Keith at Costa Mesa -- 23Feb2008

A very quiet night. People seemed to like the music, but it was one of those "don't break the silence" vibes that keeps people from clapping -- except one guy over in the comfy chairs and a young lady at one of the tables with her boyfriend. She clapped after every song, but she never once looked at me -- odd.

I kept trying to tell myself that if I wasn't there playing, I'd probably be at home either watching TV, or playing in the bedroom, and nobody'd be clapping there, either. So to just enjoy being out, and consider it a rehearsal. It's actually just plain more fun to play through the amp, and especially to sing through it, with the reverb and all. I tell myself that, but it still bugs me when I get to the end of a song and people just sit there, silent. Even if it wasn't me up there, I'd still consider it pretty rude. Poor boy up there giving it what he's got -- toss him a bone!

Anyway, the total silence makes it easy to hear myself, which makes me sing and play better 'cuz I can tell what I'm doing. And my voice was finally back to normal after my cold, and I was completely in control again -- even (only?) I was amazed at what I could hit/do. That's a great feeling.

And since I was (apparently) just playing "for me" anyway, I took the chance to play some of the less common/popular songs, "Down On Yourself", "Jersey Girl", "Under the Boardwalk", etc. Some of that stuff is just great fun to lean back and belt out.

A lady sat down at one of the tables at 9:40 or so. I quit promptly at 10, and when I went out to collect the song lists, she asked me if I played "events". This time, I had the presence of mind not to hedge or dodge, and just say "Yes!" She works at (?) an art gallery in Long Beach (!) and she thought they might want to have me come play for something or other, an opening or show or something -- she didn't give any specifics. She isn't actually in charge of it, but she was gonna suggest me to the lady who is, so I gave her a CD to take, and told her to email me if it worked out. As of this writing, that was 4 days ago now, so I'm not holding my breath.

But, apparently I wasn't playing "for myself" after all -- I need to remember that: despite the No-Response, people really are (or may be, anyway), listening. Kind of reversed the whole evening for me -- even if she never calls.

K&W at Mission Viejo -- 16Feb2008

Not as good as last time at MV, but pretty good. I think the basic difference was that last time I "had their attention" somehow, and this time, some, but not so much. Pretty good fun, nonetheless.

The sound was a pretty big problem, almost all the way through. My guitar was either mysteriously disappearing, or getting swallowed up by the ambient noise; the usual grinders and blenders, but, I think, mostly the general din of conversations bouncing right around the place. "Live room", I guess. Makes a big difference between "getting their attention" and not, 'cuz it'll affect the amount of conversation you have to play over. It's a good place to play because it's close to my house, and close enough that there's a chance some friends may come out (only one did, this time), but it's definitely the worst sound environment we've played at.

I kept playing with the controls for my guitar, but it's hard to figure out what to do when, during the previous song, it was both too loud and too quiet. I kept tweaking the tone, but I think in the end I was (unknowingly) trying to find some kind of tone that would cut through the noise. I got somewhere close, and just proceeded on faith, but later on when it got emptier and quieter, the guitar sound magically wasn't a problem anymore.

As a joke, I made some stickers for my guitar to make it look like a "Guitar Hero" controller. A few people "got it", but most people didn't, and seemed to think it was some kind of remedial guitar. So I've taken them off. I thought it was a pretty good joke, myself, but on the other hand, they'd occasionally throw me off and I'd grab the wrong fret, oddly enough. I guess I'm too used to a completely blank fingerboard.

One guy who definitely didn't "get it" was a friendly but kinda loopy guy who came to sit right down front, and proceeded to sing, loudly, along with every song he knew. I ended up trying to find songs that would entertain everybody else, but that he wouldn't know, but he's in some kind of songwriter/singer club, and he knows lots of songs. Finally Warren leaned over and shushed him, multiple times, until he figured it out. It's cool that he was having fun, but (a) the people around him, I think, wanted to hear me, not him, and (b) it was confusing to me to have him singing the songs differently than I do, and fumbling for the words and screwing me up.

One high point, though, was little Garrett (maybe 3?) and his dad that came in and sat right down front. The kid apparently plays "Guitar Hero", so he recognized my guitar, and he wanted to dance and "air guitar" while we were playing. I enlisted him to make train noises with the shaker while we played "Jenny Dreamed of Trains", and he did pretty well. I started conspicuously tapping my foot to try to get/keep him on beat, but he saw that and tried to imitate it, which along with the shaker, overloaded his coordination and almost made him fall over. It was really cute, and the rest of audience was enjoying watching him, too.

Keith (solo) at South Coast Plaza -- 15Feb2008

Mostly uneventful, quiet, pleasant night. Bill and MaryJane came and stayed a long time, and that's always really nice for me. I dug into the "Dad's CD" section of my book, 'cuz I knew they'd remember those songs.

A young couple came in and, for no apparent reason, hung out in the aisle of books to my right for most of the night, sitting on the floor. He was skimming books, she was sketching. The guy asked if I knew any Gordon Lightfoot, meaning, apparently, "If You Could Read My Mind", 'cuz he hadn't heard of the 4 or 5 songs that I know or knew -- not that I could'a played 'em anyway, except "10 Degrees and Gettin' Colder", but he didn't know it, so I didn't bother. He enjoyed my "Simon and Garfunkle" songs, though, so, close enough.

But 20 minutes later, a 40-ish guy came in and sat down in the comfy chairs with a book, and after a while he looked up and asked if I knew any Gordon Lightfoot! Too weird. I said, "That guy just asked me that!", but they didn't know each other. He didn't know "10 Degrees" either. Guess I'll have to go learn "Read My Mind"...

No drama at all over the tip jar or CD rack. I was hoping the "real manager", an older guy who's *very* friendly to us, would come by so I could say "Shame about that tip jar rule" and see if he said (a) "Yup, it's a shame", or (b) "Oh, just ignore that rule!", or (c) "What tip jar rule?". But he didn't come by, and when I tried to go see him at the end of the night, he was way too busy with customers.

The Lightfoot fan's girlfriend over in the aisle asked me as I was tearing down if I "had a tip jar or something". I told her I did, but that I wasn't allowed to put it out anymore. I told her that it was OK, though, I'm not in it for the money. Frankly, it made setup and teardown a lot simpler, not having to put all that stuff out there. But it is nice to be compensated at least a little, and, as Warren always says, it's a nice form of feedback about whether or not you're doing anything right. We made $18 each at Mission Viejo the next night. That pays for a couple of the next week's lunches...

One odd thing -- towards the end, a nicely-dressed 20-something black guy came in, sat down and was pointedly listening. To the point of "studying" me. I'm not sure why -- he didn't seem to be a guitar player picking up tips (I can usually recognize those), and he didn't have any particular questions or requests. Oddly, he wasn't in a hurry to take a look at the list, even after I pointed it out to him. And after a while, he asked if he could take my picture (with his phone). Huh? I said, "Sure, send me a copy", but I wonder what he wanted a picture for. Sometimes people seem "too interested" and hang out to the end, and then ask us about how to get a gig like this -- but he left, kinda suddenly, a few songs before the end. If he hadn't been so slow to grab a list, I'd be wondering if he was with the RIAA or something, gathering evidence.

No picture in my email yet, either...

K&W (-W) at Yorba Linda - 08Feb2008

(This was supposed to be "Keith & Warren" but turned into "just Keith" when Warren called in sick. Hope he's well enough to play Mission Viejo next Saturday...)

A quietly appreciative crowd this time, I guess. I couldn't seem to raise much of a reaction from the readers and studiers that were there when I got there, until the last half hour or so when some more demonstrative ladies came in and were requesting James Taylor songs. Which, of course, I was happy to oblige.

They were friendly enough, most people were willing to state a song preference, but just not very loudly. One of those "feels like it ought to be quiet in here" nights. It's that "library ambiance". But, at the end, there were 27 bucks in the tip jar, and the front check-out counter lady came over specially while I was tearing down to tell me that "a whole lot of customers told me how much they liked your music", so they were liking it, just not showing it so much.

I put the tip jar and CD display out, bold as you please, and nobody said a word. Apparently, the enforcement of the tip jar ban is a matter of local management discretion. And the management loves us there.

Last Friday at Tustin, a 20-something lady and her boyfriend sat and listened for the last hour or so, asking for some songs and generally being right there with me. That was great, but at the end, she came right up and asked me if I played weddings. I said that I haven't, but certainly could, and she could send me the particulars by looking me up on the website address on the card.

Now, when Warren and I started playing at Tully's 6 (!) years ago, I thought that this might happen with some frequency. It's a brilliant way to find a band for your party -- anonymously visit coffeeshops and if the band sucks or is inappropriate, you just leave -- nobody the wiser, and nobody's feelings hurt. But, so far, it's only happened, what, twice? Maybe we "suck"...

Anyway, since it so rarely happens, I didn't put much stock in it, but she really did email me, and we've gone back and forth on the details and price, and, lately, the songs she wants, so it appears like it's really gonna happen. July 26. She wants to walk down the aisle to my odd, fingerpicked version of the Beatles' "Something". I'm not sure how good a marching tune it is, but that's kinda cool.

In fact, all but one of the songs she's picked off my list are, ahem, "retro". Now, it's true that, if you pick songs from my list, you'll end up with 99% "old songs", but she's requested for me to learn some others that aren't on the list, and they're seriously retro, too; "Time in a Bottle" and "Longer"!?! All these songs were written before she was born! I can't tell if she hired me 'cuz the wedding's retro, or if the wedding's retro 'cuz she hired me.

K&W at South Coast Plaza -- 02Feb2008

Despite an entirely tepid audience, we had a pretty good time. Since I couldn't seem to raise a reaction at all from anybody, I decided that I might as well make it fun for me (and hopefully, Warren) so I played through a lot of the "still working on these" songs, and the songs that are the most fun for me to sing and/or play.

I watched a guy pick up and buy one of my "Dad's Songs" CDs, so I figured I ought to sing a few of them, despite Warren never having played some of them. So we did "Lemon Tree" (which I've been doing quite often lately, and am thinking of moving onto The List, 'cuz it really "works"), but also "I Have Been a Rover", "Try to Remember" and lastly "Four Strong Winds". They all went really well, even though I hadn't played most of them for a long, long time.

I was "in good voice" again, and was playing pretty well, too. I may just be getting better, so even "the hard ones" aren't that hard anymore. Must be the two half-hour walks that I take everyday at work, with my electric guitar and headphone amp. I'm getting a *lot* of practice. Anyway, since hardly anyone was really listening, I also "pulled out all the stops", vocally, and had fun just wailing on the songs.

As we were packing up, though, the presumed store manager (or night/assistant manager) came over and informed us that the policy was changing (again), and not only would we have to sell CDs "through the store" (handing over 40% in the process), but we wouldn't be allowed to even have a tip jar anymore. This is getting pretty ridiculous -- they almost seem to be actively trying to get all the musicians to walk away. What's next? All gigs must be preformed standing on one foot? We have to pay them? "Gee, that's a real pretty little guitar you got there, pal. It'd be a shame if something was to happen to it..."

Anyway, I didn't hear anything about this policy-change the night before in Tustin, so this may be applicable only to this one store's over-zealous manager (shame, since it's our favorite store to play in). But even if it's real, permanent, and county-wide, I'll still keep playing there. It's degrading to be treated so badly by the management, but just to have a place to play for people makes it worth it. I'm not there for the 6 or 12 or 20 dollars -- I'm there to play, and I'd do it even with no tips and no CD sales. I may have to think twice about the further away of the stores, though. It costs me 10 bucks just to drive out to Yorba Linda or Brea and back, and it's nice to at least have a chance to break even if the tips come in. We'll have to see how it goes at Yorba Linda next week...

Keith (solo) at Tustin -- 02Feb2008

Big fun! When I got there, there was a *very* familiar-looking little girl and her dad. I thought that maybe they were Indian Princess acquaintances, but it turns out that they had seen us play at the late-lamented Santa Margarita store, almost 3 years ago, as reported in this blog post.

Little Paige (she's 12 now) is just as charming, bold, and sassy as she was back then. She was there with her dad and her two "BFFs", a pair of look-alike sisters. The three of them had matching headbands and purses. Too cute. Her dad was actually there to see the band that was playing on the outdoor stage, just outside of Borders, but was waiting in the café until they started up. He went out there when we could hear them playing, but Paige and her friends stayed inside with me. They wanted to hear some Bear songs ("Teddy Bears' Picnic" and "Waltzing With..."), and some Beatles. It was great to have a clear way to get started, and they're a great audience, bustling around me, asking questions, and taking pictures and videos of me with their cell phones.

Later on, my brother and his wife came by, and happened to "steal" the girls' chairs, since they were up by me taking video. When Paige complained to Roy, he told them that he was my brother, which they didn't believe until I nodded (mid-song) to confirm. Then they were all instant pals and had some conversation as I tried to go on singing.

Paige's dad eventually came and took them away, and I think one of the sisters bought a "Bears" CD (Paige already has one). Later on after Roy and Keri had left, I looked over at the not-very-conveniently placed tip jar, and it looked like there was only one dollar in it. But at some point, somebody got up to put some money in it, and the rest of the room must have finally noticed it, 'cuz suddenly lots of people were up there buying CDs and filling the jar. Usually we don't sell any CDs at all, sometimes 1 or 2. This time, I sold 6! I set out 4 of each, and all 4 "Live" CDs sold, and 1 each of the "Bears" and "Tribute to My Dad" CDs. This was the first time I'd brought any of those, having only recently decided that I did some pretty good work on that one, and some people might prefer that era of songs. Apparently so. I made $33.56 in tips -- I think the little girl just gave me all the money she had, including $1.56 in change.

Towards the end, I looked out and noticed that there were several groups of people standing and listening. The café is pretty small, so they run out of places for people to sit pretty quickly, so standing out in the store is the only option. Other than just walking away, of course. It's pretty flattering when people will stop their shopping and stand there listening for a while.

Overall, great night. Originally, it was supposed to be a K&W gig, but Jim had to drop out of the J&W gig at South Coast Plaza the next night, so I took that one over for him, leaving Warren the option of one or the other, and he chose to leave me solo at this one. You just never know when it's gonna be great or lame, 'cuz it's almost entirely dependent on the audience. We're pretty much the same every time, it's the audience reaction that makes all the difference.

Keith (solo) at Costa Mesa -- 25Jan2006

Pretty mediocre. Not many people there, and those that were, weren't very interested in what I was up to. So I just struggled through most of the night, except finally a young guy and his girlfriend came over, and he was *totally* into it. He said he was a guitar player himself, and played some James Taylor songs, and wanted to hear (and watch) me play some. So that was fun, until he couldn't stand it anymore and said he "had to get home and play some guitar!"

Later a nice older lady and her daughter wandered over, and she clearly really liked me, too. She not only clapped at the end of the songs (which, when you're the only one doing it, is hard enough), but made nice comments, too. Then she spotted the CDs and sign. She studied them for a while and apparently made her decision, and said she'd have to go out to the car to get some cash. And off she went.

20 minutes later, I had decided that she was just spoofin' me, but she finally reappeared and put some money in the jar and took a CD, sure enough.

The Cranky Girl was there, running the café almost single-handed since she'd lost some staff lately (gee, I wonder why someone wouldn't want to work for *her*). I think she was OK with me this time though, 'cuz I asked her where she wanted me to set up. She pointed out a wouldn't'a-been-my-choice spot, but I set up there anyway -- just to let her feel in control. I forgot to take a break, but I did quit right at 10:00, so hopefully I didn't invoke her wrath...

I'm "For Sale"!

To cover the costs of the extra art classes, the High School of the arts where my daughter Geneva goes requires (a) some tuition of course, and also (b) an annual donation of "an item worth $50 or more" that they auction off at the big ritzy "Gala" fundraiser/show each Spring. Last year, Daleen made some kind of gift basket, but this year, she decided that we should auction off a "Live musical performance by Keith Comer". We put down that I'm "worth" $200 (!), and sent in a set of CDs, and some pictures of me singing.

Click here to see the auction.

The Items are posted alphabetically, and mine is titled "An Evening of Entertainment" so I'm on the first page (of 11). Third row, second column.

The auction went live last night, and, as of right now, there's already one bid! 75 bucks! Most of the stuff hasn't even been bid on yet. It's nice to know that I'll at least not go un-bid-upon. Feels a little weird to be "up for sale", though. I'm also hoping that, considering "An Evening of Entertainment", that the lady that bid on me read down a ways and understands that I'll be singing and playing guitar, not, um, other things...