Reynaud and I had been invited to a "showcase" of various performers for Public Library children's programs. We rehearsed a mess of kids' songs, from Old McDonald to I'm My Own Grandpa. We always take the fiddle, guitar, pennywhistle, recorder, banjo, and mandolin, and kids from age 4 onward are usually fascinated by all the different sounds we can make. We had played this set in various configurations at a dozen different kiddie events, to rousing success, with the kids singing, clapping, and everyone--parents, kids, and us--generally having a great time.

So we arrived at the showcase, and realized the audience for this event, was 50 children's librarians, without a kid in sight.

We asked the librarians to agree to pretend that they were their own patrons. Lots of laughter. We did the set, and there was quite a bit of toe-tapping, singing along, and smiles. All in all, however, they didn't respond like the 6-to-12-year-olds who normally make up our audience.

At the end of the gig, the organizer came over and told us--"That was a nice set, but couldn't you have done children's music?" We were totally stunned. "Old McDonald," "Jenny Jenkins," "She'll be Comin' Round the Mountain," "You Are My Sunshine," "This Old Man," and "Green Grass Grows All Around" are all, as far as I know, still considered kids songs. The kids we played (and still play) them for respond well.

We still haven't a clue what this woman thought we had (or hadn't)performed. When I pressed her for specifics, she looked at me as if I was totally strange and said "You know, songs that 6-year-olds sing."

Talk about a mis-match!

It's bugged us both ever since.