Songwriters At Play!: Blog

I am glad you wrote.  It's been awhile since you've played a showcase.  Many times you've been there -- sometimes as a featured act, but more often playing four songs in an unpaid guest set.  I keep asking you to come back -- I leave voice mails, send e-mails, but no reply.  I even invite you in person, and you're so friendly and positive, as months go by since your last Songwriters At Play booking.

Now I get your brutally honest reply.  Bottom line: you say our showcases are not worth your time.  Seems like it's the same crowd, same lack of response to your music.  And it's not just us -- you say you're going through a rough time musically, trying to re-invent yourself and having a difficult time doing it.  You say, "I don't feel the desire to play shows until I am proud of the songs and music I can offer."

You're not alone.  I hear lots of stories, people who played music when they were younger, then stopped for years to put the emphasis on family and the day job.  There's a lot of rejection in the music biz.  It's hard to find a reason sometimes to keep writing, singing, playing.

But I know you.  I've seen your family, your friends, your fans.  There are many people out there who respond to you and your music.  They may not be there every time you play, but they will miss you if you're not there.  They will surprise you and show up when you least expect.  

Stay home and you are guaranteed to connect with no one.  But come out and play your music, and there is always the possibility.  Someone will hear something in your song that brings something new to their life.  You could connect with a fellow musician, or their family, friends, and fans.

Sometimes I play the showcases I host, and sometimes I don't.  I can get tired of my old songs.  So I learn new ones.  Today I opened the showcase by performing a song by Randall Lamb, a local writer who has played many of my showcases.  He was at the Porch earlier this month, still actively performing into his 60's.  Somehow he finds a reason to make the drive up from Buellton to play four songs, and I'm always grateful when he does.  Singing his songs back to him is one way I have to say thanks.

We've also done tribute shows -- Dylan, Joni, Prine, Springsteen, etc. -- but one of our best shows was when all the musicians did songs by local writer Ted Waterhouse.  I'm sure you know Ted -- a fellow showcaser, sometimes featured, but so often a 4-song setter.  He keeps coming back.  And this year I had the honor of hosting a show where we all showed our appreciation for his work as a songwriter.

Next month, Don Lampson is celebrating his birthday by playing our showcase on January 31.  Wouldn't it be fun to work up one of Don's songs for the occasion?  You know Don -- you've played the Porch so many times, you must know him.  He's there every Thursday, whether he's playing 4 songs or none.  Lately he's brought his camera and posted pics on Facebook.  His support means a lot to me.  

So here's what I'm saying -- there are many ways to be part of Songwriters At Play.  I would love it if you were here as a performer, but we need listeners too.  If you hear something you like, tell that performer.  Encourage them to keep doing what they do.  Keep your ears open for the possibility.

Check out the new venues -- I see a lot of familiar faces at all the venues, but there's always somebody new, especially in downtown SLO at Kreuzberg on Tuesdays.  Sculpterra brings a mix of locals and tourists.  Next month we start a monthly showcase at Laetitia Winery, where there's always a lot of people coming through.  New ears for our music!

And we have the amazing opportunity of putting it on the radio every week.  We tape some of the showcases, put together an hour of highlights on Mondays 6-7pm on The Krush 92.5 (repeats Fridays 1-2pm, and we archive it on our website).  More ears for our music!

Somehow, I get performers to play all those showcases.  I remember the many times when you were in the lineup too.  Hope you'll come back.  I wish you new songs in the new year!

Still here--SK