Keith at Irvine Spectrum Myrtle Court -- 19May2012

The Irvine Spectrum Center management suddenly and inexplicably decided to stop hosting live music at the Food Court, though they're keeping the Myrtle Court stage. I've been playing almost exclusively at the Food Court, because they don't (didn't) charge a $50 "setup fee" for that one like they do for the Myrtle Court. This is presumably because the Food Court kinda sucks, and if they charged for it, no one would come.

The sudden change cancelled two already-booked gigs at the Food Court, but since I've been doing pretty well in tips lately (and rather than being suddenly retired), I signed up for the only remaining May opening at Myrtle Court, and with some trepidation, sent in the $50 fee. I'm not in this for the money, but it's kinda nice to bring home *something* for the trouble of going out there (not to mention the 40 years of practice to get to the point where I even *can* go out there). It's irksome to have to hand over a chunk of the tips, but I guess as long as I come out not-too-negative, it's the cost of a night out having fun.

Anyway, all day Saturday, I was freaking out about playing the "Main Stage", indeed now, the *only* stage, and having paid the fee, it seemed somehow proportionately Important to Do Good. And, having played the Food Court stage dozens of times now, I'm quite settled in, but I've only played at Myrtle Court a few times, so there was also the fear of the unfamiliar.

Myrtle Court has a long rectangular fountain with tables along the sides, and the stage is at one end, right in the middle of the main thoroughfare. You're essentially standing on a tide-breaker, where the traffic has to split in two around you. You also have to decide: if you face north, you're looking at (and singing to) the rows of tables and chairs along the fountain, but if you face south, you're facing into the foot-traffic flow, and might be able to snag a few interested parties from out of that tide.

But in the few other times I've played that stage, I pretty much decided to face the traffic, despite the temptation to play for people who are static and possibly demonstrably interested. But, facing south, there are two big planter-box benches for people to sit on and an up-close little plaza for standing people and dancing kids, so you can accumulate a little "audience", (not to mention that all those walking people are necessarily walking by the tip jar ).

I ended up kind of splitting the difference and set up with one speaker facing each direction. The "Court" is enclosed (except being open to the sky), and you get some good acoustic "containment" anyway, so the sound is good and loud enough everywhere. I mainly played into the traffic flow, but I also did a lot of turning around to face the tables when I knew the song well enough to not need the book and there were no harmony-box button presses.

And I had a blast! It was so different to have people, however mobile, that are close enough to actually see and therefore interact with. And the people on the planter boxes are close enough that they'll actually get up to take a look at the song list, unlike at the Food Court where even if they're listening, it's too intimidating to walk all the way across the big plaza to my table. And there were *lots* of people. Most of them just walk on by of course, but lots of them stayed for a song or three. And I almost never had that Dead Silence thing that's so prevalent at the Food Court. Several of the big groups at the tables seemed to be there for hours, though it's not certain if that was to hear me, or that they just had nowhere else to go...

I got one kid party going, though I didn't give out any fingerlights, mostly 'cuz I just never thought of it, it being so brightly lit there. I did have 4 or 5 little Muslim tweens that played my tambourine along with some newer tunes, and whom I "let" talk me into playing Justin Bieber's "Baby". And it was Prom Night for a lot of Seniors, so there were lots of them parading around the place, which was fun.

Especially toward the end of the evening, I had several couples that just sat down on the planter boxes and hung out, asking for song after song. I *love* that. Also an elderly Indian guy who was there for a couple of hours, and had an unerring ability to ask for my very best tunes, as if he had had a peek at the "Favorites" list. Dude, your fiver is in the mail.

Anyway, now I'm asking myself why I haven't been playing this stage all along. Obviously, it's the 50 bucks. It's especially bothersome if, at the end of the evening, "they" made more for my labor than I did. So I was anxious to get home and count up the tip jar, just to find out "the score". It came to twelve cents short of a hundred bucks. Twelve. Cents.

But let's round *up* and call it even! Not to mention that I had a great time! It's *way* more fun than the Food Court, so I'm definitely gonna sign up for more. Unfortunately, with no notice about the Food Court cancellations, the May and June dates for Myrtle Court are mostly full, but I'm gonna get what I can! Here I thought I was involuntarily just about musically retired, but I'm actually revitalized! Can't wait for the next one!