Tuning up, talent shows and (errant) tee shots
I was a fairly busy guy last weekend – and that’s putting it mildly – what with my debut solo acoustic performance at the Canasawacta Country Club on Friday; judging the Norwich Theater Company’s first-ever Talent Show on Saturday and Sunday’s Out of the Darkness Overnight captain and crew, 18-hole golf tournament.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m certainly not complaining, as all three events were a lot of fun, two were in support of great causes and – ultimately – I had an opportunity to enjoy a couple of my favorite pastimes – namely guitar (or music in general) and golf.
Friday’s acoustic set was, quite simply, a complete blast. When I first booked this series of performances at the country club, I’ll admit I was more than a little nervous. Not from any lack of confidence in my musical skills – I’ve played hundreds of acoustic gigs over the last twenty years – but because I’ve always found it nerve-wracking when performing “dinner music.”
You know, the kind where people can barely hear you and – if they can – they do their best to glare you right off the stage.
Luckily for me, the crowd was both attentive and enthusiastic with its praise, and I think the country club has found a new form of entertainment for its Friday night dinner crowd. Needless to say, I’m glad I got to be a part of it and I’m excited to go it again (hopefully out on the deck if the weather cooperates).
As for the Norwich Theater Company’s Talent Show, let’s just say I’d been looking forward to the event for a couple of weeks. Not only was I joined by a “celebrity” panel of judges – Mayor Joe Maiurano, the Council of the Arts’ Joyce Zummo and the Norwich Theater Company’s Michael McCollough – I was honestly excited to see what kind of talent was going to show up.
Now I don’t know if everyone out there is aware of it, but we’ve got some seriously talented individuals here in Chenango County. From age six to age sixty, Saturday’s Talent Show was proof of that, as approximately 20 area singers, dancers and guitarists – not to mention a magician and a comedian – took to the stage for a chance at some neat prizes and even a little spending money.
It was Sunday’s golf tournament that really capped-off a nearly perfect weekend, however. The Out of the Darkness Overnight captain and crew event had been an on-again, off-again decision for me all week, although I was finally convinced to join in (thank you, Ms. Stagnaro). And while I’m not going to go into too many details on the actual tournament – I’ll leave that to Melissa in her column tomorrow – I couldn’t resist relating what turned out to be an absolutely marvelous day of golf.
For starters, I had one humdinger of a team, even if we were thrown together at the last minute – my cousin Erin, Mary Branham and Dan Burke.
I’ve always been a mediocre golfer at best – as anyone who’s ever been out on the course with me can tell you – but when our hastily-assembled group teed-off on Sunday, I had no idea we were going to end up shooting a bogey-free round, five under par.
Put it this way, I’ve never, ever in my life – no matter the talent level of the golfers I’ve surrounded myself with – shot a bogey free round of captain and crew golf. Never. Needless to say, all four of us contributed to our extremely successful outing, although Dan and Mary were – nine times out of ten – our “ringers” for the day.
That’s not to say I didn’t hold my own a time or two, however, and I finished out the day with a nice bunker shot and lengthy putt that helped our team avoid what would have been our only bogey on our last hole.
In golf, as in life, sometimes all you need is a little luck.
In the end, it really was a near-perfect weekend, and I’d just like to thank all those who made it so – Erin, Mary, Dan, Melissa Stagnaro and Maureen Hurley (thanks so much for the donation); Mayor Joe, Joyce (what’s your name again?), Michael, Carolyn McMaster, Patti Carnrike and all the wonderfully talented performers at the Norwich Theater Company’s Talent Show and the entire crew at the Canasawacta Country Club for making Friday night’s performance such a fantastic experience.
And people say there’s nothing to do around here.
Follow me on Twitter ... @evesunbrian.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m certainly not complaining, as all three events were a lot of fun, two were in support of great causes and – ultimately – I had an opportunity to enjoy a couple of my favorite pastimes – namely guitar (or music in general) and golf.
Friday’s acoustic set was, quite simply, a complete blast. When I first booked this series of performances at the country club, I’ll admit I was more than a little nervous. Not from any lack of confidence in my musical skills – I’ve played hundreds of acoustic gigs over the last twenty years – but because I’ve always found it nerve-wracking when performing “dinner music.”
You know, the kind where people can barely hear you and – if they can – they do their best to glare you right off the stage.
Luckily for me, the crowd was both attentive and enthusiastic with its praise, and I think the country club has found a new form of entertainment for its Friday night dinner crowd. Needless to say, I’m glad I got to be a part of it and I’m excited to go it again (hopefully out on the deck if the weather cooperates).
As for the Norwich Theater Company’s Talent Show, let’s just say I’d been looking forward to the event for a couple of weeks. Not only was I joined by a “celebrity” panel of judges – Mayor Joe Maiurano, the Council of the Arts’ Joyce Zummo and the Norwich Theater Company’s Michael McCollough – I was honestly excited to see what kind of talent was going to show up.
Now I don’t know if everyone out there is aware of it, but we’ve got some seriously talented individuals here in Chenango County. From age six to age sixty, Saturday’s Talent Show was proof of that, as approximately 20 area singers, dancers and guitarists – not to mention a magician and a comedian – took to the stage for a chance at some neat prizes and even a little spending money.
It was Sunday’s golf tournament that really capped-off a nearly perfect weekend, however. The Out of the Darkness Overnight captain and crew event had been an on-again, off-again decision for me all week, although I was finally convinced to join in (thank you, Ms. Stagnaro). And while I’m not going to go into too many details on the actual tournament – I’ll leave that to Melissa in her column tomorrow – I couldn’t resist relating what turned out to be an absolutely marvelous day of golf.
For starters, I had one humdinger of a team, even if we were thrown together at the last minute – my cousin Erin, Mary Branham and Dan Burke.
I’ve always been a mediocre golfer at best – as anyone who’s ever been out on the course with me can tell you – but when our hastily-assembled group teed-off on Sunday, I had no idea we were going to end up shooting a bogey-free round, five under par.
Put it this way, I’ve never, ever in my life – no matter the talent level of the golfers I’ve surrounded myself with – shot a bogey free round of captain and crew golf. Never. Needless to say, all four of us contributed to our extremely successful outing, although Dan and Mary were – nine times out of ten – our “ringers” for the day.
That’s not to say I didn’t hold my own a time or two, however, and I finished out the day with a nice bunker shot and lengthy putt that helped our team avoid what would have been our only bogey on our last hole.
In golf, as in life, sometimes all you need is a little luck.
In the end, it really was a near-perfect weekend, and I’d just like to thank all those who made it so – Erin, Mary, Dan, Melissa Stagnaro and Maureen Hurley (thanks so much for the donation); Mayor Joe, Joyce (what’s your name again?), Michael, Carolyn McMaster, Patti Carnrike and all the wonderfully talented performers at the Norwich Theater Company’s Talent Show and the entire crew at the Canasawacta Country Club for making Friday night’s performance such a fantastic experience.
And people say there’s nothing to do around here.
Follow me on Twitter ... @evesunbrian.
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