To the man, holding his menu at arm's length.

"They're on your head!" as many times as it takes.


The sweetest thing, I ever saw while playing in a restaurant was an older couple from New England I think, who removed their glasses to read their menus. She placed her glasses on the centre of the table and he placed his on top of hers. All tangled up, legs all over the place. I caught them smiling and they caught me looking. One of the few times, I've been speechless, behind a mike. Just three stupid grins in a crowded restaurant.

One more line that I'll never forget using was simply "Go Ahead!"
Three families from the South pulled a few tables together in this same restaurant. They ordered their meals and when they arrived I noticed that the man at the head of the tables was looking over his shoulder, kind of self conscious is the way I'd put it.
I stopped singing and said "Go Ahead!"
At this, the whole table joined hands, bowed their heads and said Grace. When they were done, I started playing again.
Sometimes, you just know.
No-one in the restaurant paid the slightest attention. I take comfort in that.