When I was just starting out in comedy in the 80's I was hitchihiking in San Francisco one night, Yup me and Aileen Wournos- the last lesbian hitchikers on the planet.  I very luckily got a ride from Lupe De Leon the manager for Etta James, Kenny Rankin and Tania Maria.I made him laugh and he signed me as an opening act for his clients. Maybe one of the most random events in my career.

     I got to open for Etta James once at the Full Moon Saloon on Haight Street. A very small but respected music venue. Of course she was beyond compare vocally. Rocking the blonde wig. She had a very intersting move during music riffs. She would lean down on a stool and move her fabulous ass in a slow sensous O for however long the band riffed. She was in no hurry to pick up the vocals. The crowd was in heaven. 

     Unfortunately I was not a good fit as an opener. I don't think any comic would be. You want to see Etta James anything else is an annoyance. And I was very green. I thought that me and Etta were now going to be friends. Even though she probably hadn't set eyes on me, spending all her time in her dressing room. At intermission I thought I would introduce myself. I knocked on her door. I heard lots of people laughing but nobody was letting me in. So I knocked louder and I actually said this. "Miss James? It's me Marga Gomez your opening act. Miss James? I'm your opening act"

The room got quiet no more laughing. No movement. All I heard was a deep smokey voice say. "LOCK THE DOOR" 

It was Friday the 13th but I couldn't blame luck. I learned that an opening act and the headliner will never meet. Still I got a little bit of money and I got to watch an Etta James show with 100 people in an 80 seat room. In todays paper I saw a quote from Lupe De Leon who was her manager until the end. I will always be grateful to him and his assistant Sidney Kafker for giving me a glimpse of the big leagues when I was just a rookie.

My new once a month series launches Wed and this night is PAY WHAT YOU CAN  at Stagewerx 446 Valencia