Pineville Arts Showcase

On Wednesday night of this week we played for a special event called, "Beyond the Curve". This art showcase celebrated the work of local female artists and was held at the Cultural & Civic Arts Center of Pineville.

Our local NSAI coordinator was contacted and asked if any of the performing songwriters in our group would be interested in playing for this event sponsored by the Arts & Science Council. We said yes, because we knew it would challenge us to begin performing in public and it would be a good chance to set up our sound system and practice with it.

Thanks to another artist friend, Pj Brunson, who had seen the gallery space, we were advised that we needed to bring our smaller sound system with us. We stayed up late on Tuesday night and made sure all of the equipment was working. We were really tired before we got there, having slept only 4 hours the night before and having to work all day at our "paying jobs". However, as soon as we got in the building and saw some of the people we would be performing for, we got our energy back, and did the sound set-up. I say we, but we all know it was really John doing the set up (he! he!).

Beyond the Curve was interesting because it matched up a musician with an artist on almost every night that the show ran. The featured artist on our night was Charlene Bregier, a sculptor based from Charlotte, NC. We enjoyed the show, because they kept all of the artists'' work who had participated in this month long show up in the gallery to view.

We began playing our hour set at 7:00 pm, and had a great time. The crowd was very positive about our music, and they are looking for places where they will be able to use us again. We had a few of our friends join us for the showcase, and it meant a lot to see them there. This was only the 3rd time we had performed in public as "The Cloers", so it was comforting to look out and see familiar faces. Also, we met a lot of new friends, and look forward to hanging out at the "Paint 'Til You Drop" event next week. In exchange for our performance, Gaye List, another featured artist and facilitator of this show, invited us to participate in the "Paint 'Til You Drop" program where all of the art supplies are provided, and you show up and paint. It's half paint, half party. Everyone we talked to said it is great fun.

Overall, we were pleased with how the show went. We still have lots of tweaking to do, and we have to figure out what kind of music to play for what event we are invited to. Some clients want a "show" where people sit around and listen. Some want background music that can be talked over, but they are still listening. And some want you to do mostly familiar songs, but add in your songs as well. But, that knowledge will come in time, and for now, we are doing what we can, where we can. That is one of our big themes for the year.