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BS: Broke my leg!
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Subject: Broke my leg! From: mousethief Date: 17 Nov 00 - 01:22 PM Well, I had my hour and fifteen minutes of fame last night at A Good Book Café and Bookstore in beautiful downtown Sumner, Washington (population 4,000! Salute!). I think I did pretty well. Near the end of my first set my voice was getting a little scratchy but some hot herbal tea during the break got it back into shape. I was totally unmiked so when the latte machine was steaming I had to sing a little louder! Most of the time people talked while I played, but I caught a couple of people singing along at various points, and one very nice young lady paid very close attention and had a very broad smile, which helped a lot! (And some fresh-sown moonstone was messing with his frozen zone reminding him of romance.....) Song set included (from memory so I may miss 1 or 2, and the order is certainly not right):
Unicorns (Shel Silverstein) The proprietor said I have a beautiful voice, which was very kind. In pay I received two very large herbal teas, and a book (which I still haven't chosen) up to $20 in value. Not bad for doing what I do for free on the front porch! But my fingers -- especially on my picking hand -- are killing me! I had blisters on my ring finger and middle finger on my right hand; I needled them both last night but the one on my ring finger grew back with a vengeance. Now I see why people wear fingerpicks. There was a pretty nice crowd there -- about 12-16 people at the thickest, I'd say. I was the "debut" performer for what they hope to make a regular thing. I have a standing invitation to come back and play whenever I want. Thanks everybody at Mudcat for helping me get my courage up and make such a bold step (for me it's bold, anyway!).
Alex |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: GUEST Date: 17 Nov 00 - 01:26 PM Glad to hear it Mate! Now, if they liked you, they will be willing to pay you. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: DonMeixner Date: 17 Nov 00 - 01:27 PM Alex, Welcome to the preforming world. There is no sweeter feeling than appreciation for your effort and artistry. Congratulations. Don |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: MMario Date: 17 Nov 00 - 01:32 PM feels good, doesn't it? (well, aside from the blisters) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: Morticia Date: 17 Nov 00 - 01:37 PM Well done, Alex........we knew you could do it! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: Amos Date: 17 Nov 00 - 01:40 PM What---no "Danny Boy?"!! What kind of a gig was this, anyway!! (:>) Well done, man. A |
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Subject: Broke my leg! From: Clinton Hammond2 Date: 17 Nov 00 - 01:45 PM Oh man! I'd kill ya twice for a gig like that... How long did you play for? An hour? maybe 2?? And a fee book? Too cool! congrats... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: jeffp Date: 17 Nov 00 - 01:50 PM Sounds like you (and everybody else) had a great time. Once the blisters heal, you'll start building callouses that will help prevent that problem in the future (if you keep up with your playing, of course). I hope to hear that you will be doing it again soon! Congratulations!!!!! jeffp |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: Jim Krause Date: 17 Nov 00 - 01:52 PM Glad to hear it went so well. Sometimes these kinds of gigs can be pretty fun. 'Specially when some Fair And Tender Lady is listening.;-) Well, now that you've had a taste of success, when's the CD coming out? Soddy |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: DougR Date: 17 Nov 00 - 02:00 PM Congrats, Alex! Sounds to me like you are on your way. Very good experience, and if your fingers hold out, it probably will be just the first of many good gigs in the future. DougR |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: SINSULL Date: 17 Nov 00 - 02:03 PM Mouse - I thought for a minute you really did break your leg. Congratulations. Be kind to your blisters. And check the "Favorite Book Thread" for suggestions. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: mousethief Date: 17 Nov 00 - 02:14 PM Thanks, everybody! And Clinton, please don't kill me twice. I don't think I could survive being killed even once. alex |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: Whistle Stop Date: 17 Nov 00 - 02:33 PM Glad to hear it went so well. There's nothing like performing for an appreciative audience. Hope it's the start of a trend. |
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Subject: Broke my leg! From: Clinton Hammond2 Date: 17 Nov 00 - 02:38 PM LOL!!! MT! Then get me a gig like that too eh! :-) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: mousethief Date: 17 Nov 00 - 02:50 PM You can call the bookstore at 253-891-9692. They're still looking to book nights through the Christmas shopping season.
O..O |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: Midchuck Date: 17 Nov 00 - 02:54 PM Congratulations! Now get a flatpick and play the guitar properly, and your right fingers will never hurt again. Peter. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: Amergin Date: 17 Nov 00 - 02:58 PM Hey, Alex, that sounds great!!! You know I have some friends up there....been hankering to go visit sometime (that is if I can get a hold of him).....but he's kinda busy and gone alot....he's an AB for a tugging outfit....if I ever do make it will have to check this place out... Glad to hear you didn't break your leg... Amergin |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: catspaw49 Date: 17 Nov 00 - 03:32 PM That's fantastic Alex!!! Sounds like EVERYONE enjoyed it on both sides of the mic. I'll send you a complimentary dash statue......I mean they were your idea anyway.............. Seriously, great job!!!!!! Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: Naemanson Date: 17 Nov 00 - 03:41 PM Good for you, Alex! Ain't it sweet? Sounds like you had a great time. The next purchase is a small sound system so you don't strain those vocal chords. It's a little more expensive than the flat pick suggested above but oh so worth it. I have done a few gigs as a street musician and it takes a few days for the voice to come back. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: Lonesome EJ Date: 17 Nov 00 - 04:09 PM Great MT! But watch out for those folk groupies...Mrs Thief may break more than your leg. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: mousethief Date: 17 Nov 00 - 04:10 PM Naemanson, I've made a new thread on your suggestion (clicky). Please look there. Thanks.
Alex |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: Allan C. Date: 17 Nov 00 - 04:28 PM Oh, this IS good news! I had thought perhaps the loan sharks had caught up with you. Congrats! Sounds like you did just fine! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: CarolC Date: 17 Nov 00 - 04:40 PM Congratulations, mousthief! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: Rick Fielding Date: 17 Nov 00 - 04:52 PM Way to go Mouse. On my first "pro" gig I made ten bucks for three hours, all the coffee I could drink and got invited home by the waitress. Figured "this is the job for me". That was thirty-two years ago! Rick P.S. check out those Acoustic amps with the low and high impedance inputs. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: WyoWoman Date: 17 Nov 00 - 04:54 PM Yeay!!! Yeay!!! Bic lighters raised!!! Good job there, Alex. A great feeling, I know, despite the ouchie fingers. ww |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: JenEllen Date: 17 Nov 00 - 05:12 PM I thought you'd broke your leg too...all set to come and commiserate and you pull THIS on me!!*bg* So glad to hear it went so well. You weren't stuffed in a chickenwire cage for protection? Then it's a winner. I have to make it over the mountains for Dec9th-10th, are you playing then too? Gotta hear that Cat Came Back!! Take care! Elle |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: mkebenn Date: 17 Nov 00 - 05:56 PM Mouse, great to hear!!! I've been tryin' to gather the stones to play in public again{it's been ten years} but I've got to quit smoking. congrats. Mike Bennett |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: paddymac Date: 17 Nov 00 - 06:53 PM Good on ye , lad! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: Helen Date: 17 Nov 00 - 11:11 PM Hi Alex, (Have you forgiven me yet for my tasteless teasing on that other thread?) I'm really happy for you. Sounds like a great gig. May you have many, many more of them. Wish I could have been there. Helen |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: Escamillo Date: 17 Nov 00 - 11:14 PM Congratulations, Alex ! Keep doing the good job, and more and more people will appreciate it. Un abrazo - Andr‚s |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: Lyrical Lady Date: 18 Nov 00 - 04:15 AM This is the beginning of the end, Mousethief, you'll be a spoiled man now! There's no greater feeling as far as I'm concerned ... good on ya ... and keep up the good work! ...LL |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: Little Hawk Date: 18 Nov 00 - 09:34 AM Great, Alex! I can't remember my first gig, but I know it was in Toronto somewhere back in the 70's. Maybe it was at the Backyard Cafe, or Egerton's (later The Edge), or that old church place (Fat Albert's) or maybe even Fiddler's Green... Anyway, it is a lot of fun, isn't it? Half the gigs I've ever done have been for no money at all. When they pay me, I consider it icing on the cake. Rick - the waitress invited you home at your FIRST gig! You lucky son-of-a-gun, no wonder you took it up as a profession! I played too many gloomy and morose songs when I was first starting out to be picked up by any waitress, unless she was really into that sort of thing in a big way. Alex - instead of the flatpick suggestion, you could always grow your fingernails and use them (right hand only, that is). Call me if you do for tips on how to preserve them from breaking. - LH |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: Rick Fielding Date: 18 Nov 00 - 11:25 AM Well Hawk, I am a bit older than you...and it WAS the sixties...and gloomy songs were IN then. The place was "The Minah Bird" a VERRRRY notorious club. Remember that part of the job description for a young woman in those hippy days was to feel sorry for wandering folksingers. Now the fact that I'd only wandered three miles from my parents house in Downsview was probably not relevent. Now remember Mousethief....we're not ADVOCATING this wild and crazy lifestyle..just pointing out the pitfalls of what happens when you start playing in public! Fat Albert's is still going. Amazing! Rick |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: Amos Date: 18 Nov 00 - 12:44 PM The first public one I remember was a North Beach coffehouse in 1963; they wanted to give me a beer but I was just under the age...anyway it was a hoot. A |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: Clinton Hammond2 Date: 18 Nov 00 - 12:59 PM Hey Mt... Thanks fer the #... but it's a hell of a commute fer a freebie... ;-) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: Margaret V Date: 18 Nov 00 - 01:51 PM Hurray for you, Alex! Congratulations on being brave, and for sharing good music with others. Hope it's just the beginning of a great ride. Margaret |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: mousethief Date: 18 Nov 00 - 11:17 PM So where exactly ARE you, Clinton? Thanks again everybody for the kind words!
Alex |
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Subject: RE: BS: Broke my leg! From: Clinton Hammond2 Date: 19 Nov 00 - 10:56 AM Windsor Ontario Canada... right across the ditch from Detriot Michigan... which is why the air is unbreathable and the water is undrinkable! LOL!! |