I know. I’ve been grossed out by people who try to sell it too much; people who boast; people who tell me their resume all the time; people who somehow plug every show without embarrassment.
I went to this comedy show (kinda) one time.
I was heading to a comedy show and was a little turned around, but I heard some audience noise coming from a venue, so went in the back entrance and there was a dude on stage playing keyboard and singing and he was really great and fun and alive and sounded awesome. He owned the room. He was Jacob Jeffries. Sat through two of his songs, then he got off stage and they introduced another act – a musical act. I was not at a comedy show. I was at the wrong place at a music show.
I went up to Jacob and complimented him and then, we noticed that we had seen each other the day before at a vegan restaurant on the other side of L.A. County. There weren’t many people in that restaurant and I remembered him because he was talking to the waiter about his music and giving her a flyer and really getting into it. I thought he was hitting on her.
I later learned that this is what he does. He loves making music for people and he wants everyone to know about it. Isn’t that innocent and lovely?
Jacob was only in town for the two days that I encountered him and I got him booked on a midnight show and stayed in touch. We became friends. He made me consider why I always attributed self promotion to some shallow pursuit? Why did I see it as a objectifying interaction?
We’re all creating something superior.
We in entertainment are all making something that’s better. It might not be better in every way than everything, but to us, we made it because it has something that needs sharing and something that gives people awesome. The more people we can give it to, the better. Let’s share. Let’s keep serving. People need to know. Even servers. Even people who are lost at music shows.