12.01.08 Ghost Of Christmas Past

A few years back, my former labelmates and I (and a couple guests) recorded a Christmas CD called Gloria.  Then we went on tour and cleverly named it...Gloria.  I hated it.  I loved hanging out with my friends and fellow singer type people and the crew guys but I hated the concept of me on a Christmas tour.  Still do.

You see, I fool people for a living.  I fool people into thinking I can play the piano and the guitar and that I can sing.  And I can do those thing OK, if I’m singing and playing MY music.  But ask me to remember the words to a bunch of songs I didn’t write - I don’t care if every kid in the the world knows them - and I’m a nervous wreck.  Bonus: Take away my guitar or piano, put me in a suit - yes, I said a suit - and make me walk the stage while I sing and you’ll see me at my most awkward and unhappy.  What on earth am I supposed to do with my hands???

Another downside to Christmas tours is the ticket price.  People pay money to see these shows.  Now, I’m used to playing for free so if I screw up I can wittily turn to the crowd and say something like “Well, you get what you pay for, folks” and they laugh and I move on without a second thought.  But there’s nothing amusing about charging people $15 to hear you screw up O Come All Ye Faithful.  Nothing.  I know.  I’ve done it.  A few times.

And then there’s missing my kids’ programs at school and church, and not seeing the first snow flakes to it my front yard, not being home for the entire month of December.

So, understandably, I said no more Christmas tours.  Nossir.  I’m out.  I don’t need the gigs. I don’t need the money.  I’m staying put in December from now on.

And then Brian called a few months ago and made me an offer.  He asked me to go on tour with Travis and Cindy.  Travis would headline and we’d do mostly his Christmas music.  Cindy and I would sing a few songs each.  We’d be out on weekends and home all week.

I don’t know many Christmas songs, I explained.  “I don’t want you for your singing,” he said. (Gee, thanks) “I’m bringing you along to talk about Compassion.” (That’s better.)

Well, since he put it that way…

I’m on tour this Christmas. I’m singing in a suit. And I will screw up. It will not be pretty or comfortable. But hundreds of kids will be released from poverty.  And that’s pretty worth it.

Check out the tour page to see where we’ll be playing this month.  While you do that, I’ve got some stuff to practice and lyrics to memorize before rehearsal tomorrow.