Oh the places you'll go

Being a musician has its fair share of oddities. Aside from the sheer fact that you're doing something about 90% of the population doesn't do, there's all the private events, random street shows and other tome-fuls of one-of-a-kind gigs you find yourself playing. Take for example, Exhibit A:



That's me playing in front of the Ben & Jerry's. How can you tell? See "big cow behind me." I played on the streets of Ridgewood as part of a new program the Ridgewood Guild is doing - something I found out about at my journalist job. It wasn't a paid gig, but I figured it'd be fun, and hey, it's summer! And hey again - it's Ben & Jerry's! I didn't actually get ice cream for myself, but there were many awesome things about this gig. First was this little seating area where people sat after they got their ice cream and listened. Number 2, there were endless amounts of adorable children, all with melted ice cream splattered across their cheeks, one even air-strumming a toy ukulele while I played "Foot Out the Door." He stole my thunder, but I didn't mind. He was incredibly adorable.

Then Saturday night I played a private house show in Piermont. Since it was private, I don't want to divulge too much about it. Let's just say it was a very big, gorgeous house overlooking the Hudson, and that someone in my pay grade would normally never be found at a house party like this one. But see, that's the thing. Being a musician makes you an exception. No. Actually, it just puts you in a different category. It works similarly to my "press" card, except I get into other events that journalists wouldn't get into (and vice versa too).

Those are some pretty cool things about my life I'm grateful for right now.