Great thread idea! I have not one, not two, but three "firsts!" I'll keep the suspense down, and share them all!

My FIRST performance was at the age of four or five, in kindergarten. The assignment was to learn a new song, and then sing it for the class. By that time, I'm pretty certain I knew dozens of songs, because I would listen to the Seegers, and Joanie, and Joni, and PPM, and the Weavers, and the New Lost City Ramblers, etc. for hours on end. Besides, I have a guitar-playing aunt who liked me to sing along, and my dad plays harmonica, and I'd sing with him too. OK, so I go home choose a song that is the most exciting song I know, and bring that into class on the appointed day. I remember practicing it several times, so I wouldn't get the verses confused. It has a lot of verses.

I then went into kindergarten and delivered my most rousing and energetic performance of...Frankie and Johnny.

The kindergarten teacher managed to shut me up, though that part is rather confused in my memory. She also had a conference with my mother, which as I recall, resulted in my Mom sticking up for me, since the assignment hadn't been clear, nor sent to the parents. My dad still relates this story with great glee.

My first musical performance after the kindergarten experience was thirty-some-odd years later in March 97, at an open mic, for which I prepared Leaving on a Jet Plane and Long Black Veil. I lost my nerve in the middle of Jet Plane, and stopped. The audience (bless them forever, Lord) yelled at me to finish.

My first PAID performance was a weekly gig Tim and I are still playing, doing a music hour for mentally retarded people. It barely pays our gas money to get to it, but it's a lot of fun. We've gotten to know the clients, and their favorite songs, and we have a good time giving other people a good time!

Thanks for letting me share it!!!!

V