DAUGHTER:
Did you see this? Another festival lineup. Twenty bands. Two women.

MOTHER:
That’s progress. When I started, we were zero women.

DAUGHTER:
It’s ridiculous. They say, “We booked whoever fit the vibe.” The vibe apparently has a beard.

MOTHER:
They’ll tell you it’s “market reality.” Same thing they told me when they paid the drummer twice as much because “he had kids.”

DAUGHTER:
What did you do?

MOTHER:
I asked if his kids were playing the gig too. They didn’t laugh.

DAUGHTER:
You stayed.

MOTHER:
Of course. Leaving would have made them right.

DAUGHTER:
So what do I do?

MOTHER:
Play louder. When they call you “difficult,” say thank you.