Hey JimmyT,

I think that finding an audience is a good part of being a good showman(woman). If you are giving folks what they need, then you can't miss.

In a sense, every musician is a "showman" because they generally at one time or another play for someone else. They "show" others how it's done.

What constitutes being a musician is about the same level of discussion as to what is a folk song. Musicians often vehemently disagree on the subject. Ie: for some classical musicians, it might be inconceivable to consider the Carter Family or Son House as being musicians. There are snobs in every form of music. I've heard Pat Metheny rail about Kenny G, folkies of the fifties rail about Eddie Fisher, Leonard Feather rail about "moldy figs" (traditional jazz players, and all kinds of self-style critics trying to mold their listeners to their taste.

Frank Sinatra is a "showman". Pete Seeger is one. Granpa' Jones, B.B.King, is, Bill Monroe was, Elvis........... but even obscure figures can put on a show if the time and audience is right. It has to do with how well you communicate with a given audience. As to the rubric of "musician" well it depends on what music you're talking about and who you're talking to.

I like what Charlie Parker said, "Don't call it jazz, call it music." Why not the same for any form of music.

Another thing, just 'cause I don't like it doesn't mean that it isn't any good.
George Bernard Shaw said, "Wagner's music is better than it sounds."

Frank Hamilton