I was in a band fifteen years ago.....

[WCGreen]

And I met this guy at a local coffee shop, I am older than his Dad. Anyway, we got together and jammed and I got into it. He is a natural, much better talent than I have. But he needs someone to show him the little tricks that will enable him to develop his own style....

So, we went to this coffee shop that has an open mic night. Except all the people there were 16-20, not my crowd if you get my meaning...

I was ready to play the Boxer, Hide your Love Away and my favorite acoustic song of all time, Willin' by Little Feat....

I had also worked up an extra verse to Phil Och's I ain't a marchin any more......

Well, I chickened out.....

Should I go back and try next week or let the music to the youngsters and just get out of the way.....

Will they freak out by a gray beard (and Hair) with an O2 tube up his nose or will they give me a chance.....

[noise626]

1. YES!!

You must go back and rock the mic. If for no other reason than to have done it. AS far as the crowd goes; well, bugger the crowd. Do it for yourself and the fella you are playing with :)

Good luck...and kick ass!

pax
ant

[LastKnight]

2. if you play music that they like...

their dread (if they had any) will dissappear in a few seconds... i wouldnt worry about it. worst that could happen is what happened the first time around... really.

[WCGreen]

4. Just a little trepidation....

I know I'm good, better now than I was the last time I was playing music with just my guitar and my vocals...

The band was different. Mistakes could be over looked but it is just so naked out there on your own....

[LastKnight]

9. go for it!

play for em. as others have said, if not for them, then for you.

[Dogmudgeon]

3. Music fans are a breed apart

Age means little to musicians. It's the music that counts -- everything else is immaterial.

A lot of these 16-20 year olds have more of an appreciation for the historical sweep of music than those of us who grew up during "The Pepsi Generation" with its bogus Generation Gap bullshit.

They won't freak out. They'll listen -- closely.

--p!

[Tom Kitten]

5. play your songs!

chances are they've never heard of Phil Ochs or even Little Feat! Put a bee in their bonnets...

[WCGreen]

6. Actually that is what I was hoping for....

I was going to tell them something about Phil Ochs and how he lived here in Cleveland for awhile,,,,,

Tell them that although Bob Dylan got all the press and attention it was PO who traveled across the country with an anti-war message and sang about it and educated people everywhere......

[Bossy Monkey]

7. Definitely do it next time. Everybody chickens out the first time.

They'll like you. They'll certainly give you a chance; that's what they're there for, to hear new (or new to them) stuff. Most importantly, you'll have a blast!

[WCGreen]

8. I know, it's just that it's been fifteen years

since I was on stage....

And this is so much more personal...

Hell they are right there in front of me.....

At least they won't be yelling Play Freebird from the back of the bar all night long.....

[Tom Kitten]

11. Do it then...

don't let the willies get you down, what you have to say is important!

Really and honestly go for it!

[ghostsofgiants]

10. Shit yes you should play

Especially if you're playing The Boxer and Hide Your Love Away. Speaking as someone from the age group you mentioned, I would be very into that.

[WCGreen]

12. Thanks, I needed that....

[ghostsofgiants]

13. Glad I could help

I absolutely love acoustic music like that. I know a lot of my friends do as well. If the people you're playing in front of are music lovers like my friends and I are, you should be well recieved.

[WCGreen]

14. Thnaks everyone

You made it a little easier to face the music so to speak...

I'll report back on this matter next tuesday night to tell you all how it went

[marzipanni]

16. Deja vu all over again

I have the feeling you'd have a receptive audience. Coffee shop crowd= willing/wanting to be different, open to new(old?) stuff. I'm hoping folk music will be still be among the stuff my ten-year-old will like when he's a teenager. He bought an old Beatles album at the 2nd-hand music store and he likes Dan Hicks, Louis Jordan, and other old vinyl his daddy and I have after all these years.

[leftofthedial]

15. do it

do it

[dbt]

17. Ya gotta do it.

The kids will let you know if you've got it. If you sing the truth, age will not be an object. Punks loved Johnny Cash and didn't give shit one how old he was.

By the time you hit "Weed, whites and wine," you will have somebody's undivided attention.

[WCGreen]

18. I figured that....

That's what got my attention when I was 19...

But that song is so much fun to play and sing...

I chose the Boxer because it's all about being lonely when you are surrounded by people...

I chose Hide Your Love Away because it's all about loving someone harder than they love you back.....

And Willin' becuase it's all about having to do something to make a living even if it migt not always be fun......