Stories
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Story # 003: A Colorful Gig in North Beach

After finishing barely) student teaching and graduating from San Francisco State University, I continued working at Cost Plus Imports (now Cost Plus World Markets) as a stock clerk for about three more years. For a budding songwriter, this worked out pretty well, since I usually worked only four days or less per week, leaving much time to contemplate, write and record. Besides, Cost Plus was a good place to meet people.

One day, I somehow got into a conversation with a woman looking at some rugs and learned that she was an artist and a color consultant. Upon my sharing that I wrote music, she expressed an interest to hear some of my material. At a later date, I visited her home and played a tape for her. She said my music was purple (something along the lines that it had a majestic quality to it). I was flattered. I was even more flattered when she (Gloria) called me one day and asked if I would perform at the opening night of her very first show in a gallery in North Beach. This wouldn't be a paying gig, but it would be a favor to her. I agreed, even though I wasn't sure what songs I would play. What made matters worse was that as the date approached I came down with a bad cold. I felt lousy and couldn't sing normally. When the day arrived, Gloria called me to confirm, and when I heard how excited she was I couldn't back out of it. So I grabbed my guitar, my acoustic guitar pickup and a small amplifier I was borrowing and headed for North Beach. Naturally, finding a parking space was not easy. I ended up parking by Coit Tower and had to carry my equipment several blocks to the gallery, which was near Washington Square. By the time I got there, I was sweating up a storm, but the exercise somehow made me feel a bit better. 

Upon arriving, Gloria met me and introduced me to two Chinese folk musicians who she had also invited to perform. They were performing first, and they were excellent musicians. They also only provided background (instrumental) music while the guests focused on the paintings. This was going to be a tough act to follow, and I was a bit intimidated. All the songs I had played for Gloria had singing, but I did not want to draw attention to myself--plus my singing wouldn't have been the best due to my cold, anyway. But as a guitarist, I was very limited and not very polished. However, it just so happens that I had been working some finger-picking instrumental ideas so that's what I played. Amazingly, I played about as well as I ever did, with no noticeable mistakes. After a short, mellow and hopefully inconspicuous set, I put my guitar into its case, turned the background music duties back to the Chinese folk musicians and enjoyed the paintings.

I later spoke with Gloria, and she was very thankful that I had contributed to the success of her opening night.