We ended up being trapped between first and second floors (of a performance space where I was booked to play) for almost 90 minutes.
Building people couldn't do anything; firemen couldn't do anything; finally they located someone from the elevator company who was able to manually crank the cable till we were slowly lowered back to the first floor.
The elevator was about 5 X 5; no AC, no fan. Quickly became like a sauna. We were dripping sweat. The worst though was a piercing emergency beep that went on uninterrupted for 40 minutes. My wife and I slunk down on the floor with our fingers in our ears, unable to talk or hear ourselves think. Torture.
When they finally got us out, we were astonished -- there were over a dozen police, firemen, EMT people waiting for us, as well people from the building, and the elevator guy.
Apparently being stuck in an elevator is more serious than it sounds. Dehydration, claustrophobia, panic, sweats etc., are not uncommon --why it's taken so seriously, I guess. Some people have to be hospitalized we were told.
I felt lightheaded, was unable to get back to my feet without help, felt on the verge of fainting, but more or less got my land legs back. We had to fill out forms saying we elected not to go to the hospital.
To top it off, I had to go onstage and play a set three minutes after getting out! No chance to pull myself togther, warm up, soundcheck, etc.
I could barely tune my guitars -- my head was swimming!
One of the harriest gigs I've ever done, and my first since December, 2019. What a way to get back in the pool!
