Make the Connection

Of the many lessons that I've learned as a musician and really as a human being, is that it's always important to connect with people.
For alot of folks (and even for me at times...), that is the equivalent of pushing string uphill. I think some  of the reasons that performers feel that way is that deep down inside we're all just a little insecure.  We may not see ourselves as worthy of this talent; but here we are.The thing we need to do though is to really see what's good for our art and to utilize those things to help us see inside ourselves and bring out and dispel our inhibitions.
My being overweight has nothing at all to do with type of performer I am, or the type that I could be.
A few mornings ago, I was watching Tavis Smiley on PBS; he was interviewing the legendary Carol Burnett. Now here is a classic example of what I'm talking about. Among the many questions he asked, he wanted to know how it was that she came to be so comfortable during her pre show Q and A period, and her interviews on and off the air.
She explained that she realized that it was best to connect with her audience,thereby allowing them to feel as though they had a hand in the show. In other words, doing those Q and A sessions off the cuff helped people to relax and have a good time.
As a musical performer, I've found that that works for me too. If you've ever been to a Carpenter Ants show, you'll see the band pumping away and cranking out some wonderful music, but you'll also see me among the audience. I'll grab someone and start dancing with them, I'll come up and sing to to them, I'll also talk to the audience about what's going on in the world (theirs and ours...), and in general just try to make them feel wanted and loved, because in truth, they are.
I cherish being on stage and playing for people, I'm grateful that people have paid to see us, and continue to do so.
It's a very lucky person who gets to stand in front of many and express themselves in their own way. It's a  rare privelege to feel the love that can be generated by singing to someone.
Being a performer has allowed me into some uninque and wonderful places...physically and mentally, and it's an experience that I hope that anyone who aspires to the stage shares. Look inside yourself, gaze out into the audience, extend your hand to them, and take them along for the ride, and the best way to do that...make the connection.
Cheers everybody...
Here's a video...enjoy.
www.youtube.com/carpenterants at the acoustic coffee house 3
Support Live music today tomorrow and always.

Somebody's Watching You

It always amazes me when someone  walks up to me out of the clear blue sky and says that they've enjoyed hearing me sing or play the saxophone.
I don't know why, but it sort of stuns me at first, mainly because in the vastness of an audience, you're just never sure who's out there. I mean I see people's faces, but for one reason or another it just doesn't register to me that they've been in attendance.
Just such a thing happened this past week, when a fella came up to me and said that he really enjoyed the performance we did at Tamarak (a West Virginia tourist attraction...). He said the song that we did for the recent deaths of the coal miners was especially moving.
For all of the years that I've been playing music, there have always been songs that simply touched my heart, and "This World is not My Home," is up there with the best of them.
I feel saddened at the loss of those 29 gentleman, but that sadness made realize that although I didn't know any of them personally, I know them in my heart, and that somebody's is watching you...all the time.
In this age of nameless faceless dealing, everyday, people cross our paths.
Certainly if you're on the stage, people see you, if you're in the public eye people see you, but even when you think that no one would give a damn about you, somebody's watching you.
We can and should take a page from this tragedy and reach out to each other. We as human beings need each other, just like water and air.
I need money, but not nearly as much as I need the velocity of friendship.
The other page that we could take is to realize that we aren't as insignificant as we seem, and it shouldn't take a tramatic event for us to see that.
So what am I proposing? I'm proposing that we look around just a little bit and acknowledge that soul right next to yours, and see past the veneer of their exterior. Let their melody resonate in yours. As I always say, shake a hand make a friend, it's important folks 'cause somebody's watching you.
Gotta go y'all, have a great weekend...

Support Live music today tomorrow and always.