Hakodate Hello

Back in January 1988 I had a chance to go to Japan on a gig, or so I thought. At the time I was in Los Angeles, looking to get out of a trio gig I’d started to hate. My personal life, finances, and a lot of other things sucked at the time, and I was open to the idea of a road gig.

I’d given a promo tape to a booking agent, he had talked promisingly about a Japan gig.

Then he talked a little less promisingly about it, seemed to be procrastinating. As much as I wanted the Japan gig, another gig (9 months -- entire 1988 season with a circus) was offered to me, and I had to take it soon or not take it at all. The circus gig, with its wacky flavor and interesting itinerary, was almost as appealing to me as the Japan possibility. The money was good, I was way behind on my bills. I finally grabbed the circus gig after holding off until the last minute.

A year later, I’d done the 9-month circus gig, relocated to New York, was about to start working at ASCAP. Over the years I thought about the Japan gig. Would the guy have come up with the gig if I’d waited a little longer? One of those woulda-coulda-shoulda things. Well I think this angst will dissolve as I look out on the town of Hakodate tomorrow. It’ll be nice to get that monkey off my back.

This a weird way to make a first entry on Gianni’s blog. But yesterday the “Swaggette Gazette” became “SHIP NOTES” -- more directed at people in general. So Gianni you’re now the keeper of the Swaggette blog.

Ah the Jolly Swagman. Who woulda thought the gig was so difficult to replace? I really tried to replace that gig. Even on a bad night we’d have 20+ people, on a good night it was 40+.

But the friendships remain, and one would think that a user-friendly vehicle like a blog could help us all hook up. So in that spirit I will say HI to Marianne and Gianni and whoever else is tuning in. Gianni -- I think people will have to be told more than once about the blog. Get in their face. Once they get in the swing of it, it should be a lot of fun.