Hey MAB!! Well, let me write something. Don't have much to report, but I did survive the hurricane. As a matter of fact, I totally missed it! Slept right through it! We (at our house) had a few small limbs fall down. No trees down. Now windows, shingles, or porch roof damage.
Sounds like you've been busy! Writers nights, Sam's Jams, coaching. One of these days, probably not until next year, I just might be in the audience. I will at least see you in November at the Frank Brown International Songwriter Festival. I haven't heard back yet as to whether or not I will be working the lunch service, but I plan on being there every day by around 10am.
You've also been busy posting some great advice on Face Book! I may have commented on one or two, but I've read all of them. I did read through your post about the Mississippi Songwriter Festival, even though I didn't comment. Sounded like a great time! I just didn't have the money to make it out there. Saving up for FBISF.
I am playing a few open mics around here to keep up some experience to be ready for FBISF. Let me tell you a short story about one of them. It's a small venue in a coffee shop. This young girl, who had all original songs, got up with her Yuke and lyric book. Every song, she sang to the lyric book, made mistakes, paused, then started up again. Finally, for her last song, she announced how proud she was of this song, and that it was the best song she had written and it was her favorite. THEN, she proceeds to start reading her lyric book! STILL made mistakes, had to pause, and even backed up once or twice. I'm thinking, "Your FAVORITE song? REALLY?" I'm looking forward to starting back at Loosey's (I hope). We didn't have one the Thursday before the hurricane, and the Thursday after, there still wasn't power in a lot of areas, so that one was canceled also. The next one is supposed to be the first Thursday of October. They have mostly much better musicians, singers, and performers. I'll be challenged to do much better there.
Looking forward to catching up in November!!
phil g.