Red Henry
Now, I admit that about once a month I go over and perform at Borders Books, here in Winchester. Pretty often, our son Chris performs with me. Now, why would I play there? You don’t get paid at for playing at Borders. There isn’t any big audience, applauding loudly and giving us the recognition we think we all deserve. Here are the primary reasons I play at Borders:
1. Practice
2. Practice
3. Practice
4. Practice
5. Practice
As you can see, the reason I go play for free is to get in PRACTICE. Why is this so important? Well, sometimes we have plenty of gigs and other opportunities to play, but sometimes we don’t. I often play at Borders the weekend before performing at a festival or other important music job, because when we play at places like that, one thing we’re being paid for is to show up in practice, warmed up, and able to play our best. And that’s a big reason for finding a place to play beforehand.
I played at Borders this last Friday night. Chris was playing a festival in Canada that weekend, so he couldn’t be there and I was doing it solo. When I got to Borders, opened my guitar and mandolin cases, and started playing (there’s not much preparation involved), I didn’t have an audience. The people coming there to hear me hadn’t shown up yet. Now, THAT’s a little weird, playing music for people who don’t know you and don’t expect it. So I started out easily, playing a few tunes like Wildwood Flower and Tennessee Waltz on the guitar. That seemed to provide something like background music, and the crowd accepted it easily (nobody left, which was a good sign). I eased into some light vocals from there, singing things like Wabash Cannonball and Wreck of the Old ’97. Soon I had some of them listening, and I just went through a lot of material, singing some songs like Head over Heels and Nine-Pound Hammer, and using the mandolin for some numbers like Just Because and Soldier’s Joy. All this time, the listeners got used to me and I got used to the situation, and it got easier and easier to play.
After a while some folks came in who were there just to listen, and they requested some numbers: Tennessee Stud, Lara’s Theme (from Dr. Zhivago— you remember that one— it’s pretty on the mandolin). Murphy came in, bringing some of her banjo and fiddle students. The second set went a lot easier than the first. And then it was time to stop.
I wasn’t in good practice when I stated playing that night, but I was in pretty good shape when I finished. I didn’t make any money, but it was easier (and better practice) than playing at home. And that was the point. So if you’re ever in Borders Books in your town, and you see someone playing music there (it happens occasionally), give them a listen. You can get some good entertainment that way, for free!