Rick, I believe this can be done in ANY community. I can't count the number of mean-looking old folks I've run into around here who, once I start playing, brighten up and confess their love for old music! They leave, all right, but all sweetened up, laughing. I KNOW it ain't ME-- believe me I ain't that good! It's the MUSIC, and if we don't believe in the music, we can't grow a damn thing. So that's Concept One.

We were at a jam last night-- been going to as many different ones as possible to catch all the vision I can-- and WOW. One key to it was that the core players have long since given up any confusion whatsoever about how they are going to spend their free time. If it's the second Friday, or two of the Thursdays in the month, they are PLAYING MUSIC in places where other people might hear it and get a tickle out of it. So here is the second key concept-- do you think of yourself as a musician, and conduct your life accordingly, or do you never make time to BE yourSELF, because you honestly (admit it!) prefer the hope to the reality? I am going to start asking that at the jams, at the end of them, when I make announcments about the next ones and other events.

~Susan