Yesterday, I traveled to Salem, Massachusetts, to do a show for an assisted living community. This community was once the home of a rich man and was VERY beautiful. Paintings and statues and tin ceilings in every room. Elaborate furnishings and big comfortable couches and love seats adorned every corner and seemed to welcome the occupants with air of splendor. My setup was in the small living room with 4 large doorways. It was the heart of the house and the hallways were like arteries flowing from this space and into the expansive home. Sound traveled well. So well, in fact, that residents did not join me in the room for the show, but sat in small nooks and corners throughout the house and enjoyed the music. There were 3 who decided to actually sit in the same room as me... Don't be discouraged if your audience is small. You don't know who is listening in the rooms beyond...I was delighted to get several compliments from residents who were not present in the same room but enjoyed the melodies as they sipped tea and looked out at the busy Salem streets. I learn to always give the same amount of presence and love to every song and story, even it there aren't many in attendance. There are elements of our performance that we cannot control-who shows up is one. As performers we will experience audiences large and small, loud and quiet, happy and sad. Let's do our best to shine love and light on everyone and accept the things we cannot change. You can't control the waves, only how you ride them.

We have our first date set for October 2 for the family band. My son and I played at a senior center once for his piano teacher, but this is our first time on our own. It's a simple and free program with my 6-year-old daughter and my 10-year-old song, but it's a start! It's the moment we go from saying it's something we'd like to do some day to really doing it, and I'm excited!

Thank you to all who joined me on the livestream this morning! I'll be hosting more calls like this in the near future. If you missed it, no worries, check out this recording and see you in the next one!

I am thankful for Chris, and all of the help that he gives all of us! Today, at the end of a show, I did exactly what he told me to do in our zoom meeting on Monday, and booked another show with the Activities director. Thanks brother for all you do for us!

Has anyone found the best day/time of day/time of month, etc, to connect with their Activity Directors when reaching out for the first time?