Old Friends
I got an email today from an old friend. It's been a while since I've heard from her. She explained that she hasn't really kept up with her correspondence because she's been having a bit of a rough time lately. I'll spare you the details, but the bottom line is that she was reluctant to keep in touch because she didn't want to be a burden. My response is that if you can't burden your friends, then what good are they? It's easy to be someone's friend when times are good, but a true friend is the one who is still standing there with open arms when it all hits the fan.

This seems to be the week for old friends because I spoke with another old friend of mine yesterday. He grew up two houses up the street from me, and we were inseperable until his family moved out of state. Over the years we'd make contact on and off, but it wasn't unusual for us to miss a few birthdays or forget the Christmas card a few years in a row. Still, there was always that bond of early friendship that has lasted. We can go months without talking, and it still takes us about ten minutes to catch up and feel as if we're a couple of ten year old kids again.

At the end of the film, "It's a Wonderful Life," Clarence the angel leaves an inscription for George Baily: "No man is a failure who has friends."

What a great thought for the holidays.

The Treasure of Local, Live Music
On Wednesday, I served as M.C. for the fifth anniversary party of Daily Perks Coffee House in Rochester. There were about a dozen performances during the night. Styles ranged from independent rock to jazz to blues to country to classic pop, to poetry. There were performers in their teens and performers in their sixties. Some were professional musicians and some were simply open mic regulars. The variety was impressive.

While everyplace has its own unique groove to it, I don't think the amount of talent in Rochester is a unique phenomenon. Pick up any city's newspaper and you'll see all kinds of entertainment listed. There's lots to see and hear out there.

I recently bought two tickets for a concert by a big time star who is coming to town in a couple of weeks. I ended up spending over $100 for the tickets. The show at Daily Perks got me thinking about how foolish it is to spend that kind of money when there is so much entertainment available in the local community for a tiny fraction of the price. Don't get me wrong. If I could charge $50 a ticket to one of my shows and get anyone to show up, I'd sure do it. Until then, I think I'll make an effort to support some of the local talent that's out there struggling just like I am to make a buck or two doing what we love. I hope you'll do the same.

'Tis the Season
It's time to dust off the Christmas carols and get in the spirit. I don't mind it now that Thanksgiving has passed. In truth, I've been practicing some of them with my guitar students for a couple of weeks now.

In the next couple of weeks, I'll be doing a couple of Christmas shows, both solo and with Pete Collin. Pete and I have been doing these shows for a few years now, and they always get me in the mood for the holidays. Please check out my gigs page for a show near you and join me for some good cheer.

I am Thankful
I'm writing this on Thanksgiving morning. It's a little predictable, and perhaps a bit corny, but I thought I'd take the opportunity to reflect on my blessings.

First and foremost, my loved ones and I are basically healthy. That's huge! I'm also thankful that I more or less get to do what I love. I've worked jobs that I've hated before, and every day just sucks a little more life out of you. Being able to play music for a living is amazing.

In a more general sense, I'm thankful that I am an American. I've spent enough time in other countries to know that there is no place on earth as blessed as the U.S.A. That's not to run other places down, but there's just no other country that offers its citizens the opportunities for success the way we do. While I'm on this topic, I'm also thankful for the men and women who serve our country to ensure we have those opportunities. They are truly heros.

I hope that as you count your blessings, you find yourself as fortunate as I.

Lightning In A Bottle
There's a famous epidsoe of Seinfeld where George is insulted, but he thinks of the perfect comeback........two hours later. He goes to great lengths to recreate the situation so the offender can get his. Only it's just not the same.

A few years ago, I started going to an open mic every Sunday night. It's where I met a group of musicians whom I now count amoung my friends. For a while, we were all in situations where we could stay up late on a Sunday night just playing music and having a good time. Some of the best music I've played and most fun I've ever had were at those open mics. But things inevitably change. People get new jobs or enter relationships that force us to re-evaluate our priorities. The old gang isn't a staple there anymore.

I still go to that open mic, although not as frequently. It's not the same. There are new regulars, or sometimes just not many people at all. Occasionally one of the old gang will make an appearance and we'll reminisce about the good times. It's rare though.

I guess the moral is to make sure you take a moment to smell the roses. Appreciate the good times while they're happening because they are all too often fleeting.

Food For Thought
What do people in China call their good plates?

Timing is Everything
I give guitar lessons to children. Last week, I walked into the home of one of my students and noticed that they had a fully decorated Christmas Tree up in the living room. It's none of my business really. I suppose they could put it up after the Fourth of July and it wouldn't have any effect on my daily life. I just felt a little sad about it.

I'm certainly not the first one to comment on how the stores are putting out their Christmas merchandise earlier and earlier each year. People have been complaining that Thanksgiving is overlooked for a number of years. Now some places have Christmas decorations out before Halloween.

I'm not about to wax philosophic on what Christmas means to me, and I wouldn't presume to tell you what it should mean to you. I just wonder if it becomes a little less special to the children when they are surrounded by it for over 2 months.

making contact
I was talking to a musician friend of mine the other day about getting gigs. He was asking how I go about getting them. It seems he has sent out a number of demo cd's, and hasn't had much response. Your first thought may be that his cd stinks. That's not the case. I've heard it and it's pretty good. I believe the problem is the way he's going about it. Getting gigs is like applying for any other kind of job. If you blindly send out your resume to companies, you're chances aren't as good as if you make personal contact.

I like going to different open mics. Not so much because I like getting up to play two or three songs. I like them because I meet a lot of talented people. You learn a lot from people who have been there before you, and you get to pass along what you've learned to up and comers. It's also a good opportunity for the owners of the venue you're in to hear you, and hear how the crowd reacts to what you do. As people become familiar with you, they're more likely to refer you to people in a position to give you a job.

As someone who is handling the booking for a venue with live music, I know I've had lots of contact from people that I've never heard of. I'm a lot more likely to book someone whom I've heard, or who has been referred by someone I know and trust.

Worth Fighting For
I'd be willing to bet that if you stopped 100 people between the ages of 18 and 21 on the street tomorrow and asked them what the 26th amendment to the U.S. constitution says, less than 10 of them would know.

People all over the world have fought and died for a chance to have what is given to Americans because of where we live. I visited Czechoslovakia when it was under communist rule. I saw the crosses on the Berlin Wall memorializing those who died trying to cross it. So many people have no idea how absolutely amazing it is that we live in a country that gives us the right to choose our leaders.

I wish everyone who is eligible would do two things this week. On Tuesday, exercise your right to vote. Even if the only election in your district is for Dog Catcher. Then on Friday, make sure you thank a veteran for defending your right to vote.

I'm Easily Amused
I admit it. I find dumb little things amusing. For example, the page counter on this website is about to turn over 2,000 hits. I can't wait to see when it happens.

I recently saw the movie "Lost in Translation." I hated it. "Stripes" and "Caddyshack" and even "Ghostbusters" were much better Bill Murray movies. I live the human condition. I don't need to pay $7.50 to see it at the movies. Entertain me! I'd rather see a bunch of cowboys sitting around the campfire farting than a couple of whiney bastards drinking wine and complaining about how they don't know how to love.

Sometimes I feel the same way about music. Now I completely appreciate the talent it takes to write an perform a song. But not every song has to be topical and meaningful. Sometimes I just want a catchy hook and a melody I can whistle in the car.

Stephen King is my favorite author. He once said, " I'm a salami writer. I try to write good salami, but salami is salami. You can't sell it as caviar. "

I think I'll go have a sandwich!