Crowds and Sammy

In my last post, The Time Of Our Lives, I referenced one of the songs that helped establish Sammy Hagar as a solo artist: I Can’t Drive 55.  He had already released a few popular songs by the time this tune was released and was also known for working with the band Montrose.  He would go on to become a household name after joining the group Van Halen and singing on the biggest album of their career, 5150.   
  
Performing music can take a lot out of you.  It can energize you as well.  It really depends on the day.  When I finish a set and have one or two more to do before the night is out, there are times that I want to have a minute to myself to regroup.  Other times, I want to have people around.  Sometimes I am fine with either option.  Regardless of how I feel, I always try to meet the people that came to see me or just happened to be there.  I’ve heard it stressed as a marketing tactic to make yourself available to those that are at your show.  I never really needed that advice, though.  Wouldn’t you want to at the very least say “hi” to the folks who are there for you? 
  
Most musicians start out following the examples of those that inspired them to play in the first place.  These role models were usually big stars.  They would hit the stage from out of nowhere and got out as soon as the last note was played.  I remember fellow musicians that would behave this way.  Their inner circle was tight.  They wouldn’t spend time with the audience members that were cheering them on.  They would pretend that they weren’t all going to see each other at work the next day.  I’m not judging them.  They were playing the part.  I even followed along with some of my band mates that would do this early on in my performing career.  We would hide in the “green room” during breaks and send out for refreshments.  What no one thought of is that the reason mega stars behave like that is they would be consumed by a mob if they didn’t.  We weren’t mega stars.  I figured this out pretty quick and started to get to know the folks that made it a priority to come out to whatever venue my rock band was playing on a Saturday night.  We had a following, and over 20 years later, I still remember many of those that wouldn’t miss a show.   
  
A few months ago, I postponed the second set of a performance because I was in the audience talking with someone who was digging my solo acoustic music.  He said his opinion was based on years of experience in the music business. I needed to get back on stage, but I bought him a beer instead.  The stories of a retired A. and R. guy who worked with several record labels could delay the show another minute or two.  He was telling me about all the time he spent with Sammy Hagar helping him with his music career.  That was fun. 

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