House Concerts, Connections and the Young Folk Audience
July 28th, 2010
Hi Folks!
I just wanted to share a note that was forwarded to me by Tom Hitt. Tom Hitt is a big-hearted singer songwriter who opens his home to performers and music lovers as part of his “Hitt House Concert Series” out by Lake Erie in PA. I performed there earlier this month and was grateful to entertain troops of all ages, including a very young teenager named Taylor, whose father is serving over in Iraq. She was really affected by the show and we had some time to chat. It was a really nice connection. Her uncle wrote the following note to Tom after my performance.
Let this serve as proof to all of the nay-sayers out there who believe that folk-lovers are a dying breed. There are plenty of younglings out there who are moved by music… We just need to be more open to finding them and giving them new places to hear and connect personally with us.
Much Love,
Joe
———The Note From Robert to Tom and Lori Hitt -July 13, 2010 ———
Tom,
My niece, Taylor, was quite impressed by the whole experience. As we were getting up to leave, Joe Iadanza ran into the house and returned with his latest CD (she’d purchased the other one during intermission) and asked her to send it to her father who is currently stationed in Iraq. (Taylor had been relating a story her dad told her about the size of spiders in Iraq.)
Shortly after getting on the road for our return trip, Taylor said (in approximately these words):
“This was only my second concert, so I’m not, like, an expert about concerts. And it was kind of my first concert because the only other concert I went to was Taylor Swift, and that one I just watched on the big screen, and this one I got to sit in the front row…”
For Taylor, this concert-experience was every bit as legitimate and important as the Taylor Swift show.
She insisted on listening to the CDs right away, using her cellphone as a flashlight to allow her to read the lyrics and attempt to sing along. She quickly identified all the songs that Joe had performed, and she insisted on listening to a couple of the songs two or three times.
It’s one of those reminders that you never really know when a life-changing moment is going to happen, and surrounding yourself with good people is the best way to ensure that the possible range of life-changing moments is weighted heavily in favor of good moments that change lives for the better.
Lori and you definitely know how to throw a party. As Lori said, your taste in music is impeccable, and you made it possible for us to enjoy something we could not have gained access to in any other way, you do-gooder, you!
Thanks again for making the effort to put the whole evening together.
Robert