Act!vated Storytellers at Crossroads Mall Today

Act!vated Storytellers are going to be at the Bellevue Crossroads Mall today at 4:30 presenting Quizzical Quests, sponsored by King County Library System. I'd meant to post a note earlier about this show, but at least you know before the end. El JoPe Magnifico chastised me (and rightly so) for writing about Captain Bogg & Salty after they had left the Seattle area.

You may read my interview with Act!vated Storytellers here.

Spinning Wheel: Act!vated Storytellers

I saw the traveling performers Act!vated Storytellers when I worked as a children's librarian for King County Library System between 2000-2001. They were performing for a school assembly in Bellevue, but the library was hosting the show. Performers Kimberly and Dennis Goza and their young son Zephyr used acrobatics and props to make poetry kinetic. When Kimberly fit her body through the head of a tennis racket (strings removed), I was quite impressed.

Years later, Act!vated Storytellers are still traveling all around the country, presenting theatrical shows in English and American Sign Language with humor and high energy. Zephyr is now 17 with three books and a punk band called A Simple Disaster.

I am pleased to introduce Act!vated Storytellers for the penultimate interview in the Spinning Wheel children's performers series. Here they are-- Dennis, Kimberly, and Zephyr Goza-- in their own words:



What exactly do you do for a living?
DG: Actor, writer, producer
KG: I theatrically perform folktales and classics with my family. I am an actor, web designer, fall guy, entrepreneur, booking agent, costume designer, director, business manager, set designer, seamstress, travel coordinator and squeeze through tennis rackets. Basically, anything you see on the stage I do, anything you hear Dennis does (but even that is a fuzzy line).
ZG: I'm a performer. My family and I each portray multiple roles in our shows. We also serve as our own setup/teardown crew.

How long have you been working in your chosen profession?
DG: About 20 years, give or take a diversion or two
KG: 20 years or so. Kinda lost track.
ZG: 14 years.

What prompted you to work with/ perform for children?
DG: Had a childhood dream of running away to join the circus, and never grew out of it.
KG: Dennis and I met doing children’s theatre and decided to form our own company. I love the immediacy of the feedback from the uninhibited audience.
ZG: I grew into it, really. Mom and Dad started the theatre company before the family, so by the time I came along they were already well into it. I started reciting Shakespeare at two, starred in a commercial at three, and played Tiny Tim and Ghost of Christmas Future on a national tour of A Christmas Carol at age four. If anything, they had a hard time keeping me off the stage!

Why do you continue to do it?
DG: I like to think I'm helping to build the future. Plus, it's just plain fun.
KG: Love it! Can’t imagine doing anything else. I love all aspects of theatre, on stage and off. Which is why I love running our company.
ZG: I'm a natural entertainer. If it has to do with entertaining people, chances are I've had some experience with it.


Which performers are your inspirations for your work?
DG: Buster Keaton, Marcel Marceau, Laurel and Hardy, Garrison Keillor
KG: I’ve been told my physicality is very Jim Carrey. I draw inspiration from Lucille Ball though.
ZG: Buster Keaton! I'm a huge fan of his. I'm also partial to Johnny Depp, and I love any quirky/odd/offbeat/unusual characters and anything on Broadway. Beyond that, the number of performers I draw inspiration from is too long to list. (Although I have to mention that Colin Farrell and Shia LeBeouf are cool.)


What are some of the things you enjoy doing outside of your profession?
DG: Composing music, drawing, bicycling, writing poetry, studying philosophy, betting on horse races.
KG: Gee just about everything I do is tied to the business from performing to traveling to web design and promotion. It rather consumes me. I do enjoy biking and wish I had more time for some epic journeys. I am still trying to figure out how to make enough money to eat while touring the world by bicycle.
ZG: What are some things I don't? I do all kinds of work in the entertainment industry, so technically I have a bunch of different professions. When I'm looking to unwind, though, I usually go to the movies, hang out at the bookstore, or just chill around with friends.


What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?
DG: Hmmm.. quite a paradox. If I told people the things they don't know about me (of which there are many), they'd no longer be things people don't know about me. Oh well, here's one: I was once in the Navy.
KG: I feel like an open book. We have been keeping a travel journal online for the past 4 years. Ummm… I air dry my feet after a shower by wiggling them in the air. And I like to dance like crazy when no one is looking.
ZG: I'm into something called parkour, which is a little like urban gymnastics.

Was there ever a time when your audience surprised you? What happened?
DG: At a school in Kansas City, we dropped some pennies on the stage that were used as props, and several kids scrambled onstage to pick them up, practically breaking each others' necks.
KG: After 200 shows per year for the past 15 years or so there isn’t much we haven’t seen. One time in particular wasn’t so much the audience as the janitor. We were in the middle of a show in a gymnasium. The kids were seated in the bleachers when the janitor starts mopping. We didn’t know why she chose that particular moment to clean. We were in the middle of a scene that took place on a ship so Dennis just ad lib a line thanking her for “swabbing the deck.”
ZG: There's been a few times the audience has caught us off guard, both in a good and a bad way, but usually it's just in some small way like laughing someplace where we weren't expecting a laugh.


What’s in heavy rotation on your stereo/iPod lately?
DG: Lately, I've been in love with the song “The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World. It's a simple tune (which is part of its charm, I suppose) but what a shot in the arm! It never fails to lift me higher than a kite on helium.
KG: I am reliving the 80s. I recently learned that I love Styx. Oh and “Damn Good Story” by A Simple Disaster is getting a lot of play in my ears. Shhh! don’t tell Zephyr. He hates it that his mom rocks out to his band’s music.
ZG: Avenged Sevenfold's new CD! (Also, I'm prone to singing anything by Tenacious D at random intervals in time.)

If you could headline a festival with three other performers, who would they be?
DG: Judy Kuhn, Dory Previn and Garrison Keillor
KG: I’ve been headlining with two of my favorite performers for the past 15 years!
ZG: .......I have no idea. I'd love to perform with pretty much anyone.

What’s the song or story that never gets old for you?
DG: The Odyssey is still the greatest story of all time for my money.
ZG: What's My Age Again. I sing it incessantly, much to the annoyance of my peers and family.

I asked Zephyr how his perceptions about his audiences changed over the years as a child (and now teen performer), and also about his hopes and ambitions for the coming years.
ZG: I never really had any feelings about performing in front of people my own age when I was younger (or now, for that matter). By the time I was old enough to have any problems in front of people my own age, I'd already been doing it for long enough that it was intuitive. Now that I'm closer to moving out, my future will probably with my band in North Carolina. I'll also be doing several other things, such as designing haunted houses/themed attractions, making movies, doing whatever stage productions I can get my hands on, writing more books, performing stunts, and starting numerous businesses.
***************

The Pivot Questionnaire, as popularized by the Actor’s Studio:

What is your favorite word?
DG: Cuspidor
KG: Yes
ZG: Hmmm...at the moment, it's "superfluous"


What is your least favorite word?
DG: Conservative – because it's almost never used accurately anymore.
KG: No
ZG: I try not to have a least favorite word. It's not nice to demote verbage.

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
DG: Music, especially Broadway. Philosophy. And absolutely everything about my wife.
KG: I use my drive time to get the ideas going and organize my thoughts. I keep a notebook by me to take notes. When I need ideas for props or costumes I go shopping. Living in an RV we don’t have space (or the desire) to collect a bunch of stuff. So I have no need to buy things – just look at them. I also enjoy working out. It’s nice to get away from all of the demands of day to day life and just take some time for yourself.
ZG: Going to one of the Disney parks or any sort of themed attraction, or writing music with my band.


What turns you off?
DG: Religion. Or more precisely, religiosity. The overwhelming compulsion that many people have to impose their simpleminded beliefs on everyone else in the galaxy has resulted in more evil than just about anything else in history.
KG: Being told “You HAVE to....” No I don’t.
ZG: Bad comedy movies and sitcoms

What is your favorite curse word? (optional)
DG: The F-word has a certain raw elegance to it, although I get tired of its overuse as a swear word. I often swear with “Crap “ or “Yodsnarotch”.
KG: Bite me!

What sound or noise do you love?
DG: The female voice
KG: Laughter! Especially from our audiences.
ZG: The gentle buzz of a guitar amplifier

What sound or noise do you hate?
DG: Boisterous speech
KG: Street sweepers and leaf blowers in the parking lot in the middle of the nights or pre-dawn hours
ZG: Rap and country music

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
DG: There are other professions??
KG: Web Design or astronaut
ZG: Perhaps being a forensic pathologist (I'm a pretty big CSI buff)


What profession would you not like to do?
DG: Politician, salesman and deodorant tester.
KG: Fold tissue by hand and insert in boxes
ZG: Professional cleaner of anything

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
DG: “Hey kiddo, wait until you get a look at the record of your life; it turned out far better than you ever thought.”
KG: NOW, the party can start!
ZG: "DUDE! That was the best entrance anyone has made in a long time. The fire was a nice touch. Also, I love your band. Can I have your autograph?"

Spinning Wheel: Joel Caithamer

I first learned about the music of librarian Joel Caithamer through Warren Truitt's Children's Music That Rocks blog with a review of Caithamer's rockabilly album "ACTIVATE!" Truitt asks, "Why isn't this guy more famous?" The first track alone, "Big Bad Wolf," was enough to hook me into buying the whole album. (On a song-mix I've made for my daughter, I've got "Big Bad Wolf" following Laurie Berkner's "Lots of Little Pigs.") You can listen to some song samples here and find links both to "ACTIVATE!" and Caithamer's first album, "What's Happening, Spaceman?" here.

Joel Caithamer works with the Kenton County Public Library in Kentucky. Although he is busy finishing the vocals for his next album, "The Biggest Everything in the World," he was kind enough to take some time to answer a few questions for the Spinning Wheel interview series:

What exactly do you do for a living?
Joel Caithamer: Children’s Services Coordinator

How long have you been working in your chosen profession?
JC: 11 years

What prompted you to perform for children?
JC: I got into children’s services because of the literature. Performing was a natural offshoot since I was presenting story times every week.

Why do you continue to do it?
JC: There is always a new audience with new reactions.

Which performers are your inspirations for your work?
JC: Zak Morgan, AC/DC, Steve Martin

What are some of the things you enjoy doing outside of your profession?
JC: Competing in Scottish Highland Games Heavy Events, Family outings

Was there ever a time when your audience surprised you? What happened?

JC: I was playing a song about underpants at a preschool and little did I know but the teacher had instructed the kids to bring an extra pair of undies to school that day. During the chorus all of the kids pulled out their underpants and put them on their heads. I still get misty-eyed to this day.

What’s in heavy rotation on your stereo/iPod lately?
JC: Hank Williams 3, "Rising Outlaw"

If you could headline a festival with three other performers, who would they be?
JC: Pete Seeger, Jason Ringenberg and Heywood Banks

What’s the song or story that never gets old for you?
JC: Frank Was a Monster Who Wanted to Dance (Keith Graves)

The Pivot Questionnaire:

What is your favorite word?
Incisor

What is your least favorite word?
Dude

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Joni Mitchell’s Blue album

What turns you off?
Lite Beer

What is your favorite curse word?
[Opted not to answer]

What sound or noise do you love?
My daughter saying "Daddy"

What sound or noise do you hate?
Woofer speakers in cars

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Blacksmith

What profession would you not like to do?
Door to door salesman

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“You can use any Marshall Amp you want. Just stay away from my Mesa Boogie!”

Spinning Wheel part 7: Gigi Weisman

Once upon a time, I thought I'd like to become a journalist because I thought nothing would be better than listening to other people's stories all day long. Working on the high school paper cured me of that fantasy. Some people would consent to interviews, but then drawing anything interesting out of them was a slow, painful process. Really, all I wanted to do was set the tape recorder running and listen to them talk.

Educational consultant and musician Gigi Weisman is a journalist's dream. Not only does Weisman answer questions, she offers additional stories about her life. Some of them are revealed in this edition of Spinning Wheel, and some of them will have to wait for a future Special Edition.

Weisman volunteers at the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington, Vermont where she performs and records children's music recordings with Robert Resnik (highlighted in the last edition of Spinning Wheel). Check out Weisman's recordings with Robert Resnik and Carol Scrimgeour: Children's Sing-Along Recordings. I finally have my own copy of A Little Bit Jumbled and Jivey, and it's just as enjoyable and useful as I remembered. Some of my favorites are "A You're Adorable," "Sodeo" and "The Ladybug's Picnic," as well as some good storytime warm-up songs like "Keep Moving" and "Wake Up Hands."


Gigi Weisman with 2 of her 5 grandchildren

THE SPINNING WHEEL INTERVIEW

Saints and Spinners: What exactly do you do for a living?

Gigi Weisman: I am an Educational Consultant who works mostly with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, as well as individuals with other abilities and disabilities. Songs, chanting, rhythm, music and laughter have often created a joyful connection with my students, their parents and teachers.

S&S: How long have you been working in your chosen profession?

GW: I’ve had my own consulting business for 19 years, and was a special educator in the public school system before that.


S&S: What prompted you to work with and perform for children?

GW: I’ve always enjoyed children of all abilities and have incorporated music into my work. It was a natural step to begin performing as a volunteer at our library. I decided to become an educator when I was in high school. A group of my friends had been volunteering in an institution for young women with significant disabilities. The room was colorful and alive with sound. I happened to see a “Do Not Enter” sign. Naturally, I opened it. I don’t want to go into details, but I witnessed how the men with disabilities were being treated. I knew in that moment that I wasn’t going to be a music major, but I would go into Special Education. I wrote an article about the institution and what I saw there published in the local “underground” newspaper.

Over 10 years ago, Robert Resnik was already doing children’s shows at the Fletcher Free Library where he worked and he invited me to play with him. [Editor's note: Weisman plays violin and sings.] I’ve been playing there ever since. It has been very fulfilling volunteer work.

S&S: Why do you continue to do it?

GW: It’s fun and meaningful for the audiences and myself. Playing at the same venue for so long has helped build a real community with the love of children and music being the glue. It is also great fun to play for strangers and visit libraries and events throughout the United States.

S&S: Which performers are your inspirations for your work?

GW: Ella Jenkins, Pete Seeger, Danny Kaye, Mr. Rogers, Burl Ives, Raffi, Gary Rosen, the Marx and Smothers Brothers! It’s impossible to count how many times I watched Hans Christian Andersen starring Danny Kaye. I used to watch Rosenshontz (Gary Rosen and Bill Shontz) with my children when they were very small. I had the opportunity to play at an ALS fundraising event as a warm- up for Mr. Rosen. It was such an honor. Gary Rosen died from the effects of ALS last April. His death was a tremendous loss to children’s music and humanity.

S&S: What are some of the things you enjoy doing outside of your profession?

GW: Visiting with my children and grandchildren and sharing our interests is my very favorite thing. Finding trinkets and treasures at flea markets and walking in the woods are other favorites.

S&S: What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?

GW: People seem surprised to find out I am an individual with Learning Disabilities.

S&S: Was there ever a time when your audience surprised you? What happened?

GW: I was asked to perform at a woman’s 100th birthday party. Wehnona “Nonie” Robinson played piano and asked me to play violin with her. We met weekly and performed together until she passed away 9 months later. My memories of our playing music together, organizing her first recital and the joy we shared stays with me until this day.

S&S: What’s in heavy rotation on your stereo/iPod lately?

GW: Honestly, I’m listening to a CD of original songs I’ve recorded with one of my musical partners, Joni AvRutick. I’m also listening to Kermit the Frog singing Rainbow Connection and Neil Young.

S&S: If you could headline a festival with three other performers, who would they be?

GW: Ella Jenkins, Raffi, and Paul McCartney. Imagine a finale with all of us singing; “All I Really Need Is A Song In My Heart And Love In My Family!”

S&S: What’s the song or story that never gets old for you?

GW: Pete Seeger performing “Abiyoyo,” and Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hatches the Egg.

The Pivot Questionnaire:

What is your favorite word?
Thanks

What is your least favorite word?
Hate

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Humor

What turns you off?
When someone lies to me and I have no tolerance for bigotry.

What is your favorite curse word? (optional)
Dagburnit-- Learned that one from Hoss Cartwright!

What sound or noise do you love?
The sound of a cardinal singing and the honking of geese.

What sound or noise do you hate?
Dentist drills

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Teaching college

What profession would you not like to do?
Anything with bugs!

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
Your grandmothers have been waiting for you and they’ve become friends with Nonie! They’re all very proud of you. Now let me introduce you to Danny Kaye so I can get back to that “peace thing.”

Spinning Wheel VI: Robert Resnik, Librarian Musician

Once upon a time, I used to work in a library. One day, my supervisor brought in a compact disc called A Little Bit Jumbled and Jivey. She said, "There are a lot of good songs on here that I think will be good to play for our storytimes." I listened to the songs, and loved how simple and lively the arrangements were. When I read the liner-notes, I found out that the performers, Robert Resnik, Gigi Weisman and Carol Scrimgeour, were three children's librarians who had put together the cd to raise money for the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington, Vermont. (Later, they would produce two other cds: Like the Birdies Sing and Sweet Potatoes and Homegrown Tomatoes, all sold through the library store).

"This is what I want to do," I thought to myself as I listened to "A You're Adorable," "Ladybug Picnic" and "Sodeo" on A Little Bit Jumbled and Jivey. "I don't want to put on cds and have people sing along to recordings. I want to be a librarian who plays guitar and bring live music to my storytimes." Immediately following that thought, a patron came up to the information desk, and then I got distracted by Life In General. Four years later, I took my first guitar lesson. By then, I wasn't working in the library on a regular basis anymore, but I didn't forget that initial spark. It only seemed right that when I started the Spinning Wheel series, I would contact the people who created the cd that made me think incorporating live music in storytimes was a good idea. This week's interview is with Robert Resnik, and the next interview will be with Gigi Weisman.

INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT RESNIK

Saints and Spinners: What exactly do you do for a living?

Robert Resnik: I am a director at the Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, Vermont’s public library, and I host a weekly folk and world music show on Vermont Public Radio.

S&S: How long have you been working in your chosen profession?

RR: I have worked at the library from 17 years, and at the radio station for 10.

S&S: What prompted you to work with and perform for children?

RR: When I began to perform music for kids I was the outreach librarian, and started incorporating music into joint programs which I was presenting with the children’s librarian. I have always loved children’s music, and am just a big kid myself!

S&S: Why do you continue to do it?

RR: I continue because it’s very gratifying, and also because my live performances have helped the Library sell over $25,000 worth of recordings. Proceeds from these sales have funded special programming for youth and outreach for many years here at our Library.

S&S: Which performers are your inspirations for your work?

RR: There are many wonderful musicians who play great material for children. Ella Jenkins, Raffi, Anne Dodson, Priscilla Herdman, and Pete Seeger are all major inspirations for me, as is Dave Van Ronk, who, although he wasn’t known primarily as a children’s performer, has recorded what I believe is the all-time greatest recording of “Swingin’ On A Star!”

S&S: What are some of the things you enjoy doing outside of your profession?

RR: I love playing music, and know how to play more than 30 different stringed, wind, free reed, and percussion instruments. I am an avid wild mushroom collector, and also love to cook.

S&S: What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?

RR: I like to crochet brightly colored afghans.

S&S: Was there ever a time when your audience surprised you? What happened?

RR: I was performing a set of Vermont songs for small local historical society, and sitting in the front row were two young boys, about 7 and 9 years old. It took me only a few minutes to realize that they knew every single word to every single song that we sang, including the ones that I had written myself. I was surprised to find that it made me very nervous as well as very happy, because it seemed that they knew my songs much better than I did, and I was afraid of making a mistake!!

S&S: What’s in heavy rotation on your stereo/iPod lately?

RR: Hurdy-gurdy music, and a new album by an English dance band named Blowzabella.

S&S: If you could headline a festival with three other performers, who would they be?

RR: Tom Waits, Dave Van Ronk (back from the dead), and Cliff Edwards (Ukelele Ike, also back from the dead), and if these guys showed up, I would just never be a headliner, just a reverent side musician!

S&S: What’s the song or story that never gets old for you?

RR: The Erie Canal.

The Pivot Questionnaire is a set of questions popularized on “The Actor’s Studio" and introduced to me through Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. If you please, answer the same set of questions:

What is your favorite word?
Lugubrious

What is your least favorite word?
No

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Playing music with people I love

What turns you off?
Not having enough time

What is your favorite curse word? (optional)
psia krew (pronounced “shakreft”)

What sound or noise do you love?
The sound of the wrapper coming off of a marvelous chocolate bar.

What sound or noise do you hate?
A broken string in the middle of a performance.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
A bread baker.

What profession would you not like to do?
Mining in a tunnel for anything.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
Welcome to heaven – you made lots of people happy during your life!

Spinning Wheel, Part V: Eric Ode

One of my favorite aspects of this children's performer interview series is discovering tiny windows into other people's life-stories. While I'm a staunch believer in appreciating artists' work independently of their personal lives, it's a bonus to talk with someone via email or (even better) in person and find out that the performer is actually someone whom I think would be good company. Eric Ode, today's featured performer, is one more person I'd like to add to the House of Glee's welcome table. Special thanks go out to Spinning Wheel alumnus Eric Herman for introducing us.

Eric Ode (pronounced oh-dee) is a singer, song-writer, author and poet based in Washington State. He has a full schedule playing concerts, creating music albums, publishing books (including his brand new cowboy poetry book, Tales of the Wild West) and leading writing workshops for children. A new studio album, "When You Smile" is planned for release really, really soon. Eric's website features games and poems like "The Ghost You Think You Saw" and "The Campfire Vampire." Eric says, "I received a fun surprise late last year when a text book company in Norway published my poem 'Cat and Mouse' in one of their grade 8 text books designed to teach Norwegian students english. The poem shares a section with Shel Silverstein and Mary Frye."

Eric's site also contains resources for teachers and scrapbooks of photos from his travels. One photo definitely missing is that of a grumpy, rained-on, deprived-of-coffee Eric Ode. I suspect that no such photo exists. It's just as well: with all of the woes of the world, it's gratifying to meet a person whose joy is contageous. If you don't believe me, just check out the video for This Song Has No Elephants. I rest my case.


Eric Ode with Spinning Wheel alumna Nancy Stewart, who is no slouch at merriment herself

*THE INTERVIEW*

Saints and Spinners: What exactly do you do for a living?

Eric Ode: I get to write and share music and poetry for children and families. That's the "short 'n sweet" response. I don't like to say that I am a children's performer as that gets everything out of focus. It's easier to think in terms of being a host, creating a time and a place where everyone is singing and laughing and enjoying themselves and each other. It probably still looks like a "performance" from the outside, but it looks much different from my own perspective. If I'm focused on my guests instead of myself I think everyone has a better time. I know I do!

S&S: How long have you been working in your chosen profession?

EO: I released my first album of children's music in 1995. You can probably guess that collection was on cassette. I didn't jump into children's music full time until 2002.

S&S: What prompted you to perform for children?

EO: I've been working with children since high school when I was leading various children's choirs at church. That's also when I started writing music. I graduated from college with my Bachelors in Education, later picking up a Masters in Educational Technology, and taught in the elementary classroom for twelve years, mostly working with fourth graders. By now, it's hard for me to imagine NOT working with kids.

S&S: Why do you continue to do it?

EO: Working with kids is absolutely the best - a privilege and a joy. There's no room for cynicism in children's music, and I really appreciate that. People say that the perfect career is where your God-given gifts and the needs of the world meet. This feels a lot like that.

S&S: Which performers are your inspirations for your work?

EO: That's a terribly difficult question. Many are not performers in the traditional sense. When it comes to song writing, I'm a big fan of Joe Raposo and Jeff Moss, the original Sesame Street songwriting team. Going back to the "host" analogy, Johnny Carson was so successful because he put his guests at ease. He played with them and he let them shine. I've seen Fred Penner live, and he seems to genuinely enjoy what he's doing. You can't fake that.

S&S: What are some of the things you enjoy doing outside of your profession?

EO: I love to travel with my wife and kids. That can mean within the state or well outside. And I certainly enjoy reading - a lot of anything but often biographies of people I admire. I'm in the middle of another book on Walt Disney (I've gone through a couple) as well as another on the Beatles.

S&S: What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?

EO: A few months ago, Meadowbrook Press released my first "solo" book of poetry for kids - Tall Tales of the Wild West (And a Few Short Ones). It's a collection of humorous cowboy poems. What most people don't know is that I am very allergic to horses!

S&S: Was there ever a time when your audience surprised you? What happened?

EO: My audience constantly surprises and encourages me. A few times I've had little boys turn up to a program with their own guitar in hand. One even wore a modified headset microphone similar to the one I use in concert.


Eric Ode in concert

S&S: What’s in heavy rotation on your stereo/iPod lately?

EO: Stevie Wonder, Lyle Lovett, Fountains of Wayne, Corinne Bailey Rae, Counting Crows...

S&S: If you could headline a festival with three other performers, who would they be?

EO: Three? Man, let me just hang out on stage with Paul Williams. Let me sing a bit on backing vocals and provide a little keyboard work. I promise to not get in the way. That guy floors me. Any songwriter who has written for everyone from Elvis to the Dixie Chicks to the Muppets while slipping in as many movie rolls as he has gets my vote as the coolest thing on wheels!

S&S: What’s the song or story that never gets old for you?

During the summer and through October, I provide several shows a day at Remlinger Farms Family Fun Park in Carnation, WA. That means I'm sharing many of the same songs a dozen or more times a week. But as long as I'm writing new material and throwing in a newer song now and again - something fresh that I'm really excited about - it keeps the rest fun as well.

The Pivot Questionnaire is a set of questions popularized on “The Actor’s Studio" and introduced to me through Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. I ask you now:

What is your favorite word?
Yes

What is your least favorite word?
Can't (That's a contraction. Does it still count?)

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Rain, a good cup of coffee, and a little peace and quiet.

What turns you off?
Details.

What is your favorite curse word? (optional)
Holy cats! (It's actually a very interchangeable sort of phrase and works nicely as a more positive interjection.)

What sound or noise do you love?
If I'm at home in the afternoon, I can just make out the sounds of the kids on the elementary school playground a few blocks away. And at night, if the window's open, we can hear the trains in the valley. Those sounds make me smile.

What sound or noise do you hate?
Any noise my car makes but that it's not suppose to make.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
I'd like to run a little coffee shop - someplace with excellent baked goods and a jazz trio in the corner.

What profession would you not like to do?
Taxi driver. Heavy traffic makes me nuts after a while.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
I used to worry that God had a very specific plan for each person and that we either got it right or got it wrong. I was afraid of standing before the throne and hearing God say something like, "Well, Eric, that children's music thing you had going... that was kind of cool. But it's not quite what I had in mind." Anymore I recognize that we're given opportunities every minute of every day, and all we can do is keep trying to do the right thing. I want to hear God say, "Well done," but I'm never going to get there through my own actions. Grace is a mighty good thing!

Spinning Wheel Part IV: Recess Monkey

Daron Henry, Drew Holloway and Jack Forman are three schoolteachers who have done what I always wanted to do with my fellow librarians: form a band. Daron plays drums, Drew plays lead guitar, and Jack plays bass guitar for Recess Monkey, a Beatles/Beach Boys/everything else-inspired band that presents original rock and roll music for children and their lucky grownups. Since Recess Monkey is a local Seattle band, I've seen publicity for their shows around town quite a bit. A month ago, Recess Monkey played at the Madrona Playfield up the street from my house as an extra incentive for the community coming together to clean up the park. (The snacks helped, too.) Before the show, I chatted with Jack for about music, storytelling, and school. About the band, Jack said, "We're friends first and foremost." I got the impression that the guys were a lot of fun to hang out with and they genuinely liked children as well. I was convinced when, later on in the show, Jack led the children in a dance around the park shelter-house during the "Monkey Bars" song.


Jack, Daron and Drew at their Madrona Playfield gig

Recess Monkey have two albums out: Recess Monkey Town, and Aminal House. Their newest album, a two-disc set called Wonderstuff, arrives October 13, with a big CD release show at the Experience Music Project on October 20. You can find their music on the Recess Monkey website, as well as CDBaby, The Land of Nod, and The AVcafe. Want to know what they sound like? Here you go (full songs, not 30 second clips).

And now, as Marti DiBergi from This is Spinal Tap would say, "Enough of my yakkin'--let's boogie!"

Recess Monkey as their alter-egos "The Traveling Wildebeests"


Saints and Spinners: What exactly do you do for a living?

Recess Monkey: Recess Monkey is the stage name for Daron Henry, Drew Holloway and Jack Forman, three Seattle teachers. We all met while teaching together at University Child Development School. Since then, Daron moved to Giddens School, but we’re all still active in the classroom. We’re excited to be part of the grassroots family-rock movement, but also we get to revel in the classes that we teach each day!

S&S: How long have you been working in your chosen professions?

RM: Between us we have 34 years of classroom experience: Daron did 29 years of that (can you tell that’s a joke when typed? We need a rim shot emoticon!).

S&S: What prompted you to perform for children?

RM: We’ve each been involved in lots of adult-based musical projects, but always wished that we could share our music with the kids that we teach. Seriously: it’s so hard to come into class and play songs from your new album, “The Seven Stages of Grief!” (We really did make that album once, in another band, The Waiting Room). Recess Monkey arose out of our desire to make music that kids and their parents would both like- it’s really taken off from that initial seed. Now kids are even helping us write.

S&S: Why do you continue to do it?

RM: It’s really cool to hear our songs being sung by kids that we haven’t met before! We just hope that these songs help kids be inspired by music as much as we are. Also, the last two albums that we’ve made were rooted in summer camps that we ran; camps where kids had an active role in writing and performing parts of each disc. We really like how transparent the process has been- real kids get to see real musicians play real songs on real instruments! In the process, we’ve been inspired to write songs that really reflect what it feels like to be young, not just our memories of it. (Daron’s over 100 years old! Ba-dum-dump).

S&S: Which performers are your inspirations for your work?

RM: We’re huge John Vanderslice fans (we’ve actually made a pact that we’ll give an audio shout-out to him on each album that we make). Of course, The Beatles. We listen to some pretty eclectic stuff and try to get nuances of it all into our songs. The new album, “Wonderstuff” has homages to The Beach Boys, Tom Waits, Spoon, Harry Nilsson, Led Zeppelin and more. Daron is also really influenced by the illusions of Doug Henning, though we haven’t yet figured out how to record this onto a CD.

S&S: What are some of the things you enjoy doing outside of your profession?

RM: Daron likes long walks with his dog KC and doing yoga. Drew is a huge listing-to-music-while-running fan. We think he’s nuts. Jack plays trombone. We’re also members of the same book club but Daron’s usually the only one who reads the book. Drew and Jack are waiting for it to come out on video.

S&S: What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?

Daron: I started college in the genetic engineering program.
Drew: I wrote a book called “Pancake Truck.”
Jack: My real name is Giles.

S&S: Was there ever a time when your audience surprised you? What happened?

RM: We played shows at a bunch of Seattle Libraries this summer. Our first one was at the Greenlake Library: at fifteen minutes before the show, there wasn’t a single person there. Next thing we knew, over 350 people had arrived- there were families literally watching through the windows from outside. We thought, "Wow, this is really taking off!" The room quickly got so hot that Jack had to run outside during “Monkey Bars” just to cool off. We met a lot of really nice people this summer and played a lot of really fun shows. Another big highlight was the Fremont Fair: we had a lot of twenty-somethings rocking out every bit as hard as the kids. So cool to see that some good music knows no age demographic!

S&S: What’s in heavy rotation on your stereo/iPod lately?

Daron: Journey, John Vanderslice, Philip Glass, Arcade Fire
Drew: The Smiths, Neko Case, Guided by Voices
Jack: Belle & Sebastian, Elliott Smith, Raffi

S&S: If you could headline a festival with three other performers, who would they be?

Daron: Dan Zanes
Drew: Fozzie Bear (maybe our opening act?)
Jack: Paul McCartney

S&S: What is the song that never gets old for you?

RM: Funny story. We've been consistently running with the joke about how our song Mercado (off of our first album, Welcome to Monkey Town) is Drew's end-all be-all favorite song in the whole world. Drew likes the song but, in actuality, it's really not his favorite. We have a lot of fun with this on stage- Daron and Jack trying to get the audience to request the song because didn't they know that Drew loves it so much, Drew trying to weasel out of playing it while still pretending to love the song. It's really fun- like a chess game! You never know what's going to happen; I think we're about 50/50 in terms of shows that we play it and those that we don't... but it never gets old!

The Pivot Questionnaire is a set of questions popularized on “The Actor’s Studio" and introduced to me through Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. I asked the band the questions, but they responded, "Recess Monkey’s manager, Mayor Monkey, demanded requested that he be allowed to answer these questions on behalf of the band– which usually means that he’ll answer them however he pleases. He’s known to speak with a rather loud voice- please excuse the yelling."

Plug your ears and cover your eyes. Here's the Pivot Questionnaire of Mayor Monkey:



What is your favorite word?
“OFFSHOREACCOUNTS!” (Is that one word?)

What is your least favorite word?
“RECOUNT!”

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
“FINANCES!”

What turns you off?
“BEING THROWN AROUND AT RECESS MONKEY SHOWS”

What is your favorite curse word? (optional)
“DEBT!”

What sound or noise do you love?
“KA-CHING!”

What sound or noise do you hate?
“ANYTHING DREW, DARON OR JACK SAYS TO ME ABOUT GETTING PAID.”

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
“SANDWICHES!”

What profession would you not like to do?
“BAND MANAGER!”

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
[Editor's note: At this point, I had to turn down this next exchange, as there were three people shouting.]

God: Mayor Monkey, I'd like you to meet Warren Buffet. Warren Buffet, meet the smartest rock and roll manager of all time!

Warren Buffet: Pleased to meet you,Mayor Monkey, I'm Warren Buffet. But you can call me Warry.

Mayor Monkey: WELL HELLO, WARRY, CALL ME MAYMO!

WB: Maymo, What's your thinking about NASDAQ?

MM: I THINK THEY TASTE GREAT, WITH CRACKERS!

WB: Oh Maymo, you slay me!

God: And so ends another episode of PEARLY GATES. Next weeek: Minnie Pearl meets Robert Gates!

[Editor's note: You may now safely remove your earmuffs and sunglasses.]

***
Related links:
*Music review by Children's Music That Rocks
*Two music reviews by Zooglobble: Aminal House and Welcome to Monkey Town

Spinning Wheel Part III: Nancy Stewart

Nancy Stewart leaps for joy

The singer, guitarist and songwriter Nancy Stewart and I had crossed paths a couple of times before we actually met. Nancy performed at a lot of libraries in both the King County Library System (where I worked) and the Seattle Public Library system. Also, we took the same storytelling workshop with Margaret Read MacDonald. In 2005, when I brought my two year old daughter to Nancy’s “Hooray For Washington!” program at our local library up the street, Nancy and I grinned at each other in recognition even though we had never formally met. That summer, my daughter and I became Nancy-groupies and attended five shows in two months. When I found out about Mother Goose Guitar, Nancy’s series of guitar lessons designed for grownups who work with children, I signed up.

Everyone who takes some version of the Mother Goose guitar course (there’s also an “advanced” class that focuses on strumming and finger-picking techniques) can attend her monthly guitar clinics to try out new songs, play old favorites, and get help changing guitar strings if needed. Nancy assures her students that the guitar clinic is a "no strings attached" affair, and that we can come even if we haven't picked up the guitar since the last clinic.

Nancy Stewart is more than a children’s performer. She is a continual source of ideas for teachers and librarians. Her website features a Song of the Month section complete with sheet music, activity ideas, and free mp3 downloads. If you’re looking for holiday music, you can find songs about Ramadan, Eid, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas and other holidays, as well as secular holiday songs that celebrate snow and twinkling lights (not that Seattleites get much of the former). Nancy also offers lots of songs about science: if you want to incorporate musically into your lessons the ways to identify the parts of an insect, the different layers of the earth’s crust, and various nocturnal animals, Nancy is your resource. In addition, Nancy has recorded a number of albums for children, including Oodles of Animals, Sing a Song of Science, Singin' Sidesaddle, and Goodnight, Sleep Tight (which my daughter repeatedly asks for before she goes to bed). If you're interested in purchasing any of Nancy's albums, you can order them from her shop or from independent bookstores like Island Books or All For Kids Books and Music.

Nancy Stewart says, “Being an entertainer is different than being a musician. I was so lucky to have spent nine years as lead guitarist and vocalist with a nationally known show band. I worked for Randy Sparks, creator of the New Christy Minstrels popular group in the 1960’s, operated the band like a business, and we had “rules” to insure consistency and professionalism. We worked at the best nightclubs and showrooms in the United States, which meant the audience was there to hear the music and be entertained, not dance or talk. We honed our skills and learned our craft well. I continue to use all that I learned from that experience; it doesn’t matter who your audience is if you are a true professional. I am very proud of that.”

The Spinning Wheel Interview

Saints and Spinners: What exactly do you do for a living?

Nancy Stewart: I write, perform and produce children’s music

S&S: How long have you been working in your chosen profession?

NS: I’ve been a children’s songwriter and performer for 26 years. Before that, I sang in nightclubs. My first professional job was singing in convalescent homes for a talent agency when I was 16.

S&S: What prompted you to perform for children?

NS: My son found his way out of his crib and got into mischief, while my husband slept! That marked the end of my nightclub career! Like the saying goes, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join em!” As I now like to say, “My children led me into my passion.” [Editor’s note: Nancy Stewart used to perform up to six shows a night.]

S&S: Why do you continue to do it?

NS: I continue to love it, and never run out of new ideas for songs to write or shows to create. Children keep me on my toes, and they appreciate every little thing you do. And adults who work with young children are the best!

S&S: Which performers are your inspirations for your work?

NS: James Taylor, Sting, Bonnie Raitt. This may seem funny, since these are not children’s performers, but music that moves me as a musician is what motivates me, whether I’m writing songs for children or adults... I actually try not to listen to other children’s musicians, because I don’t want to unconsciously copy them.

S&S:What are some of the things you enjoy doing outside of your profession?

NS: Spending time with my grown children, walking my dog, gardening, decorating, sewing

S&S:What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?

NS: When I was about 17, the professional group I sang with recorded the very first Mother Goose See’n Say toy for Mattell Toys. I never dreamed my life would come full circle with Mother Goose!

S&S: Was there ever a time when your audience surprised you? What happened?

NS: Children constantly surprise me. That’s the fun of it! It usually happens with my volunteers from the audience. Last week I had a four-year old come up to help me, and after I had her in place she said, “I have to go to the bathroom!” So I called for her grownup to come and get her, asked for another volunteer, and continued on. You never know what will happen! Children are very “stream of consciousness,” so it constantly makes for entertaining exchanges!


October 2005 concert at Pottery Barn Kids

S&S: What’s in heavy rotation on your stereo/iPod lately?

NS: Josh Groban and a compilation collection of songs called Acoustic Chill. I recently saw Josh Groban in concert, and he was amazing! His concert was professionally run in every way.

S&S: If you could headline a festival with three other performers, who would they be?

NS: My best friend and musical partner, Marylee Sunseri, Dennis and Lorraine of Tickle Tune Typhoon.


MaryLee and Nancy

S&S: What song for you never gets old?

NS: Sticky Sticky Bubblegum! I never get tired of it because children never get tired of it and ALWAYS request. It is the one song that ALWAYS works, no matter what kind of group I’m singing with. It seems almost to have a magic power! Of course it’s not a song I would ever sing without children around, but when you sing a song with children, the song becomes a vehicle that builds an instant relationship with you and them.

The Pivot Questionnaire is a set of questions popularized on “The Actor’s Studio" and introduced to me through Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. I pose the questions here:

What is your favorite word?
Excellent! – It’s just fun to say, and makes you happy to say it.

What is your least favorite word?
Stupid

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Music!

What turns you off?
People being mean to each other or animals

What is your favorite curse word? (optional)
Let’s not even go there!

What sound or noise do you love?
The sound of my family (my children and relatives) at bi-weekly family dinners

What sound or noise do you hate?
Big trucks in the middle of the night

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
I wouldn’t do anything else, especially since I get to do so many different things in my business.

What profession would you not like to do?
Work in a factory doing the same thing over and over. I am SO grateful there are people willing to do that necessary work!

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
Would you like to see you mom and dad again?

Spinning Wheel Part II: Interview with Rob Hampton

Guitar teacher Rob Hampton consulting with some of his students (plus my daughter) before the Spring 2007 Coffee-Shop Jam


This week’s Spinning Wheel features my guitar teacher, Rob Hampton, of Seattle, Washington. Back in September 2004, a friend on my neighborhood listserv recommended a good guitar teacher for children. She said that this guitar teacher had a Masters Degree in Education but had found his true calling teaching guitar.

I thought, “I should talk to this person in case my daughter ever wants to play guitar.” Then, I did a double-take and said, “Wait a minute—I’m the one who wants to take guitar lessons.” I called up Rob, and while I decided that private lessons weren’t what I needed at the moment, Rob was considerate and helpful with resources on how to get started. He said, “I’m impressed that you’re even considering learning to play guitar while you’re raising a young child.”

A year later, after taking group lessons via Nancy Stewart’s Mother Goose Guitar course, I approached Rob again. Rob had to put me on a waiting list (because he’s that good and that much in demand), but soon, I was learning about methods for muscle memory, anchor fingers, chord families and the importance of having fun while practicing. Rob’s site, Heartwood Guitar Instruction, is filled with treasures: over 350 songs with chords and tabs, lessons on how to approach learning songs, videos of his students’ performances and many humorous asides.

You can read a previous interview with Rob on IG BLOG, a guitar site, in which Rob talks about his experiences teaching a seven-year-old AC/DC fan whose picks melt from thrashing it out on the open strings. You won’t want to miss the video of Wild Thing. Rob himself maintains a blog called A Guitar Teacher’s Lesson Notebook. If that weren't enough, twice a year, Rob organizes Coffee Shop Jams, which are low-stress alternatives to traditional music recitals. Family members from different generations often perform together, and many of them dress up for Halloween performances. Of course, Rob has to dress up too:


L-R: (1) Buccaneer (2) Jimi Hendrix (3) Some guitar-smashing dude


****

And now, THE INTERVIEW!


Saints and Spinners: What exactly do you do for a living?

Rob Hampton: I teach private and small group guitar lessons to kids and adults, [from] “Ain’t No Bugs On Me” to “Highway to Hell.”

S & S: How long have you been working in your chosen profession?

RH: I’ve been teaching guitar for four years now. Before that, I taught high school English for three years.

S&S: What prompted you to work with children?

RH: I was a camp counselor for a couple years in college, and served as a “manny” for a three-year-old for a few months, so I knew I liked and was good at working with kids. When I first began teaching, I was open to any and all opportunities to teach, and some of my first students were kids from Seattle Country Day School who worked with me for a half-hour before their parents came to pick them up. At first, I found working with kids a greater challenge, and not as rewarding, as working with adults. But I eventually learned how to help kids be successful on the guitar, like starting by teaching them simple melodies or bass lines on one string. I also changed my expectations. When I realized that a six-year-old will be delighted when they can play the melody to “Mary Had A Little Lamb” (a song I promised myself I wouldn’t teach when I started this career), then I let go of my expectations and just enjoyed their feelings of accomplishment.

S&S: Why do you continue to do it?

RH: I love working with kids for so many reasons. Their willingness to experiment and take musical risks is a nice counterbalance to many of my adult students, who are often concerned with appearing foolish or making mistakes. They require a lot of variety over an hour’s lesson--we might warm up, practice a song, record it, listen to it, learn a new song, sing something, and write a new song all in one session--and I enjoy that variety.

Plus, kids make me laugh. There’s usually this constant stream of banter throughout the lesson.

S&S: Which performers are your inspirations for your work?

RH: My inspirations aren’t children-oriented necessarily--many are just people who are 100% present with their audience, and their love and enthusiasm flows out through their music like a fountain. John Roderick from the Long Winters, Linda Waterfall and many other of my teachers at the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, the band Arcade Fire...

As far as children’s performers go, both you and Gary Paine are dedicated to your craft and have been great resources for new kid’s songs. My favorite kid’s recordings are by Recess Monkey (a fantastic local band), Dan Zanes, and They Might Be Giants. [Editor's note:I just found out from Jack Forman, Recess Monkey's bassist, that Rob plays guitar in one of the songs featured on Recess Monkey's forthcoming album.]

S&S: What are some of the things you enjoy doing outside of your profession?

RH: Rock climbing and exploring the outdoors, skating around Green Lake, fly fishing for trout and salmon....I bought my first house recently, so I’ve been tapping into a domestic streak I never knew I had. Right now there are 12 square yards of compost and bark sitting in my driveway ready to be spread in my back yard. Yikes!

S&S: What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?

Some high school friends and I used to joy ride in a neighbor’s BMW in the wee hours of the morning--my buddy had found the keys by the pool of his condo complex. We always returned it, but still...I could have had a felony conviction at 14! I like to think I pay for the sins of my youth by being a kind and gentle role model as an adult.

S&S: Was there ever a time when your audience surprised you? What happened?

Hmm...kids only surprise me when they stay quiet, or even better, sing along or dance during a song. More often then not, they want to talk about the song as you’re singing it.

S&S: What’s in heavy rotation on your stereo/iPod lately?

Sufjan Stevens’ “C’mon Feel The Illinoise” and “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Friends.

S&S: If you could headline a festival with three other performers, who would they be?

RH: With ANYONE? Let’s see...how about Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, and Neil Young? And we all come out at the end and sing “Hey Jude.” Heaven.

The Pivot Questionnaire is a set of questions popularized on “The Actor’s Studio” and have become a vital part of the interview series of the blog Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. Since 7Imp is my model and inspiration, I pose the questions here:

What is your favorite word?
Hoark


What is your least favorite word?
Who wants to write their least favorite word? Blechh!

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
My week at Puget Sound Guitar Workshop. That, and women in navy uniforms.

What turns you off?
Cruel, impersonal, jargon-infested corporate culture.

What is your favorite curse word?
Imperio! Yes, I’m a closet Harry Potter fanatic.

What sound or noise do you love?
Mourning dove and robin song.

What sound or noise do you hate?
Synth pop. I must have been forced to eat brussel sprouts while listening to The Pet Shop Boys in a former life.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
I’m producing a DVD right now. Being a filmmaker is pretty fun so far.

What profession would you not like to do?
Law, politics, big business--anything that puts kindness on the back burner.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“I suppose you’ll want to check out our vintage guitar vault before selecting your cloud...”

Spinning Wheel, part I: Interview with Eric Herman

Welcome to Spinning Wheel, a new Saints and Spinners interview series. Spinning Wheel features musicians, storytellers, children's librarians and other people who work with children in some performance capacity. I have blatantly borrowed the interview format from Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast including the Pivot questionaire. "But Alkelda, why not just start completely from scratch and be completely original?" you might ask. The answer is threefold: 1) It's hard to improve on something that's already excellent (2) I am a magpie, and prone to "borrowing" shiny objects and (3) Jules and Eisha said I could use their format. If you know of performers who might like to be interviewed (especially those in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States), please let me know.

I'm pleased to kick off this series with Eric Herman, the preeminent performer and songwriter from Richland, Washington. I discovered Eric Herman after I downloaded "Magic Toast" by The Sippy Cups and curiosity prompted me to search the internet for articles about the band. I found Eric's Cool Tunes for Kids blog, and a review of The Sippy Cups' album Electric Storyland. When Eric wrote, I do have to blast them outright for dissing The Wiggles in their press release, claiming that, "We're not in Wiggles land anymore," I had to follow the link to his post in defense of The Wiggles. Even though I'm still not a fan of The Wiggles, I was impressed by how Eric poked holes in my assumptions about what what worked for kids as opposed to what adults think should work for kids.

Eric is the front-man for the Invisible Band. Eric's stage manager is his "nearly-identical twin brother named Zeke," who always dresses like Eric and makes sure the two are never actually viewed together. However, a recent post on Cool Tunes for Kids revealed that the true stage-manager (as well as co-songwriter, stage-managing, video-director, graphic designer and all around superwoman) is Rosann Endres, Eric's wife. But see, I already knew that. The House of Glee got to meet Eric's wife and daughters last July at a local library gig in Shoreline, Washington.


You can check out Eric Herman's website for song samples, album purchases as well as videos for The Elephant Song (an infinitely flexible song that never gets old), Crazy Over Vegetables, and Snow Day. You can even book him for shows. However, don't ask him to do anything remotely dangerous like shave or move your barbecue grill. When it comes to safety precautions, Eric is a wretched role-model for today's youth.

For more biographical information, click here. And now, without further ado, here's Errrrrrrrric Herman (and yes, you do have to say his name exactly like that or he'll correct your pronunciation):

Saints and Spinners: What exactly do you do for a living?

Eric Herman: I create and perform music for kids, elementary school students and families. So in one sense, I provide a means for kids to go completely bonkers in front of their parents or teachers, and not get in trouble for it. And in the case of school assemblies, they even learn some cool things and get motivated to take on the world in the process.

S&S: How long have you been working in your chosen profession?

EH: I played my first show for kids on December 29, 2002, and have been doing this full-time since about September of 2004.

S&S: What prompted you to work with/ perform for children?

If you'd asked me early in 2002 if I'd ever be doing music for kids at all, much less as a career, I'd probably have laughed at the idea. But there seemed to be a convergence of several different people suggesting I do music for kids, all around the same time that year. So I gave it some thought and checked out a lot of the kids' music that was out there and realized, hey, this could be fun stuff to create and perform and I think I could add my own unique take on the genre.

S&S: Why do you continue to do it?

EH: Because it's fun stuff to create and perform and I like to add my own unique take on the genre. And it's not just writing and performing music in the traditional sense, but also writing comedy and creating theatrical and interactive performances, all of which I really enjoy. I'd been working with several different things over the years including singer/songwriter material, progressive and jam rock bands, musical theatre, orchestral arrangements, film scoring, etc. I enjoyed all of that, but never really gave enough focus to one thing, which makes it hard to really break out in any one area. At the time I started doing kids' music, it was really just one more thing to add to the list, but then it kind of took off and also felt like something where I could combine a lot of the different things that I like to do with music and theater. It was also something that really clicked between my wife and I, as far as working and producing together. Roseann had always wanted to work in some capacity with children's entertainment, and though she never pushed me to do so, once I became interested on my own, then it was easy for us to turn that into the family business and focus our energies collectively on that.

S&S: Which performers are your inspirations for your work?

EH: Gosh, too many to name here, that's for sure. Musically, some of the big influences would include The Beatles, Paul Simon, Kate Bush, Frank Zappa, The Tragically Hip and Rush. For comedy, it would be things like Monty Python, Bill Cosby, The Umbilical Brothers and Weird Al. Some of the kids' acts that inspired me early on to do this include Trout Fishing in America, Ralph's World, Justin Roberts, John Lithgow, Sesame Street and Schoolhouse Rock!

S&S: What are some of the things you enjoy doing outside of your profession?

EH: I don't seem to have too much time to do things other than spending time on my work and with my family, and that's okay with me. I love my family and my work, so there's not a great need to do much else. As Frank Zappa once said, "As long as you're absorbed in something, you're not missing anything." I guess that depends on what you're absorbed in, but I think that safely applies in this case. I do like to play computer games and board games to unwind, usually strategy games of some type, and I watch movies and TV shows like Lost and Scrubs. I like to read and write and meditate, but again, time constraints don't always allow for too much of that.

S&S: What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?

EH: I was engaged to my wife two days after we met. We had met online prior to that, so we had actually known each other for several months before meeting in person. And for something like that, you never really know how it might go until you do meet in person. We definitely hit it off, though.

S&S: Was there ever a time when your audience surprised you? What happened?

EH: My audience surprises me all the time. I'm still learning and laughing from things they do and say at almost every show. The other day I asked a few kids to come up to play some highly crafted, precision musical instruments... which were really bicycle horns and bells. When I offered for one little boy to play the Stradivarius bicycle bell, he said, "No, I want to play your guitar!" Sometimes an entire audience will surprise me by being a relatively quiet group which doesn't seem to be as enthusiastic as other crowds, but then afterward they're all lined up to get CDs and meet me and really excited about how the show went. Different towns and venues sometimes have different types of audiences, and I'm learning to not assume that a particular show isn't going over well just because the audience decibel level is a little lower than I'm used to. [Editor's note: check out Eric's post on how Kids Make the Darnedest Audience.]

S&S: What’s in heavy rotation on your stereo/iPod lately?

I'll have to invoke that Zappa quote again, because right now I'm very absorbed in the current mixes of songs for my next album and working on tweaking the lyrics and phrasing and arrangements for that. And otherwise I'm listening to whatever CDs have come in for my blog, of which I still have many to catch up on. Aside from the usual "daddy songs," my girls keep requesting "the lady songs," meaning Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang, so those two CDs get some pretty heavy rotation in the RV.

S&S: If you could headline a festival with three other performers, who would they be?

EH: If I'm headlining, that makes a difference... Obviously, I'd love to do a show with acts like John Lithgow and Trout Fishing, but I wouldn't stand a chance headlining after them. There are countless kids' performers that I'd love to share a bill with... any of them on my blog, for example... I think a great bill of artists that would work well for a theme of mixing kids' music and kid-friendly comedy would be something like Ginger Hendrix, Kenn Nesbitt, John Hadfield and then Eric Herman and the Invisible Band.

S&S:What is the song or story that never gets old for you?

EH:Any time I hear the Nylon's recording of "Lion Sleeps Tonight", it makes me feel really good. I've read Watership Down a few times over the years and always have a great adventure with that. I look forward to reading that again with my girls in a few years when they're old enough.

The Pivot Questionnaire:

What is your favorite word?

Plethora.

What is your least favorite word?

Ooops!

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

Thinking about how incredibly BIG life is can have a good effect on putting things in perspective, which can lead to all sorts of creative, spiritual or emotional moments.

What turns you off?

The little switch at the back of my neck.

What is your favorite curse word? (optional)

Shazbot!

What sound or noise do you love?

My girls laughing when they play together or when we play together.

What sound or noise do you hate?

The scraping of a metal fork or knife on a plate. Auuugghh!

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

I'd love to do more acting and theater again, as well as film/TV scoring, and hope to someday when I have more time (ha!). But as far as something I've never really attempted at all, I think I might have made a good trial lawyer.

What profession would you not like to do?

One of my favorite shows is Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel. Pretty much any of those...

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

I believe in Heaven, though I don't view it as an exclusive club. I imagine we'll all pick up where we left off here, for better or worse, so what God will say at that point might depend where I leave off. I hope he greets me like a good friend or father would and asks about my family and how they're doing. I would be interested to know the answers to some of the great mysteries of life, the universe and everything, but I imagine there'll be plenty of time to get into all of that.