The NY promoter has urged that we add a second Radio City date (February 28th) and I have agreed. I had to think about it for a few days, as it’s a big place and the possibility of playing to a half-filled hall on the second night would be both depressing and bad for my rep. There’s something about the proximity of bodies in a theater that generates excitement and energy. Granted the top balconies could be empty and no one would know, but empty seats scattered here and there in the orchestra and lower balconies generally makes it harder for an audience to achieve release, to let go and enjoy themselves.
Marc Geiger, my booking agent, says that “playing your hometown is like having a pimple on your forehead — everyone can see it.” Very funny, but I’d like to think my show is more enjoyable than a pimple. Both to myself and to the audience. We’re looking into using the Mighty Wurlitzer that rises up out of the side of the stage — the largest in the world that's still in its original location, I believe. Also looking into the Rockettes, but I think they go elsewhere after the Xmas show.
The first show is almost sold out after being on sale for only a couple of weeks and with only one significant ad — so that was an argument in favor of adding the second show. With more ads and posters around town, more people will know about the event; many friends I meet have no idea when I’m playing NYC. “Oh, you’re on tour! When will you be playing New York?” — so if we can reach those folks there is a chance the second show will do OK. Maybe even better than OK. (There is also the small matter of the economic meltdown, but Geiger says there has been less impact on “quality” acts, which I guess he means includes me.)
Anyway, I had an idea for a poster, and maybe an ad, that would include a lot of the snaps taken by fans and journalists of the tour so far. I talked to Danielle about culling the sources for that material and about a design idea — so that is in the works.
The deluxe CD version designed by Sagmeister Inc. is reaching people. BB e-mailed me that she got a copy and that her daughter thinks it’s cool. My daughter thinks the audio chip recording of footsteps that ends with a door squeaking and slamming shut is creepy. There are more songs on the 2nd disk, so I wonder if any of those will get reviewed or blogged about.
