Last night I performed my 27th consecutive St. Patrick's Day program at the Press Room. This is usually the busiest day of the year with the club selling the most Guinness in the state of New Hampshire. But when we arrived to set up, there was no great crowd; no need to push our way through with instruments and sound equipment. The place was not empty, but certainly less full than ever before on this day.

We started at 6:30 to a half full room. A few more people showed up. Then at 7:45, about a third of the room left, presumably to watch George Bush rattle his sabre. The room never filled up. We put on a great show; the audience loved it and demanded encores. But we made less money last night than we had on any previous St. Patrick's Day in 27 years.

Who else had his/her gig/income diminished by the machinations of war and politics?

-- Tom