When I filled out the form with my show info, there was a spot where you could put all your stellar reviews.
Something in me hates doing the “Dan Callaway stupefied audiences by singing the first two A sections of ‘If I Loved You’ in one breath” thing. I don’t know what it is.
I suspect it’s arrogance — I’m above these lowly marketing ploys. I’ll just go for a nature hike, listen to birdsong, and think about lyrics, and the folks will just come see the show.
But I went ahead and wrote in the answer box something like, “Can I not? I don’t wanna Google myself.”
I even went against show description convention and wrote mine in dialogue form:
You: Who are you?
Me: I’m Dan! I sing songs, and you’ll like hearing them.
The folks at Green Room 42 were like, “You need to do it like we clearly show you on the form.”
All right, all riiiight. You know how this is done. I’ll do the rules.
I followed the format.
And then I spent a lonely night in bed while Melissa was visiting Rhode Island, cough, googling myself and scraping up digitized microfilm of reviews that may have said something favorable about me.
One theme I did discover: one LA Times theatre critic was consistent in his dislike of my work.
And after a couple hours of self consciousness purgatory, I pulled out 5 or 6 nice things other folks said. Some were even surprises from my “I don’t read reviews” period.
That swearing-off of came as a result of reading things that I didn’t need to google. Because they’re seared into long-term storage.
Things like “Callaway is suitably bland in this role,” or “He had a good start but just didn’t have what it took to finish strong,” or my personal favorite: “He was upstaged by his mullet haircut.”
(And I assure you it was not a mullet. There was equal distribution of party in the front AND back.)
Putting yourself in front of folks is hard.
And you can tell yourself “It’s not personal,” all you want, but it’s personal.
It’s you. Your identity, values, process, point of view, and soul are all part of what you share with folks, and when people bat that down, it hurts.
And I’m convinced the pain of what people may say is better than the pain of shutting yourself down.
In fact, opinions like this are evidence that you have a point of view. You’re sharing something specific. And there’s satisfaction in that.
Think of the performers whose work you don’t care for. They’re still doing their thing. Good for them.
So, I hope this will give you permission to do some whole-hearted horn tooting, to get yourself in front of folks and tell your stories.
And do remember, there is only one you, and folks need to hear the story only you can sing.
Love much,
Dan
PS I want you to know about my dear friend Bobby Apperson’s creative synergy magic going on in East Hollywood (and wherever you have an internet connection): Songsmith LA.
If you need a boost in getting your self and your songs in front of folks, their training in singing, playing, songwriting, and producing will give you what you’re looking for.
Check them out, and reach out to Bobby if you have any questions.
PPS Want a peep into the set list?
Here are a few things cooking so far. If you got any uptempo suggestions for me, tell me! (I always wanna sing slow, sad ballads.)
Unexpressed (John Bucchino)
Ain’t it a Pretty Night (from Susannah, Carlisle Floyd)
Change (from A New Brain, William Finn)
Anyone Can Whistle
Crying (Roy Orbison)
A Case of You and Both Sides Now (Joni Mitchell)
Chain of Love (from The Grass Harp, Claibe Richardson)
The Dream (Rufus Wainwright)
See What it Gets You (from Anyone Can Whistle)
Rhode Island is Famous for You (Dietz and Schwartz)
Shine (from The Spitfire Grill, James Valcq and Fred Alley)