For the first time I brought my guitar along to the Berkshire Country Store where I sip coffee and write. My coverage still being too sparse to go after gigs, I aimed to perform again by casually playing a song or two within earshot of customers. Though Ryan the owner would have let me play anyways, I “auditioned” for him by playing “Humility, Faith and Courage.”* With an original instrumental that only I know how to play I passed the audition.
I wrote undisturbed until lunch time, when a customer sat down at the only other table near me. He noticed my guitar and shared that he loudly rocks out at home on guitar with no neighbors to disturb. I mentioned I composed songs with humanity in mind. He asked me to play one of those songs as he turned to eat his sandwich.
I played “American Dream,” which features the lyrics “community, liberty, diversity.” My one person audience started tapping his foot. His facial expressions in between bites revealed his total engagement. After the song we he informed me that the lyrics really spoke to him. He agreed that the mood of the country these days called for such a message.
He asked if he could tip me. I hemmed and hawed since I had not intended to be tipped. I tried to bring Ryan into the conversation to see if he would approve, but he good naturedly responded to leave him out of it. My new fan then asked again and I hesitantly shrugged “yes.” He slipped a twenty dollar bill under my iPad cover and hurried away before I would discover the amount.
I never got to play more than one song for him. One person, one song, one generous tip. That provides a little incentive to perform whenever I have reliable coverage to do so. Stay tuned.
*Subscribers to this website receive an email for a free download of “Humility, Faith, Courage.” You also can listen to that song, plus “American Dream” and a few other originals performed by The Bards of Balance, by clicking here. (Or clicking the “Music” menu item near the top of the page.) I released these songs on my recently created Bandcamp page as well, with more songs to come. You also can purchase songs on my eCommerce site.
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