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April 29, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 3
Volume 28 Issue #21
www.smokymountaingames.com
May 16-18, 2014 Maryville College
Publisher - Bill Williams • Editor/Graphic Arts Director - Don Sprinkle • Office Manager - Luci Tate Cover Design - Bill May • Photography - Mark Marquette Advertising - Dave Carter, Akey Kincaid, Lisa Lyons, Terry Patterson Contributing Staff - Jim Kelly, Andy Ross, Ken Silvers, Mark Marquette, Pat Bussard Published by Tree Street Media, LLC., P.O. Box 3238, Johnson City, TN 37602 Phone: 423/283-4324 FAX - 423/283-4369 www.theloaferonline.com • info@theloaferonline.com e-mail: editorial@theloaferonline.com (editorial) adcopy@theloaferonline.com (advertising All advertisements are accepted and published by the publisher upon the representation that the agency and/or advertiser is authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof.The agency and/or advertiser will indemnify and save the publisher harmless from any loss of expense resulting from claims or suits based upon contents of any advertisement,including claims or suits for defamation,libel,right of privacy,plagiarism,and copyright infringement.
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May 16-18, 2014 Maryville College
The sounds of bagpipes will once again fill the Smoky Mountains this May, so grab your kilt and get ready to immerse yourself in all things Scottish at the 33rd annual Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games. The Festival will be held May 16-18, 2014 on the campus of Maryville College, and is East Tennessee’s premier celebration of Scottish culture and history. It is estimated that more than one million Tennesseans are descended from Scots-Irish ancestry. Our location in the heart of The Great Smoky Mountains is the perfect backdrop for you and your family to get a wee glimpse of Scotland and to discover and appreciate the rich traditions and history of the Scottish and ScotsIrish settlers of our area - extraordinary people whose courage, determination and pioneering spirit helped forge what was to become an independent United States of America. “For centuries, traditional Highland games revolved around athletic competition, which is still an integral part of the Festival today - but we offer so much more.” said Dan Greaser, President of the Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games. In addition to Highland heavy athletics, the festival will include many activities and
events, such as Highland dancing, pipes and drums, musical entertainers, food and merchandise, clans, heritage organizations, animal exhibits, sheep dog herding demonstrations, and much more. Music is everywhere at the Festival and in addition to the dozens of pipes and drums bands, two performance stages will showcase the best in both modern and traditional Celtic music. Seven Nations, whose modern sound has thrilled international audiences, will headline the Main Stage, which also includes the fiddling and dancing sisters of Maidens IV, the tribal sounds of Pictus, and local favorites Four Leaf Peat. For those who prefer a more traditional sound, Scottish balladeer Colin Grant Adams leads an impressive slate of entertainers on the Traditional Stage, including Lachlan and the Good Thymes Ceilidh Band. An evening Ceilidh (concert) with all the bands is the climax of Saturday’s musical program. Festival-goers will also enjoy traditional Scottish foods and offerings from the British Isles such as meat pies, shortbreads, and haggis. The merchandise vendors are specially chosen, and offer Scottish, Irish, and Celtic goods not normally found in stores, with everything from leather and jew-
elry to kilts and sporrans. To round out the Scottish Festival experience, there is a Dinner and Gala on Friday evening and two Scotch tasting seminars on Saturday. Sunday’s activities include a worship service and the popular fun dog show and parade. Tickets to the 2014 Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games are now available online at www.smokymountaingames. com. There are several ticket packages to choose from with significant early purchase discounts. There is no charge for parking and children under 14 are admitted free. There is a supervised children’s play area with games, face painting, and family activities. If you have been to The Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games before, we look forward to your return and to the rekindling of old friendships. If you have not yet had the opportunity to attend, the volunteers and sponsors who make our Festival possible extend a personal invitation to you and your family to come join us. Come for the pipes and drums; come for the history; come for the athletic competitions, entertainers and exhibits; come for the food and drink. Come and have a great time!
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French Broad River Festival celebrates river / outdoors Have you ever floated down Section 9 of the French Broad River? In my experience there are few better ways to get away from the fast pace of modern life and to see this beautiful part of the world the way the Cherokees saw it, who actually called this section of the river Tahkeyostee (“where they race”). After several hours on the river, you arrive in the little town of Hot Springs, where throughout the 19th century a stream of wealthy visitors came via railroad to “take the waters” and enjoy the entertainments provided by a series of luxury hotels built adjacent to the thermal springs, along the banks of the French Broad. Today the Appalachian Trail runs right down Main St. and the surrounding area offers abundant recreational opportunities including hiking, fishing and mountain biking. 17 years ago a couple of friends thought it would be fun to “race”
down Section 9 of the French Broad River and then have a party on it’s banks in Hot Springs, with any proceeds from the party going to charity. Well, as you can imagine a good time was had by all and the “party” has grown exponentially to a weekend outdoor and family music festival encompassing the entire Hot Springs Campground with national and local recording artists on multiple stages, a mountain bike race, whitewater raft race, kid’s village, arts and craft vendors, outdoor vendors, and great food. In late Sept. 2014 the organizers will hold the 4th Annual French Broad Brew Fest www.FrenchBroadBrewFest.com) on the Fall Solstice. In addition, over $130,000 has been donated to charities including American Whitewater, Big Brother/Big Sisters of WNC, Caring for Children, Eliada Home, Hot Springs Community Learning Center and more. The 17th annual festival is
set for May 2-4, 2014 where the French Broad River meets the Appalachian Trail at the beautiful Hot Springs Campground & Spa. Festival begins at 4:00 on Friday, May 2 and ends Sunday, May 4. Early Bird tickets are $80 online www. FrenchBroadRiverFestival.com. See website, FB or Twitter for details. Musical acts include Toubab Krewe, Sol Driven Train, Hillstomp, Dangermuffin, The Jeff Sipe Trio, Pierce Edens & The Dirty Work, The Accomplices and more!. This festival always has a few surprises such as a juggling fire show, kid’s parade, trapeze artists, fireworks, late night acoustic jams, and watch out for flying marshmallows! Proceeds from this year’s festival will be donated to American Whitewater and the Hot Springs Community Learning Center.
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Clinch Mountain Music Fest www.clinchfest.net Clinch Mountain Music Fest is gearing up for its ninth-annual celebration of mountain music in Scott County, Virginia, on Saturday, May 3, 2014. Like last year’s festival, it will be held at the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons. The goal of Clinch Mountain Music Fest is to preserve and perpetuate the heritage of the Appalachian region through its’ music. This year’s festival is once again dedicated to Jay Dixon who chaired the festival for five years and passed away in January of 2012. The festival features special talent and relies heavily on old time mountain music. Featured artists are the Whitetop Mountain Band, Mountain Park Old Time Band, Nick McMillian and Backstep, and the Dry Hill Draggers. All of these groups are well known to Fold audiences. Expect a day of traditional Appalachian style music and fun! Gates open at 12:00 noon for early seating. Admission is $15.00 per person – all day. Artisan and food vendors will be found around the grounds of the Carter Fold. In addition, there will be demonstrations of chair caning and wood carving. The festival begins at 3:00 p.m. with welcoming speakers and festival history. The Dry Hill Draggers kick off the festival followed by Nick McMillian and Backstep. Following a dinner break, Mountain Park Old Time Band will start the evening set with Whitetop Mountain Band closing out our festival. Dinner break will allow festival goers to visit the tents and attractions on the grounds. There will be a short break between the afternoon & evening bands for stage setup. The Carter Family Museum and A.P. Carter birthplace cabin will be open from noon to 7:00 p.m. Clinch Mountain Music Fest 2014 is presented by the Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Inc. Donations to support the continuation of our Appalachian music heritage are welcome and may be mailed to Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Inc., P.O.
www.theloaferonline.com Box 111, Hiltons, Virginia, 24258, or given to our volunteer staff at the event. Thank you to our sponsors the Scott County Virginia Star, Bryant Label Company, the Appalachian Cultural Music Association, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Virginia Commission for the Arts. For information on Clinch Mountain Music Fest 2014, go to the Carter Music Center web site or the Clinch Mountain Music Fest web site: www.clinchfest.net . Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Incorporated, is a nonprofit, rural arts organization established to preserve traditional, acoustic, mountain music. For further information on the center, go to www.carterfamilyfold. org. Shows from the Carter Family Fold can be accessed on the internet at www.carterfoldshow. com. Carter Music Center is part of the Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail. You can visit the Crooked Road Music Trail site at thecrookedroad.org. Partial funding for programs at the center is provided by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. For recorded information on shows coming up at the Fold, call 276-386-6054. The Fold is on Facebook – page Carter Fold – and Twitter – Twitter @carterfoldinfo. To speak to a Fold staff member, call 276-594-0676.
Clinch Mountain Music Fest Time Schedule
3:00 pm Welcome & History 3:10 pm Dry Hill Draggers 4:30 pm Nick McMillian & Backstep 6:00 pm Dinner Break 7:00 pm Mountain Park Old Time 9:00 pm Whitetop Mountain Band
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The Willow Tree Welcomes May
in a Big Way! The Willow Tree Coffeehouse and Music Room, located at 216 East Main St. in Johnson City, will incorporate lots of music, art and also herbs into not only First Friday but First Saturday as well. One Friday night The Willow Tree will host two art shows, in the coffeehouse, one featuring artist Ren Allen with a reception to welcome her as the second featured artist at the Willow Tree. The back room will host an art show by ETSU art students. Friday night The Willow Tree will welcome, what they described as “hopefully the first of many performances by local singer/songerwrite, Annie Robinette, music starts at 8pm and is only $5. Saturday includes The First Saturday Artists’ market from 10-3. Giving those who wish incorporate more art and crafts into
their life and support local artists a chance to browse, shope, drink some local coffee and have some local bagels. If you are an artist interested in showcasing your work please e-mail teri@thewillowtreejc.com for details and to save your space. Also Saturday will also include a make and take herbal class on how to fill your medicine cabinet with remedies made from herbs. Cost is $30 and will cover supplies. Saturday nights music brings the The Bus Driver Tour to Johnson City. Teri Dosher, owner of The Willow Tree says “Johnson City is in for such a treat, The first time I saw these guys play, was in Knoxville Tenn and I loved them. I have made a point to see them every chance I get since.” The Bus Driver Tour began in
the spring of 2011 comprised of three songwriters- Ian Thomas, Paul Lee Kupfer, and Danny Freund. The three met a few years before while on tour in Montana. They traveled well together and gained mutual respect for each other as songwriters. As the number of tours grew, so did the act. While on the road, they
established themselves as each other’s backing band, switching between guitars, drums and bass. The result has been an authentic blend of energy and momentum that is The Bus Driver Tour. Currently, the band calls Livingston, MT. and Knoxville, TN home as they have deep admiration and musical roots in both States. The
The Bus Driver Tour BDT is proud to have Cornelia Adelaide Overton playing the fiddle. She jumped on the bus in the Spring of 2013 and has added a great dynamic to the tour and the live performance. Show starts at 9pm and is only $5.
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End of Semester Shows at the Down Home
ETSU Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies will present the final two all-bands performances of the Spring 2014 semester on Wednesday, April 30 and Thursday, May 1 at the Down Home in Johnson City. A selection of the program’s top bluegrass, old time, country, and Celtic student bands will perform a wide array of traditional music beginning at 7:00 PM each night. Founded in 1982 by Jack Tottle, Bluegrass, Old-Time and Country Music Studies at ETSU is the oldest established program of its kind at any four-year institution and boasts the world’s first bachelor of arts degree in Bluegrass, Old-Time and Country Music Studies. Bands
within the program are comprised of virtuosic student performers with many years of experience accounted to each member. Over the course of the program’s history, these acclaimed bands have performed at prestigious venues across the United States and onstage with artists that include bluegrass and country music luminaries such as Alison Krauss, Del McCoury, Dan Tyminski, Ralph Stanley, Ricky Skaggs, and the late Porter Wagoner. Tickets for the concerts are $10 and can be purchased in advance at the Down Home or by calling ETSU Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies at (423) 439-7072. Tickets will
also be available at the door. The venue will be serving dinner prior to the show. Please join us at the Down Home 300 W. Main St., Johnson City. Additional information is available by contacting the Down Home (423) 929-9822.
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17th Mid-Atlantic Garden Faire “Let the Gardens Begin”
As the colorful spring flowers emerge from the winter blanket of snow, Washington County Master Gardeners are hard at working preparing for the 17th Mid-Atlantic Garden Faire. Longing for spring sunshine and colorful flowers? Let the Gardens Begin with this year’s Faire bringing together everything gardeners desire to rejuvenate dormant gardens and transform landscapes into a colorful sanctuary. On May 2, 3 and 4, the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center located in historic Abingdon, Virginia minutes from I-81 off Exit 14 will be transformed into a gardeners’ paradise. With Mother’s Day only a few days away, the Faire provides a treasure trove of colorful plants and accessories sure to lease that special mother. Occasional or serious gardeners will unearth treasures to make
their landscape the most envied in the neighborhood. Again this year in the Garden Marketplace is the $12 shopping sprees held on both Friday and Saturday. The lucky winners will be able to choose plants and gardening accessories from the best vendor in the Southeast. Drawings are at 3:00 p.m. each day, and tickets are available at the Faire for $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00. Don’t miss this opportunity! Come and enjoy the Garden Marketplace, Table Top Competition, Floral Hat Design Competition, Speakers, Demonstrations, Door Prizes and so much more. Hour are Friday and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for more information, call Washington Country Virginia Master Gardeners at (276) 356-7871 or visit the website at www.gardenfaire.net
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Another Roadside Attraction at Acoustic Coffeehouse - Wednesday, April 30th
Husband/wife duo, Jordan Rivers & Lucy de los Rios started Another RoadSide Attraction in Jan. 2010. They perform as an intimate duo, a higher energy trio or an all out ensemble of 4 or more, featuring different lead players from time to time. The shows are unique and feature a menagerie of instrumentation. Fun for all ages and diverse crowds! “Best band I seen all weekend in Knoxville, TN! And that’s saying something when there’s a huge music festival going on at the same time! Hope you had a nice time and will come back to our city again real soon!””
Photo credit: Kent Moore Photography
- Sean Russell, Fat Elvis Records - Knoxville, TN (Apr 08, 2013 - During Rhythm and Blooms Festival) Check www.ReverbNation.com/AnotherRdSideAttraction for more infomation on the band. The show is free and for all ages. The Musicians play for tips alone, so donations are appreciated. The Acoustic Coffeehouse is located at 415 W. Walnut St. in Johnson City. Call 423434-9872 for more infomation.
The Squirrel Hilbillies
at Acoustic Coffeehouse - Saturday, May 3rd
The Squirrel Hillbillies, a folk, country and blues duo from the urban forest of Pittsburgh’s East End, will appear at the Acoustic Coffeehouse in Johnson City, TN at 8PM on Saturday, May 3. It will be the second stop on their “Southern Exposure” Tour, following a WDVX Blue Plate Special concert in Knoxville earlier that day. In addition to a guitar, mandolin, tenor uke, bass uke, snare drum and mini splash cymbal, they will be toting copies of their brand new CD, “Goody Shoes.” “We write all of our songs together,” says
Jenny Wolsk Bain, who has been performing with Gary Crouth since 2010. “It’s a non-linear, highly unpredictable process.” The duo’s original music has gotten radio play in the US, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. Bain and Crouth perform often and will be heading to the UK this summer for a showcase at one of England’s largest folk festivals. For more information, visit the Squirrel Hillbillies online at www.squirrelhillbillies. com.
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Vocal-Ease: Spring Jazz at the Millennium
to feature Lyons, Keating Internationally renowned jazz vocalist Lisanne Lyons and trumpeter Bobby Keating will join East Tennessee State University student ensembles on stage for “Vocal-Ease: Spring Jazz at the Millennium” on Friday, May 2. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Millennium Centre. Lyons began her career as a featured vocalist for the U.S. Air Force bands. During her years in the service, she performed and traveled worldwide with the NORAD Command Band, 504th Air Force Band of the Golden Gate and U.S. Air Force Academy Falconaires. The award-winning vocalist has toured the country with Broad-
way’s “City of Angels” and has performed with the Woody Herman Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson and Big Bop Nouveau, Maria Schneider, Jon Hendricks, Bucky Pizzarelli, Bobby McFerrin and many other noted jazz musicians and bands. Lyons earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of Miami, and is now on the jazz vocal faculty at the University of Miami School of Music. Keating has taught at Gulliver Academy in Miami for the past 25 years. His band has received superior ratings for 17 consecutive years, and his concert and jazz
bands have won many local and national awards. He is also an adjunct trumpet teacher at Miami Dade College. Keating also enjoys a busy freelance performing career with such groups as the Miami City Ballet, Florida Grand Opera, Orchestra Miami, Brass Miami and Miami Wind Symphony. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Alabama and a master’s degree from the University of Miami. Lyons and Keating will be joined by Greyscale, ETSU’s jazz-pop fusion vocal ensemble, and the ETSU Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Dr. David Champouillon,
a Bach Trumpets Artist/Clinician and professor of trumpet and jazz studies in the ETSU Department of Music. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for seniors and $5 for students. Advance tickets are available by visiting www.etsu. edu/cas/music or calling the De-
partment of Music at (423) 4394276; tickets will also be sold at the door. For more information, call the number above. For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at (423) 439-8346.
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An evening with Courtney Jaye at the Renaissance Theatre in Kingsport
The City of Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts in partnership with Skyflight Productions presents an evening with Courtney Jaye on Friday May 2, 2014 at The Renaissance Theatre in Kingsport, TN. Shaped by a life spent traveling and observing sounds and styles from all around the US, Nashvillebased troubadour Courtney Jaye boasts a personality as massive as the hooks on her latest long player, Love and Forgiveness. Born in Pittsburgh and raised in Atlanta, Jaye followed her restless heart to such rich cultural settings as Athens, GA, Flagstaff, AZ, Austin, Southern California, and the Hawaiian island of Kauai, before settling in Nashville. Along the way she’s collaborated with the likes of Thad Cockrell, Kristen Hall (Sugarland), Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses), Matthew Sweet, comedian Stephen Lynch and members of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. That broad range of
experience and musical interests comes together beautifully on Love and Forgiveness. Jaye’s latest LP is her third fulllength, the follow-up to 2010’s tropical-tinged fusion of alt-country and classic pop, The Exotic Sounds of Courtney Jaye. The diverse souls and sounds Courtney has encountered along her journey have influenced her idiosyncratic brand of tropical, ’70s-inspired roots-y pop just as much as heroes like Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt, The Band and Fleetwood Mac have. Recasting those influences Jaye aims to recapture the timeless qualities of a golden era. “I’ve always wanted to find a way to not be afraid of pop,” she says. “I’m done apologizing for writing big songs — I don’t want to be afraid of that. That’s the music I love.” While the songs on Love and Forgiveness themselves — which Jaye co-wrote with Thad Cockrell, Bryan Cates and Kristen Hall
over the last three years — boast undeniable pop hooks, Jaye’s approach to capturing them on wax is refreshingly organic and rootsy. The album’s production and musical team boasted a cross-section of veterans and top younger players – Mike Wrucke (Dixie Chicks, Miranda Lambert) produced the album, and Jaye drafted drummer Fred Eltringham (Dixie Chicks, The Wallflowers), bassist Sebastian Steinberg (Soul Coughing, Fiona Apple), pedal steel virtuoso Greg Leisz (Kris Kristofferson, Bruce Springsteen) and guitarists Josh Grange (The Jayhawks, Pistol Annies) and Neal Casal (Ryan Adams, Willie Nelson) to help fulfill her musical vision, infusing classic pop sounds with a rootsy immediacy. In the spirit of classic albumoriented pop/rock, Love and Forgiveness brims with all-killer-nofiller cuts like the jaunty opener “Ask Me To,” the bouncy “Up
On Cripple Creek”-meets-“Wild Horses” homage “One Way Conversation,” the trademark tropical country centerpiece “Summer Rain” and the direct emotional tug of “Say Oh Say” and “Morning.” The album’s Laurel Canyon-goesBrill Building classic pop production pairs perfectly with Courtney & Co’s consummate song craft,
and the hooks hearken back the heyday of AM radio as much as they spin from the decks like a breath of fresh air on today’s playlists. Taking center stage is Jaye’s smokey, sky-reaching croon, which cuts through the speakers with freewheeling, unmistakable focus.
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State Street Farmers’ Market opening for 15th consecutive year
You know spring is here when you drive down State Street in Bristol and there is a large crowd gathered in the 800 block very early on a Saturday morning. That’s right; you will know the State Street Farmers’ Market is open offering the freshest of seasonal vegetables, fruits, farm raised meats, and even some great brown eggs, that is if you get there early enough. If you are the crafty type and want to see what locals have created or seen on Pinterest this winter, the market is a great place to stop. The market will open on Saturday, May 3 at 8:00 A.M. and be open every Saturday through the end of October. A Wednesday evening market opens in July and runs through September during the market season. For a number of years the market has offered what has become a prized poster series. There are six posters in each yearly series and a new poster is available on the first Saturday of each month. “We are excited like everyone else when the market opens. It’s like homecoming week. Everyone who hasn’t seen each other through the winter has a great time catching up,” said Mike Musick, Recreation Superintendent for the city. The market is located at 810 State Street Bristol, Tennessee at the country music mural. “There are a limited number of vendor spaces still available. If
someone would like to participate in the market it is a great atmosphere to spend your mornings in while making some extra cash,” Musick continued. For more information on the market or about becoming a vendor, contact Mike Musick @ 423-7644023 or email mmusick@bristoltn.org. Check out the market on-line to see the entire series of market posters or to learn more about the market at: www.statestreetfarmersmarket.com.
Food Drive show to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee Two local bands will play a Food Drive benefit show the Acoustic Coffeehouse at 415 W. Walnut St. in Johnson City on Friday, May 2nd. ‘The Rickshaw Roadshow’ and ‘Kryss Dula & Friends’ hope you will bring canned food to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee. The show is absolutely FREE but everyone is encouraged to bring as much non-perishable food as they can spare to put in the barrel at the door. ‘Kryss Dula & Friends’ will begin at 7:45pm and will be giving away free CDs and t-shirts, and ‘The Rickshaw Roadshow’ will begin around 10pm. Come out and have fun while supporting local people in need!
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April 29, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 15
Eric Cunningham To Be Featured At
Creeper Vapor Art Gallery First Thursday Reception
Creeper Vapor Art Gallery, the newest art space on the First Thursday Abingdon Art Walk, will host an opening reception kicking off an exhibition by nationally acclaimed Bristol, Tennessee artist, Eric Cunningham. The First Thursday Art Walk will take place May 1, from 6-9 pm. Cunningham, who produces his art under the moniker Erikus Maximus, has lived in the Bristol Tennessee/Virginia area his whole life and has been painting, doodling, and or drawing since he could hold a pencil. About 15 years ago he started painting heavily as a form of relaxation to deal with the pressures and stress of a hectic 40+ hour a week job. He started selling artwork online a few years ago and has sold hundreds of works throughout the nation and worldwide. Not only does he have a plethora of fans and collectors in the Appalachian region, his collector base includes art dealers in Chicago, Atlanta and the west coast. He
is also collected in Germany, Italy and England. His self-produced videos have been featured on several reality TV shows including the Animal Planet, The Speed Channel (now Fox Sports) and the SyFy channel. Cunningham is also an owner/ partner in blowfish emporium, an eclectic, brick and mortar art gallery located in downtown Bristol, Virginia. In addition to Cunningham, other artists with work at the gallery will be present for the Art Walk, including: painter and glass artist, Joyce Samuel; iPhoneagrapher, The HipstaChick and; photographer, Malcolm J. Wilson. Refreshments will be served by the Uncanny Kitchen, an Abingdon, Virginia vegan restaurant. Creeper Vapor Art Gallery is located at 301 W Main St., Abingdon, (above Brandywine Antiques). The Cunningham exhibit will run through May 24, 2014. The space is open noon until 7PM, Tuesday through Saturday.
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Leo Roars and Big Dipper Pours Into the Night It’s that time of Spring when Leo the Lion roars and the Big Dipper pours into the night. This 2014 version of the Spring celestial skies has three planets begging for attention—so take time to look up and ponder the why and wherefore that stargazing provokes. Jupiter, Mars and Saturn beckon as the Winter constellations are all but vanquished by the starry patterns of Spring. And though you have to wait until well after 8:30 pm EDT for the stars to poke through the veil of night, the wait is worth it as warm temperatures find us lingering outside and checking out the celestial sights. You have to look quick to see the king of the planets, Jupiter, as it is setting in the west by mid-
night. This bright yellow planet dominated the winter nights, and now it is taking a swan song as the Earth moves in its orbit and we see a new background of stars. When it’s good and dark at 9 pm, directly overhead is the great lion of the sky, Leo, an ancient constellation that looks pretty much like a dot-to-dot lion. One of the oldest constellations, many cultures for thousands of years have seen a crouching lion with a “regal” bright star, Regulus. The star pattern is a backward question mark (or cutting sickle) for his head and mane, dotted by the golden Regulus, and a right triangle for his hindquarters. Indeed, if seen from another star system far, far away, Leo the Lion would look nothing like it does from our Solar System.
That is true about all the constellations of the night sky, they are just random patterns made out of scattered stars whose distances from each other vary greatly. It’s like looking at street lights from one angle, say the backyard, and then seeing them in a different pattern when looked at a block away. Regulus lies at the lion’s heart. Known as “the regal one,” this multiple star system is a rather close 77 Light Years away. Regulus is two pairs of two stars in orbit about each other. This star and Leo have been significant to astrologers for millennia as the symbol of kings and empires before the real science of astronomy debunked any earthly connection with these randomly placed stars. Leo is filled with some classic galaxies that are easy to see in
even small backyard telescopes. Though they look like grey smudges, these distant islands of stars are also found in many Spring constellations as we look outward from our own Milky Way Galaxy into the Universe. Mars is dimming from its brightest period just a month ago when it was opposite Earth. The fourth planet is rising in the east in the constellation Virgo the Virgin near the bright white star Spica, the pair making a beautiful contrast as they wheel across the night sky. Taking two years to circle the entire sky, Mars was known as the god of war and everything associated with violence and blood. But as you look at Mars these spring nights, try and imagine the three spacecraft orbiting it, and NASA’s rovers Opportunity and
Curiosity moving about the surface. Looking north, the familiar seven stars of the Big Dipper are easy to see as if the bowl is pouring its contents onto the landscape below. The Big Dipper (or farm Plough, as it’s called in Europe), is an “asterism,” which is a familiar pattern within a whole constellation. The seven stars of the Big Dipper are actually related to each other—they were born together in a cluster that has spread apart over eons of time. They might have looked tightly together like The Pleiades cluster when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, 65 million years ago. The whole constellation of Ursa Major, the Great Bear, is huge (3rd largest of the 88 constellations), its fainter stars covering much of the
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April 29, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 17 northern sky and making a shape like a lumbering bear. The Big Dipper is the hindquarter and tail of the bear. And that’s a puzzle. As nowhere on Earth today, or in the archeological records, is there a known bear with a long tail! Follow the arch of that tail, or dipper handle, and you will find Arcturus, a bright star known by that name for centuries. It is the brightest star in a kite or ice cream cone-shaped star pattern named after a man with a strange name— Bootes (pronounced BOO-ohteez). Actually one of the oldest named constellations on record, he is a bear herder, keeping the Big Bear circling the celestial pole. The star Arcturus, third brightest in the northern hemisphere, was also known as the bear herder, and the entire constellation was once called Arcturus. There is an old stargazer axiom involving the Big Bear’s tail (or arc of the Big Dipper’s handle)… “arc to Arcturus, then speed on to Spica.” Following this curve across the high eastern sky will
help you find the bright, white star of Virgo the Virgin, Spica. The pair is hard to miss in the southeast skies. Virgo, the 2nd largest constellation, sprawls all over the sky and has no other really bright stars. How the ancients saw a woman is hard to imagine. Given the trait of purity, growth and abundance, Virgo was a symbol of the new life emerging from winter, and Spica actually means sheath of wheat. But this Spring 2014, there is a yellowish “star” before Spica in the faint and small constellation of Libra the Scales—this is the ringed planet Saturn. The Zodiac is the band of constellations where the planets, Moon and Sun are always found. And Libra is the only non-animal of the 12 classic zodiacal star patterns. Above Virgo—between Leo and Bootes—is the constellation named for the hair of a queen, Coma Berenices. It is a small, faint constellation, commemorating Queen Berenices of Egypt and her flowing locks. There are dozens
of easy to find galaxies in the borders of the queen’s hair, including a galaxy cluster 400 million Light Years away. On May 4th, the Moon will be near Jupiter in Gemini, and the Full Moon on May 14th will be beside Saturn in Libra. Watch as the Moon moves westward as the night wears on and the separation between the two planets noticeably increases. By midnight, Mars and Spica are due south, and the virgin maiden is sprawling across the sky down to the horizon. Leo is dipping toward the western horizon, as the summer constellations are making their first appearance in the east. So there is plenty to see and much to look forward to as our Spring skies of 2014 is full of celestial intrigue. Keep a watchful eye skyward and watch the wonders unfold.
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Skies This Week Celestial events in the skies for the week of April 29th - May 5th, 2014, as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette. The night above is open to the rest of the Universe like a window from our spaceship Earth. There are thousands of other galaxies to see beyond our own in Virgo, Leo, Ursa Major and other Spring constellations. On May evenings, the Milky Way is circling around the horizon, but next month (or after midnight) it will begin showing its glory above the eastern horizon.
Tues. April 29
New Moon today brings an annual eclipse of the Sun, seen only from Antarctica. The Moon almost covers the entire Sun, but not quite, leaving a ring of fire for about 4 minutes between the partial eclipse phases.
Wed. April 30
The Big Dipper is just a part of the much larger constellation Ursa Major, the Big Bear. But these seven stars, that are called The Plough in Europe, are among the most recognized asterism in the night sky. Of course, “the pointer stars” of the outside bowl, Merak and Dubhe, guide us to the North Star, Polaris, in the Little Dipper, again, just a part
of the Little Bear.
Thurs. May 1
At 9 pm the crescent Moon is in the twilight western sky, buried in the horns of Taurus the Bull. The red star below the Moon is the star Aldebaran, the eye of the bull. But they’ll be below the horizon in a half-hour this week, so look quick.
Fri. May 2
You won’t see the largest constellation Hydra the Snake, but it is there snaking along southern horizon from west to east. It has no bright stars, and most are drowned out by light pollution.
Sat. May 3
Between Hydra along the horizon and Virgo in the high south are two constellations, Corvus the Crow, and Crater the Cup. Both are faint, but Corvus is recognizable as a lopsided square in dark skies. Crater has some stars that curve, and is a star pattern that is supposed to be the goblet of god Apollo.
Sun. May 4
The Moon and Jupiter team up together tonight in Gemini. They will set around midnight, giving plenty of time to drag out the telescope and see two alien worlds. Use low power, or the highest numbered eyepieces, and move up to the other magnifications as the quality of seeing allows.
Mon. May 5
On this 1961 date in space history, America’s first spaceman, Alan Shepard, was launched on a rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida for a short 15 minute ride to the weightless environment of space and back to the Atlantic Ocean.
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Kingsport’s Ballet
Kingsport Ballet gears up for its spring signature fundraiser, Ballet and Bubbly, scheduled for Saturday, May 3rd, 6pm at new location – Hibbert Davis Coffee Company. Proceeds from the event and its silent auction will benefit Kingsport Ballet special outreach programs, DANCE CO and Move 1 and 2*which provide free dance and fitness instruction, as well as nutrition and health education to underserved children in our community. “Being able to provide these enrichment services to our area youth through our professional instructors and visiting guest artists, sets Kingsport Ballet apart as more than a quality arts provider,” states president, Marcy Carrier. “It makes us a valuable asset to the community and integral to the growth and appeal of our area.” This year’s change of venue to Hibbert-Davis aims to raise awareness about local businesses and growers, as well as highlight the cultural diversity of our community by holding the event downtown. The evening will feature local musical and dance artists and serve an eclectic international gourmet fare, representative of some of the cultures that make up our community. Samplings to look forward to include: authentic Moroccan, Chinese, Spanish, and Middle Eastern dishes among others. The silent auction features some very unique and attractive offerings, such as baskets of select international wines, lavish spa treatments from Agota Springs, original art from Cindy Saadeh Gallery, an enchanting evening of “large wines and small plates” for
8, photography packages by Tina Wilson, jewelry from Diamond Exchange, and much, much more. Outreach programs are funded by the Tennessee Arts Commission’s Funds for At Risk Youth, City of Kingsport, Holston Medical Group, HEAL Appalachia, Kingsport Community Foundation, East Tennessee Foundation, Ballet and Bubbly, and area supporters. These programs have received past funding from the National Endowment for the
Arts, Kingsport Rotary Club, Association for University Women, Massengil DeFriece Foundation, Mooneyhan Foundation, Junior League of Kingsport, among others. For more information call 423/378-3967. Tickets to Ballet and Bubbly are $50 per person and may be purchased by calling 423/378-3967.
*Kingsport Ballet is sponsored in part for general operations by the Tennessee Arts Commission”
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Full Moon Jam concert and tribute series set to kick-off in downtown Bristol Downtown Bristol’s oldest live music series is about to kick into high gear. The Full Moon Jam concert and Tribute series will begin on Thursday, May 1st and will host bands from Chicago, Illinois, Nashville and Knoxville, Tennessee and of course our regional bands of which no summer concert series should be without. Come out and dance to the music or bring a chair and a friend and unwind from a long day. “This is what Bristol is about, meeting up with our friends and listening to music,” said Darlene Cole, Deputy Director of Community Relations. The Full Moon Jam concert series began years ago with a few gentlemen gathering in down-
town once a week to ‘jam’. From that developed this long-loved tradition of weekday music offered up each spring. “I think everyone realizes how fortunate we are to have this series in Bristol,” said Matt Bolas, Executive Director of the Bristol Convention and Visitors Bureau. “While it’s extremely popular with our locals, I also know for a fact that we have a lot of visitors who come to the downtown area specifically to enjoy the music. Being able to have live music almost on a nightly basis through the summer is certainly not something you’re going to see in many other places and it’s just another thing that helps make Bristol so unique.”
The thirty-one nights of music includes local favorites: Southern 76, Shooter (previously Old Dogs), Holston Mountain Boys, Tennessee Skyline, Ken Morrell and Family, James Meadows,Thomas Taylor, Jessica Nixon, CatFish Frye, Music Memories, Duty Free, Samantha Gray, Billy Crawford, and Hillbilly Bad.....to name a few. The tribute series will feature one band being brought back by popular demand, another from the early days of Great on State and the third being completely new to the area. For two years---Hells Bells, Tribute to AC\DC has played to a standing-room-only crowd and the anticipation of the same crowd
is expected on June 26th when they return. Entice, with the sound of soul, funk and a little Motown will be appearing on July 24th. The final band in this year’s Tribute Series is the ZZ Top Tribute by Eliminator who are out of Chicago and will be playing in the Tri-Cit-
ies area for the first time ever on August 14th. For the complete line-up go to www.pickbristol.com or for more information contact Darlene Cole at 423-989-5500 Ext.2053 or email dcole@bristoltn.org.
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Lions and tigers and “BEARS” Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Well at least the latter is featured in the new Disneynature film “Bears”. I was really looking forward to the new Disneynature film, after experiencing their release “African Cats” in 2011. Following “African Cats” was the 2012 release “Chimpanzee”. The studio releases these documentary films on or around Earth Day, and I have found this is a great way to celebrate the day. The latest effort is set in Alaska, and follows a brown bear family from the birth of two cubs until their journey with their mother to the coast to feed on salmon. We first meet the mother bear and her cubs while they are hibernating and are awaking to begin their long journey. As the bears begin their treacherous journey, they
are fortunate to avoid a major avalanche, and make it past their first challenge. On their journey, the cubs often stop to play in the snow, but are hurried along by their anxious mother who is trying to get to a food source as quickly as possible. Along the way the bears encounter a devious wolf, a helpful raven, and rival bears. This may sound like a created plot, but the bears were filmed on their adventure with the film edited to give us a enjoyable yet dangerous journey. As in the previous efforts “African Cats” and “Chimpanzee”, I thought one of the animals was going to meet an unsightly end, but thankfully, nothing dire occurs to our three bears. make it to food and avoid two giAs the film progressed, I found gantic male bears. Never fear, as myself wanting to help the bears all ends well for the trio, and we can leave the theater happy. The film is narrated by actor John C. Reilly, and he does an outstanding job. I can’t say enough about the beautiful Alaskan scenery, and this is a film to see on the big screen if you have the opportunity. Learning about nature and animals is always something I enjoy, and Disney does a masterful job presenting the often misunderstood creatures in a wonderful light. One strong message you get from the film is the power of a mother’s love, and to never get between a mother bear and her cubs. Disney has done it again with the release of the perfect Earth Day companion, the totally entertaining and insightful “Bears”. (Rated G) A
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Storytelling Live! Welcomes Bil Lepp
Storyteller Bil Lepp, an awardwinning tall tale spinner and humorist who recently appeared on Comedy Central, will be the first performer in the Storytelling Live! series, a six-month program that will bring more than two dozen master storytellers to Jonesborough in 2014. During his weeklong residency, Lepp plans to debut at least five new tall tales. While his intricately crafted stories are celebrated for their flights of fancy, many of Lepp’s tales are actually rooted in mundane experience. “I wrote a story last year about being on an airplane, and it turns out that the plane has a flat tire,” he says. “Up to a point, the story’s true. I was flying back from New York City to Atlanta and the pilot came on and said there was some debris on the runway, and we might have a blown tire. He said not to worry about it; the reason planes have lots of tires is so that if one blows, there are still plenty others. “But then the flight attendant came back to my seat—I was in the emergency row. She leaned in and said, ‘Before we took off, you acknowledged that you would be willing to help in the event of an emergency.’ And I said, yeah, I did say that. And she said, ‘Were you serious?’ So I was telling somebody that, and they said, well, why didn’t you just call AAA or go out and change the tire yourself? And as soon as they said that, I realized that I had the basis for a story.” Lepp’s residency will run May 6 – 10, Tuesday through Saturday, with daily performances at 2:00 p.m. in the Mary B. Martin Storytelling Hall. Tickets for all matinees are just $12 for adults and $11 for seniors, students, and children under 18. Season passes that offer a 44% savings are also available while supplies last. A fan favorite of Jonesborough’s storytelling crowds, Lepp relishes the opportunity to have a week to experiment with new material and revisit old favorites. “A lot
of people come to TIR who have never ever been to hear storytelling before,” he says, “so I want to make sure I give them a good introduction to storytelling. But on the other hand, a lot of people are regulars who have been listening to lots of different storytellers for years, so they really know what to listen for and how to listen.” In addition to daily matinees, the storyteller will also host a special evening concert on Thursday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are only $15 and are expected to sell out quickly, so advance purchase is strongly recommended. All ticket holders
will save 10 percent on same-day dining at The Olde Courthouse Diner, The Dining Room, Jonesborough General Store and Eatery, or Main Street Café. Information about all TIR performers, as well as a detailed schedule for 2014, is available at www.storytellingcenter.net. The International Storytelling Center is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information about Storytelling Live! or to make a group reservation, call (800) 952-8392 ext. 222 or (423) 913-1276.
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TCM Turns Twenty Most times when a cable or TV channel celebrates an anniversary, there’s nothing to celebrate. Channels change, evolve, keep up with the ever important advertising dollars that force them to bend to the will of their demographics report. Sure, they’ll have graphics to mark how many years they have been around, and it’s all a large “pat ourselves on the back” moment. However, this year marks an anniversary that’s actually worth celebrating. In a sea of endless reasons why there’s no reason to keep cable TV in the year 2014, one channel stands alone, and that channel is the movie oasis known as Turner Classic Movies. I’m sure it’s not going to shock anyone that I’m seeing it fit to write about their 20th year of broadcasting—it’s my go to channel. The channel my cable box is usually on when I start it up, and I drink my daily coffee out of one of three TCM coffee mugs. Yes, you could say I’m a fan. To my knowledge, TCM is most unique in that it’s the only cable network to win a coveted Peabody Award for doing what seems impossible. The TCM of 2014 looks very much like the TCM of 1994. TCM has been committed to one mission from day one: great movies aired without commercials and 100% intact, no edits. Much like a fine wine, TCM has only improved with age. What began with a “rogues gallery” of the best of the best—TCM’s first
film on air was Gone With The Wind—has now been expanded into one of the most wonderfully eclectic and non judgmental mix of movies anyone ever assembled anywhere. A night of films by famed Japanese film maker Akira Kurosawa, might be followed by a day long marathon of Frankie and Annette Beach Party movies. TCM has become more than just a TV channel showing movies, TCM has become the nation’s repertory house. At the helm of all of this, each night at eight, is Robert Osborne. Robert Osborne is more than just an on-air host, he is a part of the DNA of TCM. So much so that it’d be hard to imagine the channel without him. Osborne is always there at the start and end of each film, to add some context, trivia, or to casually share with us why we need to see it. In the years since launch, the face of TCM has grown to include Ben Mankiewicz as the afternoon daytime, and occasional nighttime host, numerous co-hosts for Saturday night’s “The Essentials” programing block, custom month long hosts for the recent “Friday Night Spotlight” series, and a wide range of Guest Programmers that range from Kermit The Frog to Songstress Neko Case. Along the way one might want to ask the question of how could a network based on classic film survive into the future? In an era where it seems older films are becoming less “marketable,” it’s
legitimate to wonder where TCM might fit in. It’s funny, but along the way TCM quietly morphed from “Boy, they don’t make them like they used to” to “These films are important, you should see them.” How? In the middle part of the last decade something started to become clear, TCM was finding it had developed a rabid fan base of 20somethings (raises hand). At their recent fifth annual Classic Film Festival (that I dream to attend next year), TCM revealed that 60% of their viewers are 18-49 years of age. Not to mention that it was reported almost half of the attendees at the film festival were people in their 20s and 30s. If there’s a secret to TCM’s success, it’s that it has something that not many other—if any—channels have, a sense of community. TCM fans are very active on social media, there’s a hashtag on Twitter, #TCMparty, where people nightly watch along and comment with what is on the air. When TCM airs a film of a more recent age, you can see the comments fly on the internet, all ranging from pro to no. Last Fall TCM launched their wonderful new Watch TCM app, the app not only gives you a rundown of that week’s line up, but also allows you to stream the channel on your smartphone or tablet (It’s how I survived last Thanksgiving). As we celebrate a 20th anniversary well worth celebrating, TCM is most definitely alive and
well. A thriving place where at any time of the day or night, odds are good you’re gonna find something you love. On those nights when my insomnia gets the best of me, it’s what I watch. A night like that which is most memorable to me, was the night a sleepless and tired Andy turned on the channel in the middle of the 1947 “from the view point of the detective” film noir, Lady In The Lake. As my focus changed from my pillow to watch what was on my TV, my brain slowly began to think “Is that Audrey Meadows? It is. Why is she talking to me?” An odd little number of a film, but one worth seeing when it comes around again, and provided a very strange sensation in a sleep deprived me for about a minute and a half. Here’s to hoping we’re in store
for another 20 years of the same, a home for everything from Casablanca to Plan 9 From Outer Space. I know I’ll be there, anxious to see what new film discovery might be around the corner, or just to fall in love with a movie I’ve seen before all over again. Happy 20th TCM, here’s looking at you, kid. See you next week.
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Each year at this time I generally present you with my own commencement address, with the caveat that if I were ever invited to deliver it, I probably wouldn’t be asked back. That might have something to do with my advice to graduates that they watch Marx Brothers movies for life and career inspiration. I realize that just because I learned most of what I know from Groucho and his brothers and from Mad magazine, doesn’t mean that everyone can benefit from my advice. But advice is free and there is never any obligation to accept it. This year, rather than running the risk of boring you with my speech, I have chosen to examine some of the do’s and don’ts of commencement speeches, interspersed with some suggestions for would-be commencement speakers. Hope you find all this inspiring. First, we must acknowledge that good commencement speeches are a rare commodity. In fact, they are generally the most dreaded part of the matriculation ceremony, and for very good reason. Most of them are just plain awful and nearly unbearable. I am very fortunate that I can point to one very memorable and very pleasant commencement address in my life. On the occasion of the granting of my B.A. degree in History from Appalachian State University back in the seventies, the college administration had the good sense to invite local celebrity Doc Watson and his son, Merle (the namesake of Merlefest), to be our commencement speakers. The really good part, of course, is that neither of them chose to deliver a dull and vacuous speech—rather, they chose to spend a very pleasant twenty minutes inspiring my class and our loved ones with their music. If only every graduation ceremony could be like this. Why have anyone speak when you can
share the joy of music? So, my first piece of advice is to avoid speakers whenever possible, inviting musicians instead who can speak through their songs. Second, if you must invite a speaker to the podium on graduation, you probably should heed
choice during most speeches)— then the speaker should aim for the following: • Honor the occasion by understanding that “a commencement is an intimate occasion, not a public one” and that a speaker’s challenge “is to memorialize the occasion with as compelling and inspiring a message as [her or she] can muster, avoiding the lethal temptation of political persuasion, of complacency, or of an unrestrained ego.” • “Cut. Edit. Chop. Delete. Do the hard work of being precise. Make your speech less than 18 minutes long, not a second more. Your audience wants to get on with the celebrations—not to men-
divide the graduates into groups and have them engage in a reflective activity designed to take the focus away from me. And then I would have representative members of the class report back on what they learned from the activity. And then I would add a couple of sentences in summary and be done. All in less than 18 minutes. • “Startle Them.” This has to do with creating a memorable moment, a phrase, or a challenging thought designed to shock the graduates out of their complacency. This is called the “hook” by some speech experts, and it is perhaps a necessary component of a good speech. • “If only for a few moments,
some timely advice found in a recent Humanity.org blog. As Tony Balis, the author of the piece, points out, the “commencement speech is a resurgent artform. It is a cooling oasis from the siroccos of information blowing through modern life.” He at least finds some comfort in the good commencement speeches that are delivered this time of year. If a commencement speech does what is intended to do—to inspire graduates rather than put them to sleep or impel them to reach for their smartphones (admittedly, a wise
tion discovering that wicked and/ or wonderful world you have just described.” If you can’t say it in 18 minutes or less, just don’t say it. Great advice, don’t you think? Actually, I would say that you or your speaker should do his or her job in 10 minutes or less. • “You are a virtuoso for those few minutes. The stage is all yours. You will claim success by how well the graduates listen and how well they connect to you.” The trick is in the engagement. If I were ever invited to deliver a commencement speech, I would
rescue your audience from the sheer velocity of this century with a clear, considered voice.” That is, rather than just delivering a speech, engage your audience in a conversation. In summary, you should expect your commencement speakers (or yourself) to show up on time, be brief, understand the purpose of the occasion, and be engaging. And, above all, they (or you) should know when to shut up (I added that little concluding piece of advice which is not found in Tony’s column).
Tony’s advice of course runs counter to the usual commencement speech, which generally falls into one (or more) of the following categories: • “Connect-The-Cliches.” We’ve all had to uncomfortably sit through this one. Entire speeches can, and have, been based on nothing but a string of clichés, such as “Today is the first day of the rest of your life, and success is what you make it. Aim high, reach for the stars, be the best you can be, and remember it’s not what you know but who you know. What you have accomplished here is just the beginning, the future is yours for the taking, and don’t forget those who got you here, blah, blah, and more blah” Just think how much more inspirational—and hypnotic--it would be if this speaker quoted from Moody Blues song monologues instead of the meaningless drivel listed above. Just imagine how graduates could benefit from hearing the speaker recite “Breath deep the gathering gloom. Watch lights fade from every room. Bedsitter people look back and lament another day’s useless energy spent. . . .But we decide which is right and which is an illusion.” I get teary-eyed just reading these words, don’t you? • “It’s All About Me”. Here the speaker ignores the wants and needs of the graduating class and focuses instead on the details of his or her largely insignificant career. Or, worse, he or she simply dusts off an old speech given for an entirely different occasion and reads it verbatim. Doesn’t matter if the speech has any relevance to the occasion. Hey, it’s a speech, I’m on stage, and that’s all that matters. I can go back and add this to my resume. Who cares about the students and their moment? Remember—it’s all about me. How much better it would have been if a member of the graduating class had been chosen to deliver the speech. I could go on and on but I’ve far exceeded my 18 minutes. So, I will bid you a fond farewell until next week and hope your upcoming commencement speech experiences are pleasant and meaningful ones. And, just remember, life is what you make it.
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