A lot of people have dreams of becoming rock stars and standing on stage in front of millions being famous! Don't get me wrong , when I was a kid I would stand in front of the mirror playing air guitar while listening to Motley Crue. I would polish my stage moves and imagine that all the cute girls in my class were sitting in the front row thinking I was the coolest cutest thing they had ever seen. As I got older and realized that wasn't probable the dream sort of changed.
I remember I was 21 years old and walking through Nevada City in northern CA. I walked by a bar and saw a older guy with a beard playing Ripple by the Grateful Dead. I watched as he sat relaxed playing the song, a tip jar in front of him and half of a beer sitting next to him. He looked so relaxed, entertaining the crowd. He looked through the window an saw me standing outside, gave me a wink as he started playing Hotel California by the Eagles. I thought to myself "I want to be that guy!" really after that day, that was my goal in music. I guess it is easier to attain your goals when you shoot a little lower.
Today I feel pretty damn lucky! I get to do what I have always wanted! I am a bar musician. Well even musician is a little strong a word. I don't consider myself a musician I am more of an entertainer. I want to help the people that come into the restaurant, pub, bar, or winery that I am playing at to sit back and relax and enjoy themselves. I want them to take the time to have a good conversation with a friend or meet someone new. I am the background music for that to happen and I am really happy about that.
Every few gigs someone who has had a few too many drinks will come up and say " You are amazing you should be playing in front of thousands!" or "How come you are not on american idol!", ahhh drunk people! After a few years of doing this I know what they are really saying, "I enjoyed myself tonight and had a lot of fun thank you!". That is all I want, so come on out next time I am playing, sing along, relax, have a beer and be entertained.
