[HANASHIR:6697] Re: CAJE

[Robbi Sherwin <sherwin...>]

Ditto to all the above so far, but since I'm not a "me, too!" type of
respondent, I'll add my personal 2cents plain....(anyone out there still
old enough to remember what that means?)

The response and support that I got from my fellow listmembers (and our
list owner!) was pretty overwhelming for me.  Actually, the whole thing was
pretty overwhelming.  This was my 3rd CAJE, but the  first  with my own
showcase - a milestone in my mind. Not only did I get to hang with my
"heros" (I'll try not to get too farklempt here...) but they all made us
feel like family.  Yes, there were some tech glitches, too many speeches,
blah, blah, blah, but over all, I was very happy with the 80 women (and 4
men!)  who came out for the Women's minyon I did the music for on Shabbat,
the 100 who came to the Shabbat songsession that night, the the 100 others
who came to the kickass kumsitz Noah Budin and I led, and whoever came to
my concert.  (It was dark in the audience - I couldn't see.)   I also sang
with Yom Hadash and Steve Brodsky for the Teen Experience and directed Sam
Glaser's choral musical, Kol Bamidbar, with the Bogrim (Middle School
program).

What was the most important thing I felt I did? Aside from working with the
kids, I had the opportunity to work, hang, sing & schmooze with my fellow
musicians, whether featured on a CAJE stage or not.   I was meshuggeneh
running around to see as many people as I could, which is one of the many
reasons I loved the Sounds Write showcase and the AZM competition (American
Zionist Movement songwriting contest) - 20 acts - ALL IN ONE PLACE!

The sense of comraderie and lack of competion was incredible - and due very
much to Judy Caplan-Ginsburgh.  Her Performers Roundtable was great, as
always, and we were able meet and greet each other and to truly share ideas
and resources.   I also learned a very important lesson - some of the
copious advice offered from Steve Dropkin:  next year, I must pace myself.
By the time I had my show at 11:30 on Monday night (which was the first
night of the multiple venues), I barely had the juice to get through my set
vocally, and today I couldn't sing a note if I tried.  I already have two
gigs scheduled in the Denver area after CAJE 26 next year (which is in
wonderful Ft. Collins, Colorado), so I need to figure out how to be
careful.  Any advice?  Also, I can count the hours of sleep I got per night
on less than one hand.

So, all in all (and I've been home 3 hours...) I'm pretty thrilled with
this years' experience.  Now, I need to save up for my first Hava Nashira
next year.........

An exhausted, but elated
Robbi Sherwin
Austin, TX



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