That's me in the corner...
So it's been quite a while since I attempted to play music in a public setting. O.K. I've occasionally led music at church and at youth events over... Lord knows how many years... but opportunities to be outside my comfort zone have been few and far between. Which is crazy, because I love to play and perform original songs... or even odd versions of other peoples songs.
I think my last truly public outing was a performance at 'Tamarak' in West Virginia, playing with reggae artist 'Shayer', as warm up to a belly dancing competition. That guy was awesome, having once played with 'Burning Spear' in Jamaica.
More recently I was privileged to have jazz drummer Matt Wilson as a member of my church in Baldwin, NY, and he was gracious enough to allow me to play along at numerous events, including a "Bread for the World" concert that featured other awesome musicians such as sax player Jeff Lederer.
So now I'm living in Ellicott City, MD and have discovered that a local pub, "The Judges Bench" has open mike nights. Truth is, until earlier this month I'd never been to an open mike night, let alone considered performing at one. But I was home alone, decided to check it out, and took my guitar along.
Having only ever performed at concerts or events where people came along specifically to listen to what you had to offer... and sat in rows facing a stage... the whole setting was new and a little intimidating. I guess most folk take friends along with them for support, but being new in the area that was not an option.
Basically, at this particular open mike, you stand and play 3 songs in a corner, in front of a TV showing a local sporting event (thankfully the sound is turned down on the TV). You put your name on a list and performance is first come, first served. Which means you can get home really late if you arrive really late.! A lovely lady called Kelly operates the sound desk, whilst bar-maid Angela works like a crazy thing keeping up with the drinks order. (They have a darn good selection of ales and malts).
For me it was weird singing to a room full of people who were busy doing other things than listening to whomsoever was singing. Not really a performance as much as providing background ambience. Not used to that sort of setting. While it was not an unfriendly atmosphere to perform original songs in, those performing cover versions seemed to evoke more positive responses. Has it not always been so?
It seems to be one of those places that has regulars. The bar advertises itself in 'Cheers' like fashion as being a place where "Everybody knows your name". It was fun getting to chat and hang out with total strangers. Maybe if I keep going along I'll become one of those whose "name is known!"
A challenging environment... just to perform and wonder if anybody is even listening.... LOL. Yet for me, the HUGE joy in doing it was that I love singing my songs. I'd kind of forgotten how much. Maybe, in time, that joy will infect others. But for now, I'm quite happy to listen in to the other acts (and some were indeed awesome) and when my 10 minutes of fame arrives, stand in the corner and do my thing before the indifference of many a punter who only came for the beer in the first place.
And if in any dark corner of the room I get a hum or raise a smile or even a glance in my general direction... then mission accomplished. So here's to next time. Who knows where, who knows when? Bring it on!
Meanwhile, in other news, out in Internet land, one of my solo concert performances from back in the late 1970's made number 1 on a random chart. Proof below. Comedy indeed....
