My posts to Irregular Blog may be just that for awhile

Thanks to my eight regular subscribers for checking in regularly. I would like to reward you with some new insight or new oddball idea everyday, but I've become preoccupied with another project.

I've volunteered to sing on the sidelines of Grandma's Marathon. However, most of my repertoire is too slow or otherwise inappropriate to cheer runners on. So, I've been busy writing lyrics to upbeat folksongs just for Grandma's: I've been running in the Marathon, all the livelong day and She'll be running around Superior when she comes.

I was so involved writing lyrics last night that I never got around to writing a blog. And I still have to practice and practice and practice these songs by the 20th!

Going to the cabin today didn't help my time allotment. BTW, something interesting had happened, but the next Adventure of Superwoodsman will have to wait to another time.

BTW2, I've been assigned to entertain the runners and bystanders at the Ordean Bldg. at the corner of Superior St. and Fifth Ave. W. If you can elbow your way over there, I'd appreciate it.

I'm not a busker; I'll be a busker

I got my first rejection notice as a busker. The Duluth Division of Parks and Recreation turned down my application to be a Downtown Waterfront Performer and returned my check.

I knew this was coming because I had passed on the message that my name should be put at the bottom of the list. I knew that I would not appear very often and could be taking one of the twenty spots from somebody who would. Probably the real story is that the twenty performers who had spots last rear reapplied making my "generosity" rather moot.

This afternoon I received email from the Marketing Manager of Glensheen Mansion inviting me to be a busker at the 30th anniversary celebration on May 22. I know, I know, it wasn't a personal invitation but an invitation to a mailing list. Still, it is nice to still be on the list and invited. I replied that I was interested.

BTW, you can find an interesting, but lengthy, article on busking at

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busker

Gotta go! Time to practice some more!

I busked and I'm bushed!

Today I was a busker at the Tweed Museum of Art on the UMD Campus as part of the Gallery Hop. A busker is a street entertainer, but I wasn't on the street. I was in the Activity Room where coffee and cookies were offered as well as some kids' activity materials.

People wandered in and out of the Activity Room and the adjacent Museum Store. Sometimes people would poke their heads into the Activity Room from adjoining rooms. Because my voice could be heard in other rooms, I would sing even if no one was in the Activity Room. I figured the music was part of the ambiance and would be welcome as long as it didn't intrude on conversations.

I sang from a list of fifteen songs with varying skill. Every so often I would have a senior moment and forget what came next. Making mistakes was often an ice breaker. Sometimes I would start badly and have to sing the beginning notes softly to myself before starting again.

A few people would sit and listen to me for a while and we might chat about the music. Some were fascinated that I sang songs other than in English. Every so often people would applaud.

Some parents came with children and I would start "I knew an old lady who swallowed a fly" or "Allouette". They would look at me with rapt attention, but they would not join in.

I did leave out a list of the songs, business card, and a cap for tips. Nobody took or left any paper. Oh well, I was not in it for the money but the experience and the fun.

My assignment was for three hours and nobody was assigned to follow me. But at two-and-a-half hours my voice was getting strained. I put more time between each song and called it quits at three hours.

Sometimes the best part is leaving. As I left, some staff members congratulated me on my performance and said my voice resonated nicely through the rooms. I prized the comments even more because one staff member was a musician who was having a CD rollout party tonight.

I am a busker

I had a message on my answering machine yesterday that I will be busking at Tweed Museum on the UMD campus on April 18 from 11 to 2. The busking is part of the Gallery Hop, a tour of art galleries in Duluth organized by the Public Arts Commission.

The call was because the caller couldn't quite decipher my email address; she wanted to send written confirmation. I know my handwriting can be bad, but my printing too? I left a message this morning.

I also sent in an application yesterday for a busking permit for the season to the Parks and Recreation Department. I probably shouldn't have. Only twenty will be selected. I probably wouldn't even perform once a week, and if I were selected, I would be taking the slot of someone who would perform more often. I'll have to ask to have my application put at the bottom of the pile.

Now I have to get cracking on memorizing several songs.

I'm a busker, I think

Today I auditioned with the Duluth Parks and Recreation Commission for a busker spot during the Gallery Hop on April 18. A busker is a street entertainer who sings, plays, dances, or does other performance activities. See BUSKER CENTRAL - Street Performers and Buskers Reference Site.

I was among the first five to audition. Before my turn came I had forgotten some of the words to "Arirang", a Korean song I've sung many times. I did manage to get through "Die Gedanken Sind Frei" and "Santa Lucia". I don't know how much applause I got. The stage was brightly lit and the seats were in the dark, but just as I finished, somebody from the commission was showing a sign in the back, "TIME".

Before the second hour was up they said that all of us would have an assigned spot. By the time it was all over, 31 groups had performed. They said they would split the assignments into four hour shifts.

I was the only a capella singer; other singers accompanied themselves with guitars or other instruments. Some were little bands all by themselves; one performer used a harmonica, a suitcase drum, a banjo, and a jug. There was a belly dancer and group of hoop dancers.

The nicest things were when one performer stopped to shake my hand as he left and another sat and chatted with me a bit impressed that I sang unaccompanied. This is a long way for the guy who was always off-key in choral groups. See "Men Can Sing".

So, I have to get busy memorizing more songs and maybe drag along my notebook of songs, if nothing more than for a quick glance to refresh my memory. I'll probably have to bring lots of cough drops, too.

Now I'm sitting on pins and needles waiting official confirmation.