I was asked to serve up some family music at this friendly (and large) late summer community festival at St. Ann’s Church up in Emmaus for a Friday and Saturday 5 pm set. I’m not sure how this landed in my lap, but, apparently I did play the St. Ann’s school last century, and several folks suggested me. Since I’m getting used to playing for folks these days, I jumped at the chance.
I was able to set up on the stage in a tent before the evening’s rock and roll bands went on at 7 pm. I brought my small system and it seemed to be enough for the space. At 5 pm, there’s not much action so I started out solo, and gradually some kids, girl scouts, parents and grandparents moved into range. I brought out the stuffed instrument bag, opened it up and away we go….
Friday had a bit more kids joining in and Saturday was a bit tougher, though one dad/son boogied for the whole set. That was cool. I ran into a few folks who knew who I was (the music teacher at the school who plays oboe!) but it was sparce. The small interactions were good, but, again, I really have no draw for my kids’ shows.
The sponsors were appreciative and thanked me for providing some music for the kids. They also helped me get my stuff to and from the stage which was a big help. They paid me well (what I asked for…) and will let me know about next year. It was a tough gig though.
On the final day of Musikfest, I performed in the studios of TV-39, our local PBS station for the last day of their 10 day Summer Jam series. For me, it’s an honor to be part of this run since the other performers are, for the most part, national family music professionals. I’m still a little uncomfortable to be in this fraternity. As it turns out, the crew and staff at the station think I’m right there.
The show was broadcast outside the TV-39 studios to any families that came by on the Sunday morning. I have no idea how many showed up but the pictures are cool.
My local food c0-0p will be moving into a large, former car dealership on the Northside of town and I was asked to perform for a couple of hours as the aging hippies gathered in the parking lot. There were some food trucks near by, our local ice cream vendor and a DJ at hand and a tented area for folks to sit and eat. I found a nook in the shade, set up my small sound system and set in to playing. I put out my bag o’ instruments and started to troll.
One lad sat next to me and was working the maracas. He was really getting into it and was coming up with some rather sophisticated moves. I opened up some spaces for him to extemporize and got him to count off the start to a song. He really nailed it, and, later, his dad said that he does have a gift for music. Another young girl took to the scarves and lost herself in dance. Again, her dad expressed some surprise with her ease in movement. 
The bugger of the gig was the fact that I was set up next to the food trucks which were running their engines during my set, a constant rumble and an air of gasoline for the whole time. I was glad I had my PA, but it was cranked up more than usual. It took a toll on my voice later that afternoon at Father Folk.
I knew this was a strange gig for me – a fire company carnival in July. I do applaud the organizers in booking a family folk show, but compete with rides, food, side shows? I knew what I was up against. And I am well aware of my lack of draw here in the Lehigh Valley. Still very glad to get a gig. In fact it was one of my first post-lockdown bookings. I do play the local farmers’ market and a local church, so I was glad they shopped local.
I’m still not satisfied with the production values (sound) of these online broadcasts but getting more comfortable with the content. At least, I pushed the red button this time and went on air promptly at 10:30.
I introduced the rainstick and followed it with Tropical Vacation. It turned out to be a good exploration, linking the instrument and the song. I did Woody Guthrie’s Finger in the Air a Capella, and it was light and fun. I did some new verses to The Cat Came Back.
Generally, I’m pleased with where this is taking me. Still, no tips but valuable experience. Tagger’s having a great time.
I was real glad when my friend John Christie asked if he could sit in, pro bono. It made for a much more enjoyable day for me, not only for his fine licks on guitar, but his presence makes it easier for me to concentrate on the audience, stretch the songs out a little more and give the adults some nasty electric guitar along the way.
Later in the day, John and I were stretching a dance tune, and while the kids in front were playing with scarves, puppets and shakers, a tall, well-dressed black man came up and started to dance for us all. He was all arms and legs but he moved with a finesse and style that caught our eye, and eventually everyone in the room. We finished the tune, thanked him and he quietly walk out into the room. It was a wonderful moment, especially when the musicians and the dancers connect. It’s a form of communication that is older than spoken language.
This event has become a welcome annual spot on my calendar. The UCC church in Old Zionsville is the home of the Village School, a pre-school that I’ve done some work with over the years and the children’s pastor has picked up on my performance for an early evening Christmas service for kids and families.
I returned to Lehigh Country Club for a Santa Brunch on Sunday. I do a similar event annually for Brookside CC (next week) and I know that it works really well.
After I was done, I stopped over to talk with the family. Even the Japanese grandmother said, “Peanut Butter”. Here’s a photo of my friends. This music sends ripples throughout the ether and makes me very proud to be doing what I do.
Saturday was Museum Day, a promotion by the Smithsonian to encourage people to go out to there local museum, with discounts, etc. This was part of the effort.
With such a small audience, I decided to bag the sound system and move my chair to the edge of the stage. This tends to work with my hands-on style but also is a dent in the “show” presentation. It worked both ways today.
I noticed that, with these diverse audiences, I have mix in the chat, not only between songs, but I’m comfortable enough to comment during the songs. That’s different skill set and I was aware of that today. I don’t have to deliver the song straight through and allow some dialogue while I maintain the guitar strumming.
I headed over to Ag Hall at the Fair Grounds on Thursday for the second of my three sets this Labor Day Weekend. I never know what to expect with this very random audience but was pleased to see several familiar faces in the audience, folks who are there to catch whatever I serve up. There are always folks cruising by that stop and sit down. Still, it is a very transient audience, difficult to hold for the full hour show. I can live with that, though it does affect my tips.
I’ve been fortunate to be included in this series of children’s show in the studios of our local PBS station the last several years. Kira Willey, a wonderful family performer in her own right, has booked this ten day kids’ fest with some serious national acts, so I’m honored to be among them. I’m quite a bit different in that I’m not as presentational as these acts. I’m not as slick performance-wise but that’s on purpose. The staff at the station would agree and were impressed with how I work.