ARTS CENTER SHOWCASE POST-MORTEM...

Bay City Arts Center’s first Performer Showcase was a big success. Nice crowd, the performers were all good, and there was quite a variety. A lot of support, I think, for doing another show. (And the audience drank all the coffee, ate all the cookies, and left behind a bigger “take” in donations than the Arts Center’s seen in a long time.) Some folks were surprised there is that much really good talent hanging out in Tillamook County. (And those were just some of the people I know. I bet there’s plenty more I don’t know.) Suggestion was made that Oregon Public Broadcasting’s “Oregon Art Beat” ought to be invited to the next one. So do I know what I’m doing? Not really. Some things worked out right. With two weeks to prepare for the event, the newspaper did run a story and photo, the radio stations promoted it (and I don’t think I had anything to do with that), got a professional-looking poster out promoting the performers (a couple of whom were not well-known); refreshments were upstairs (so the audience wouldn’t go far); the performers all had four songs each, knew ahead of time what order they were on in (in order of complexity, from my end), had space on the refreshment table for their CDs, and all came early for sound check. Having Jim Nelson on hand to be sound engineer (so all I had to do was emcee) was a lifesaver. I want to make sure to do all those things again. Our band (Jane, Ken, Clint and myself) performed “Pole Dancing for Jesus,” George Gershwin’s “Summertime,” Odd Vindstad’s “Simple Questions” and David Wilcox’ “Rusty Old American Dream.” Second and fourth of those sung by Ken, first and third by me. The audience liked “Summertime” best, I think, but folks were actually singing along to “Simple Questions.” Hadn’t expected that at all (but the song had only been performed in public once before—at daughter’s wedding reception). Jane and Ken also did four Celtic pieces as a duo, and of those “Swallowtail Jig” is a consistent hit—every foot in the place was tapping (and there were a lot of feet). We’ll have one more opportunity to practice before Friday night’s gig; that’ll be Tuesday night—I’ll forego my class in Portland. Rap is done; still need to do a poster. Meeting last Friday with Joel from the Buffalo Kitty Band, and they’re in for all three of the summer concerts: the Relay for Life, Garibaldi Days and the Rocktoberfest. I’m starting slowly to put together a schedule. Jim Loughrie’s Johnny Cash Band (Mark on bass, Barry on drums, Ken on lead guitar, and Eric on blues harp) would be a great addition to the Rocktoberfest if they’re willing (and if they can do about an hour’s worth of stuff). I have a price from Jim for a sound system for Garibaldi Days, and was asked by the Relay for Life people if I could score one for free for the Relay, and I’ll try—as I’m fond of saying, “I know people.” Work is moving pretty fast; I get the impression they’ve almost accepted me. And I’m scheduled to work 36 hours this week—almost full time. Now, I have to fit the Private Life into that. I can do it if I do the same thing I do at work—never stop moving. Rest was for when I was unemployed. There is no rest any more. In addition to work, there’s a city budget meeting Monday evening before work (and I’m on the Urban Renewal Board now and have to be there), band practice Tuesday evening, and I can fit in a square dance practice Wednesday evening if we’re done before 8:00. Big gig is Friday evening. Whew. Joe