Jerry---and all,

Be sure to count folks who've used folk music in schools to illustrate history, geography, the arts and a slew of other topics to enlighten with our music.

And how about riverboats? All those years I played on the Mississippi River for folks who had no inkling of what it was they were hearing. And then they bought one o' my recordings. In the 1970s and 80s the "folk clubs/coffeehouses" and bars (pubs) presented the most appreciative and educated audiences. But there was no way to raise a family on what they paid. I had to learn to branch out and play for less knowing audiences. The pay was better there even though the feedback might not be as ego stroking. -------- My big payoff came when Chris got his college diploma. I made a Xerox of it, stapled all the pay stubs from those river years gigs to it, and then I put it in my "EGO BOX" on the top shelf of the closet---with all my other memorabilia and favorite press reviews. ;-)

Art Thieme