An Honor

Recently I performed at the University of Toledo. I was invited by a young lady who (while in high school) learned about my work from her African Studies teacher. Not only was this the first class of its kind at her school, but I was the first Spoken Word artist she had heard of.

Its always an honor when someone approaches you after a performance or even in the street to let you know that you are hot, dope, bloody brilliant or anything else that lets you know they appreciate your work. Whats even better, is when you find out that your work has been studied and used for lessons in creative writing as a part of an instructors course work!

When I first received the phone call about the show I didn't really know how to feel. What do you say to a person that holds you in such high esteem? What do you say when someone tells you that you have helped them get through tough times in their life? Thank you doesn't seem to be enough.

It ceases to amaze me when I'm told that my work did something for someone. I always think, "wow, you're really listening to me?" For some reason I always feel like I'm just Ed, just a brother, just a friend, cousin, son, writer. I have always believed in putting my best foot forward in all that I do. I have always believed that I should be responsible for what I say to people, whether on stage or in regular conversation I am mindful of I you say because I never know how it may affect a person.

Years later, my phone rings, 4 weeks after that, she is standing on stage introducing me to her classmates, telling them how she never thought she would ever meet me, much less bring me to her school to perform. WOW

You would think that being an artist from Flint Michigan I would frequent the open mics and spoken word venues of Detroit more often. Well the fact is I don't. I am out of state for most of my shows. Rarely am I ever in Detroit to perform or take in the craft the way it’s done in Motown, but after the way my show went last night that MUST change!

They Say restaurant is home to The Main Course open mic, hosted by Marsha J. Carter. I must say, the vibe when I walked in was marvelous! It feels good to walk into a well hosted venue. Knowing that the people have been groomed and your platform has already been set makes it easy to concentrate on connecting with the audience.

My intro was pretty dope! Marsha told a story about her and I performing at a venue together some time ago (the name of the place still slips my mind), I had not thought or even remembered I performed there! It made me think about how much of my poetic history is linked to Detroit (that's for another day, another blog). Walking to the stage I felt the energy in the room change. It wasn't the typical, "I have been waiting to see him perform" vibe. It was a rare, but always welcome, "who is he and what is he going to do." I felt like a stranger in my own back yard and it was GREAT! There is nothing I love more than the element of surprise when dealing with an anxious crowd of people. All I have to do is read the vibe of the room and NOT BLOW IT. Lights. . .Camera. . .ACTION!

The right piece at the right time is a powerful thing. It's like the wind hitting your sails head on, all you have to do is ride the wave and steer the boat in the direction you want it to go.

I felt nothing but acceptance the entire night. Not only were they hungry for it, they were excited, energetic and more than responsive! They made me feel as if they had been waiting all year to see me perform, like I was saying all the right things at the right time to the right people! It’s hard to describe, but it feels wonderful.

Thank You Detroit City, I am sorry I stayed away for so long

Future

ReGenesis

An infinite number of things run through my head before stepping on stage. Things like, me wondering what pieces to perform or what piece to start off with. I check the tone of the room and wonder how will I be received... The list goes on. If I don't feel like performing, I don't. It's a rule I hope I never have to break. Going into Cincinnati this past week it had been over a month since my last performance. I had not held a microphone or even thought of putting on any type of show prior to. I didn't want to get back on stage until I felt I was ready.

During my "layoff," I got a chance relax and do some writing, thinking about the tone of my work and where I want to take it. After thinking about it all, I felt recharged. I was ready to be the spark on stage someone may need to see in order to make their evening or week go by a little bit smoother.

Upon showing up at the MIXX on Thursday, everything about the show felt different. I had to perform on a different stage then past acts. The microphone stand was "missing" and my performance time was earlier than normal. This time when I took the stage I didn't have a thought in my mind other than, "I'm going to be holding the mic my whole set, this sucks!" It didn't! The energy I felt on stage was amazing! I have never felt so good performing and moving around with the mic in my hand. Plenty of times I've had shows where I felt like every word fell from my lips with perfection, but THIS, this was nothing like before.

I almost felt as if I was putting on a show for myself. Like, God was reminding me that HE blessed me with this gift to be a blessing to others. It was as if HE wanted to show ME how HE gets down! The rush was great! I didn't even feel that my FIRST time on stage! OR my first time in front of THOUSANDS of people! I feel hungry all over again. Not my normally determined and strong willed self, but HUNGRY, like I have something to prove not just to myself, but to everyone who has supported me from day one.

This is the recharge, and is only the beginning...

Stay tuned!

Passion

This week I will be stepping on the stage to perform for the first time in over a month. The past four weeks off have indeed been good for me. I think a recharge, refocus was in order for my writing and performing to grow.

Cincinnati will be the back drop for what feels like a "new beginning" of sorts. I have been writing new material, practicing old poems for new delivery and the whole nine. I'm actually interested to se ow this goes

Stay tuned. . .

Clear skies and ocean waves

It's amazing how beautiful the beach is at night when no one is around. You can break out a nice chair or blanket, look up into he heavens and listen to the sound of the ocean meeting the land.

It's rare we get moments to ourselves to think. Moments where we can wonder, ponder or think about nothing at all. Tonight I found that if you stare up into the stars long enough you almost feel as if you are looking down into an abyss. Pretty cool

Dreams

What is it about some people that makes them dream? Chasing what they want instead of following suit?

During some much needed down time out here in the beautiful Washington DC area, I have been thinking about my dreams and things I want to accomplish. Sometimes when my back is really against the wall it makes me question if I'm on the right path, or maybe I should consider being something else. Just when I get down on myself for not being more "successful", someone steps in and reminds me that things wont always be easy.

Who helps to motivate you when you need it?

Adventures in LA LA Land!!

What can I say about LA that you haven't already seen on TV?! It's a great terrible beautiful ugly city! There's everything to get into and most of it is trouble! lol

Upon arriving at LAX my first mission was quite clear. . .Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles! That craving was quickly put on pause as I drove past a Wing Stop!! Those wings are the bizness!

So I hook up with my frat brother and hit a backyard BBQ that turns into an old school battle dance contest which turned into a drunken soul train line that turned into what seemed to be a TOO serious Micheal Jackson dance move contest. Yes folks, Micheal Jackson's best moves were performed by a 6 foot woman in booty shorts. . .that is all.

It was great kicking it in LA and Hollywood. I met Rufio from Peter Pan! The leader of the lost boys. lol Between politricking with suites and "up coming artists" I had a ball. Ate on sunset blvd, road through the hills, walked through Long Beach and slid out to a few mics in the process.

PS

Do not feed the birds

and now, SLEEP zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz