A couple things about Shepherdstown are unique, which help to support the arts and folk music in our town. We have a large number of retired senior government and company executives who are determined to support the arts as a quality of life issue. They provide much in the way of grant writing and organizational skills which allow the musicians and artists to focus on their skills and expertise. We have a college in the center of town which has an amazing theater and music arts program, including BS degrees in production, music (including jazz), dance, and ethnomusicology. Each of the students in the arts program must take part in some way in 25 events a year, whether performing or producing, etc. And finally, you have an extremely strong volunteer ethic in the town, which actually mandates your standing within the town.

Within a year of arriving, most new people are approached to serve in some capacity in an arts organization. It may be the only dark side of Shepherdstown, but if you refuse to volunteer to assist in a dance, theater, music, production or grant writing entity, absent some disability or family obligation, your circle of friends gets rather small. People move here to do this, and you are catagorized or characterized by your arts group.

You're a morris dancer, contra dancer, clogger, modern dancer, or a folk, blues, rock, or symphonic musician. You're watercolor, oil, or mixed media artist. You're an Appalachian, rock, folk, gospel, or blues singer. If you own a restarant, you cater backstage. If you are a poet you are expected to provide one for special occasions, and you practice your art at the Mechlenburg Inn every Sunday afternoon. There is a drummers circle at the train station Saturday afternoon, and you are expected to lead the May Day parade. If you aren't particularly talented, you collect tickets, bring water to the performers or assist the handicapped. You pick up musicians at the airport or work traffic around the Morris dancers in the street. There is a job for everyone of all ages and you must volunteer.

Interestingly enough, the most prized job for a young male is to be the town crier, who is carefully selected by the town council, and who proceeds all parades. For the young ladies, it is to be a Mini Morris dancer, who dance with flower garlands during our two day Mayday celebration, and march with the Green Man, the Unicorn and the Mayor (who carries a ancient gnarled staff with twisted bands of fresh lilac as his badge of office).

I myself am an Old Time and Celtic musician and the town sound guy. You call O'Hurleys General Store and they will connect you to me. If you have a problem with an amp, mixer, speaker or mike, I will lend you something until you get yours fixed, and if you need it late, I will leave it on my front porch for you to pick it up. I've never been burned and always respected. But this town is serious about it's arts, it's dances, it's festivals and it's culture. It demands your commitment, but once you do, after the show, you'll be jamming with people you have only read about.

To close, I was once quoted in an article about Shepherdstown that, "This town is like Peter Pan's Island of Lost Boys. If you never leave, you never have to grow up".