A band that plays music at various functions (such as weddings) usually doesn’t eat what the invited guests do. Sandwiches are often provided for the band, and these have been called “bandwiches.”
“Bandwich” is cited in print since at least 2005.
Boston (MA) Globe
A language of love
June 17, 2005
Some wedding band members speak in verbal shorthand. For help interpreting, here is a glossary of frequently used terms courtesy of Corin Ashley of the Willow Entertainment booking agency:
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Bandwich: Often served to the band instead of what the guests eat.
Google Groups: alt.audio.pro.live-sound
Newsgroups: alt.audio.pro.live-sound
From: “Saxology”
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 21:29:37 GMT
Local: Mon, Jul 18 2005 4:29 pm
Subject: Re: Darth Krueger
> There ain’t no free lunch (well, sometimes a meat tray at the venue).
They are called “Bandwiches”... 1 sandwich and a knife to slice it thin enough for everyone in the band. Certainly easier that trying to get a egg stretched to 12” long at a truck stop.
Big Greg MySpace Blog
Monday, August 20, 2007
Item 4 on the Menu…“The Bandwich”
My “Sandwich” Menu has expanded again…
Not wanting to leave the band off of my “Sandwich” Menu, I came up with “The Bandwich”. Which is only too obvious, but it’s any photo of me with the members of Hello Dave…The band we all know and love.
“Listen Up” by Mark Bialczak (Syracuse Post-Standard)
More band humor, wedding style
Posted by Mark Bialczak January 09, 2008 11:07AM
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Of course, no smoking anywhere. Someone will be watching you on your breaks to make sure you don’t consume any alcohol. Before you leave, please feel free to ask the caterer for a sandwich (or, a ‘bandwich’ as you call them). And, perhaps a soda to take with you.
General Chowhounding Topis
The Bandwich!
I’d like to share something with you.A little known food that is unique to the working musician.Now, I’m not talking your Rolling Stones, Madonna, or P. Diddy, I’m talking the sideman. The sideman is a working musician of various levels of recognition that backs up name artists, records in the studio, plays on TV shows, travels in every imaginable touring situation, plays bars, and yes, weddings and corporate events.
I’m talking about the “bandwich”.Simply put, the bandwich is a catered lunchbox meal with a generic sandwich,Lay’s potato chips, and apple, potato salad and a cookie.All foods are wrapped in cellophane.This is the lowest form of catered meal for the working musician, several notches down from what the guests at the wedding are eating, exponentially so.The bandwich is specific to American functions, namely the elite. Mexicans, Armenians, Persians, Italians, etc. will give you the food that they are eating, unless they are very Americanized. The guy that books you at the Beverly Hills hotel will give you the bandwich, make sure you don’t talk with any guests, and that you enter and exit through the loading dock.
The bandwich has such a negative connotation amongst the musician community.A lifetime of less than human treatment in a nice fancy box. Two hours rehearsal, four hours of music, one and a half hours drive, and the bandwich.
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The loathed catering meal lunchbox
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15437927@N03/3416594275/in/photostream/
The bandwich strangely flavored by excessive exposure to its cellophane wrapper
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15437927@N03/3417399964/in/photostream/
The bland and loathsome bandwich
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15437927…
streetgourmetla Apr 05, 2009 11:27PM