When: Monday, October 21, 7:30PM ET

Where: https://youtube.com/live/A-B_1a448iU?feature=share

Who gets 10% - Sanbornfoundation.org - they provide “financial assistance to Arlington residents affected by cancer since 1998"

Order CDs or pay for this web groovery via:
http://paypal.me/vancevancevance or https://venmo.com/vancevancevance or
VanceFunder P.O. Box 17, Arlington, MA 02476

*PRIVATE COACHING AVAILABLE - Contact me (vance@vancegilbert.com) for songwriting, performance, and voice coaching.*
**CUSTOM SONGS - Expensive, but sure, you want one about you or your family or something.**

GIGS OF NOTE -

10/26 Saturday - Delaware Water Gap, PA - ORANGE https://orangecoffeeartmusic.com/vance/  
10/27 Sunday - Oneida, NY - ONEIDA MANSION CONCERT SERIES - https://www.oneidacommunity.org/event-details/vance-gilbert-performance

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REMINISCENCE OF OPENING FOR DIVAS

Call it arrogance if you like, but I seldom fail on stage. I’d like to call it confidence.

I call failure that smattering of applause, the looking at watches, indifference, that null and void feeling that even background music would be better than your presence on the stage. I’ve experienced it a few times.

Once in Houston at a cigarette company-sponsored gig opening for smooth jazz saxophonist George Howard. He shooed me from back stage so I waited in the bathroom to go on. Once on stage, no one cared that I was there. I even did King Of Rome off of the mic and that crowd of mostly black folks in matching everythings just looked at me like I was nuts.

Once was in Northampton a few years back opening for Melissa Etheridge. She was so kind. Her audience ignored me. C’mon, how do you ignore me?

Twice for Aretha Franklin. Both at the Filene’s Center in the DC area. One of those times I got shooed from the wings from watching by her crew. I had just been out on the stage! Twice and I never even got to meet her or thank her.

What made me think of all these events? Well, I was putting the name of a songwriting coaching client of mine “Anita” into my calendar, and another “Anita” popped up. It was now retired soul-pop singer Anita Baker.

Filene’s Center again, 5,000 people. Backstage I was about done with my plate. Far end of the room Anita Baker was eating surrounded by her people. I’d heard stories of a splenetic diva so I kept my distance, but she seemed nice enough to me. So as I went past her to get ready to go on stage I thanked her for the opportunity. She was chewing and just politely nodded.

I had just finished in front of this 5,000 people - look they weren’t hooting for more but I wasn’t failing either with this warmly received set - and then Anita stuck her head out from the curtain behind me and said "I really like what you’re doing. Why don't you go ahead and play one more song?”

Thanks Ms. Baker. Or may I call you "Anita?”.