SEPTEMBER 2011: Scott Wilson At Lafayette Grill - A Mini Review

I was at the "Grill" recently and enjoyed how Scott Wilson had his band sitting off the stage at his new venue, Lafayette Grill, thus re-creating his comfy home style shows that I've been used to dancing in for the past 10 years or more. It always felt like we were dancing at a family event and while Lafayette has always been known for its big stage and crowds of people, Scott Wilson was able to make his circle of musicians into an intimate gathering with a dancer joyously celebrating in the middle of it all.  I was endlessly happy to see that while Lafayette is a large venue, Scott was still able to make it more intimate than ever and drawing everyone into his circle.  Dino Bakakos, owner of Lafayette Grill, even remarked that he liked the way he managed his stage setting to draw everybody in. He was visably very impressed.

A NYC Note on Dance Events

I've noticed more and more over the years how much people love to say that we're going to such and such an event and never go. Then if you go to the event, sometimes there's barely anyone there. Why? And do you think they will be there for you tomorrow?

In thinking this over I've come to the conclusion that while we all have good intentions of coming to an event, we fail to deliver by thinking we will go the next time, but think about this. If we continue to think we will go to their next show, they may have to stop giving shows, and this applies to all kinds of shows like music, dance, theater and the arts.  If they are not well attended, they are not well supported either and they will be cancelled.   So please, if you promise to come out to see a musician, dancer or teacher, please give it your best shot to come out into the beautiful world of music, dance, art and theater and support them.  Looking at an empty room is very discouraging for artists of all kinds and they are simply wonderful events out there that are not well attended and that are so well-deserving. You would get so much more cultural diversity for you and your family by watching a live band, community play or student show than from sittng in your living room watching TV or playing a computer game or even listening to music that is made by a computer and not real musicians.  Let's get back to basics. Put down your cell phone and ipad. The world is so much more fun! "Life is not a dress rehearsal" so go live IN it and not AT it!