Article for Karaoke Magazine
Gotta Dance, Gotta Dance…..
Broadway rhythm it’s got me, everybody DANCE….For those in the know, this is a line from one of the greatest movie musicals of all time, “Singing in the Rain”…Now I know that karaoke is all about singing, but some of my favorite memories from running karaoke shows is of the DANCING… My first big show was at the Clarion Hotel in Carson, which has had more names than Liz Taylor…Some locations have a hard time due to factors beyond their control. This one is tucked next to the Carson City Hall and basically serves the businesses in the area. Back in the early ‘90’s, the place was really jumping. We had a big computer company (that went bust a few years ago) in the building next door, as well as a local business bank. Melinda Briggs was the president of that bank, and she loved to sing. She would drag her corporate banking clients to the karaoke show as well as a handful of her employees…
The hotel actually installed a dance floor in the middle of the bar, and we would take to it to do the popular dances of the era. Who remembers the Macarena?…or the Electric Slide? These were our favorites, and really added to the variety of the show. We also sang many duets, often as teams.. Impromptu contests were common, with a pitcher of beer as the big prize. It was such a great group of people, a real family. Melinda is gone now, but I will never forget her efforts at supporting me and the show. She would actually walk around the bar, chatting with customers, asking how they liked the show. If they responded positively, she would ask them to contribute (tip) and if they didn’t do it immediately, she would pick up the change on the bar and put it into the tip jar FOR THEM. We did lots of group songs as well, with all the regulars crowding onto our little platform stage to join in harmony parts. We had our favorite songs …”California Dreamin’” and “You Were on my Mind”…Melinda would yell “Everybody DANCE” in the instrumental breaks and we would all just wiggle and twist..SUCH FUN…
That was more than 18 years ago. It hardly seems possible that so many years have passed since I started hosting karaoke shows. I am still singing and dancing but mostly on the stage of the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro. Not to mention continuing my work with the Poppins Project. This year things are really happening..I am now part of a 501C non-profit organization, the Relevant Stage Theatre company, and I will be heading the community outreach program for senior citizens. Our first event brought over 500 senior citizens to the Warner Grand Theatre for a matinee of “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change”.
In addition to my association with the theatre, I am now part of People’s Yoga, Health & Dance and we are holding a GRAND OPENING dance party on April 24th..This is a wonderful new venue, with a huge dance floor, mirrored walls and and art gallery adjacent.I have been doing tarot card readings for the ARTWALK on 1st Thursday at this location for a couple of months, and it’s really a great space..We are located at 365 W.6th St, San Pedro.It’s possible that we will be hosting karaoke parties in this space during the coming months. I have hosted shows in non-alcohol environments in the past, and they are really fun with none of the accompanying problems of drunken patrons. I look forward to seeing old friends in a new location very soon. Again, anyone interested in contacting me can send mail to Poppins Project, PO Box 422, Bellflower, CA 90707..
There is no doubt in my mind that things are getting better all the time…Keep the faith and
KEEP ON SINGING….
