show up.

It has nothing to do with old music. In fact, I would say that at this point in my life, I own just about every old song, that that I would ever want to own. And I own them in just about every format.

* LP
* 45
* 8-track
* Cassette
* CD
* MP 3

You too can own just about any piece of "old music" that you want also. Just go to Amazon.com, nowadays you can find find just about any "old song" you want there. And you can get it cheap!

I don't miss "old music". What I miss are the people.

THE MUSIC was "on tha one", but more importantly THE PEOPLE were "on tha one". (Apologies to Rickey Vincent)

Back in tha day, people were down.... And just like Billy Paul.
THEY WOULD ALWAYS SHOW UP.

They would show up...

Without any pretention
Without any "agenda"
Without the need to "promote something"

They wouldn't show up looking for "special treatment".

They showed up, not only because the music would be great.
They showed up because the sense of belonging was even better.

It didn't matter if it was at a concert, a house party, a disco or if
someone down at the basketball court had a boom box and was playing some new music

That's what I miss.

In today's world it seems that things move much too quickly.
In today's world it seems that we are far too busy.
In todays world it seems like there are too many distractions.

In today's world, "just showing up" has taken a backseat.
In today's world people have forgotten, that many times "just showing up", is often the best reward of all.

I have truly been blessed.
In the year 2005 I go out and experience the best live music that I can, whenever I can.

I go to shows at major venues and see major artists, performing great music.
I go to shows at crappy little venues and see unknown artists, performing great music.

Either way, when I go back stage before or after the show, the artists
ALWAYS say...

"Thanks for SHOWING UP Bob..."

Here is an example...

Last friday night, I attended a GREAT show in Philadelphia, featuring Ms. Bettye LaVette.
During the course of the show, she thanked me from the stage "for showing up".
I stood and took a bow.

After the show was over about 15 or so people, I had never met before came up to me and thanked me for making them aware of both the show and Bettye LaVette. These people not only loved the performance, but more importantly they loved the experience.
They loved the experience, because the "experience was shared".
It was an experience that can NEVER be repeated.
And it was only "shared" with about 300 other people on a cold friday night in Philadelphia.

Sure, perhaps someone taped the show.
Perhaps one day it will appear as a DVD for sale somewhere.
Perhaps it will even one day appear as a digital download to your cell
phone.
Then others will be able to view the performance.
But they won't be able to "share the experience".
Because they didn't "show up".

You see, "viewing the performance" IS NOT THE SAME as "sharing the
experience".

I get a lot of email from people all over the country, asking for my opinion about why our culture is DYING.
In my opinion, our culture started DYING, the moment people got too busy or too "self important" to simply....

::::SHOW UP:::

You see what makes a culture flourish, isn't just the artistry itself, but it's the nourishment of that artistry by the people who care about it.
When the people who claim that they love the culture, stop SHOWING UP, that is when others can move in and exploit the culture for their own financial (and other) gain.

Black folks are always complaining about white folks stealing their culture.
Well guess what???

IF YOU "SHOW UP" THEY CAN'T STEAL IT!!!

Oh I've heard all of the reasons....

* "Bob, I can't go because it's too cold outside..."
* "Bob, I can't go because it's too hot outside..."
* "Bob, I can't go because theres no place to park..."
* "Bob, I can't go because no public transportation..."
* "Bob, I can't go because it's too upscale..."
* "Bob, I can't go because it's not upscale enough..."
* "Bob, I can't go because they don't serve alcohol..."
* "Bob, I can't go because they do serve alcohol..."
* "Bob, I can't go because it's in the city..."
* "Bob, I can't go because it's in the suburbs..."
* "Bob, I can't go because I've already seen that artist..."
* "Bob, I can't go because I've never heard of that artist..."
* "Bob, I can't go because there will be too many Black people there..."
* "Bob, I can't go because there will be too many White people there..."
* "Bob, I can't go because the price is too expensive..."
* "Bob, I can't go because the price is too cheap..."

What these people are really saying is that they no longer have a desire to "belong".
They have either forgotten or don't care about the benifits of having a "shared experience", with other people.

Because it's that "shared experience" that SHOWING UP is all about.
In today's world people crave "individual experience", not "shared
experiences".
This is one of the major changes in our world over the past 25 years.
I am not a person who is opposed to change.
What I am is a person who doesn't like seeing our culture going backwards.

And in 2005, that is exactly what's happening.
And that is why our culture is DYING.
It's because people DON'T SHOW UP.