In 1984 I was visiting Amsterdam with two good friends. It was my first visit there. Being totally confused by the huge amount of bars there, we walked around and got lost.
Finally we came around to visit a nice looking neon bar (remember..it was in the 80´s!), the bar was very crowded but we finally found a counter with three empty bar stools in front of it. Very happy and thirsty we took place.
We noticed there were a lot of flood lights illuminating us…but hey…it was a neon bar. Nothing unusual. All people in that bar began staring at us…but hey…we were young german guys from a small provincial town and so we were fashioned. Nothing unusual. We waited some time for ordering our beers but no waitress came. People still stared and began to laugh…but hey…it was Amsterdam and maybe they all were stoned. Nothing unusual.
So it went for maybe 30 minutes and we became really thirsty.
Being totally despaired now, my friend shouted out: “What have we to do to get a friggin beer here???”
Answer came promt: “ You have to leave the stage so that we are able to start playing theater there!”
Ooooooops…