want it now and I’m staying right here until it arrives”! He was extremely cross.
This was bad enough; however there was more to come as for no apparent reason what so ever he then turned on us and said in a demanding manner “you’d better be good at your job”, to which Paul-Hayden responded very politely but firmly “We are very good at our job, are you good at yours”.
In hind sight and with the current economic climate Pauls polite gentlemanly response was and has proven very apt.
I’ve entertained with many performers in my time and though the guests at this function were an absolute pleasure to entertain I have to say our hosts behaviour was really quite appalling and the most off putting experience I have ever encountered before a show.
Irrespective to this un solicited onslaught Paul-Hayden did a blinding job standing in with us at The Rat Pack tribute gig. He raised our spirits while professionally entertaining everyone in the room by being a true showman, entertainer and gentleman throughout. I hope I get the chance to work with you again and would like to wish you and The British Rat Pack every success for the future. You deserve it!
Kind regards,
The XXXX Pack.