Live music

I admire the nerve it takes to get up on a stage and lay it out there. This isn’t American Idol. It’s paying your dues in a club, honing your skills and building up your calluses. It takes a lot of nerve to get on stage in a bar after midnight and sing or play an instrument. Half the people aren’t paying any attention to you at all. The rest are ignoring you. And everyone has been drinking. But still you do it. And you love it.

I went to an open mic night last night. Jean Hanna Davis was in town and planned to drop by and sing a few songs. She always blows me away when she sings, so I went to hang out, catch up and see what was going on.

There were several people ahead of her on the list of people who had signed up for their chance to wow the crowds so we got a chance to hang out and talk before she finally took the stage. We listened to the musicians who came in and out. Some were good. Others, fair. A couple of the players were exceptional. But they all had fun. And they were all living their dream. One or two, including Jean, had “presence.” It isn’t enough to be technically proficient. You have to believe in yourself enough to step onto the stage, grab the microphone and take control of the crowd.

Jean definitely believes in herself. She hated to be out so late, and thought about leaving, but then she said, “But I really wanna play!” So, we stayed. The crowd that stayed around was rewarded with a great set, too. Several people came up to her afterward and wanted to know who she was and where else they could hear her perform. I know she loves that recognition, she is human, but she also plays because she loves it. And that shows through.

Without trying to be too philosophical, it takes presence to do anything you believe in. It obviously takes skill and practice to perform. But it also takes passion, dedication and patience.  It takes guts to stand up in front of a crowd and perform, to write, to paint, to dance.

There is a song lyric by Anna Lyric that always struck me.

The next time you get a chance to catch some live music, or anyone performing their talent, do it. And think about what it takes to stand up in front of a crowd, metaphorically naked. Then reward the ones who do it with your applause.

If you want to hear Jean, “Like” her fanpage on Facebook. She has some music recording and videos on there.