Here are a few things I learned from playing the writer’s night at Douglas Corner Cafe Wednesday night:

1. Never sing depressing songs, even if they’re your “best ones”. You wouldn’t believe how many people sing slow, sad, cut-my-veins-so-I-can-die-bleeding songs.  Play something happy and fun.  My new friend, Joy Lewis, did this brilliantly.  As I told my wife, she has a potty-mouth, but her songs were both funny and fun – and kept us all laughing and thoroughly entertained.  Joy: why don’t you have recordings!?!?
2. Visual songwriting is a good thing. I read a songwriting book a few years ago.  I wasn’t sure what I’d learn from it, but I thought I’d see what they had to say.  The writer explained in one section, that writing in pictures captures people while the song is being performed and keeps them interested.  This is so true.  The song about with the line “I shoulda built a bar in the back of her truck, because she drove me to drinking” illustrated it brilliantly and had me picturing Cheers in the back of an old Chevy.
3. Drink something while you’re listening to the other artists. This one applies to my performance.  For those who don’t know, I have an insane range.  I’m not bragging, I can just just sing high notes easily.  After all the depressing songs, I decided that I should play “Don’t Leave Me Sunshine”, since it was happy and fun.  It’s also the highest thing I sing.  If you don’t have anything to drink for two hours, your throat gets really dry and your high notes come out like you’ve been hoarse for a week.  So drink something!
4. Tip your waitress, even if you don’t get anything. I know I sound like a lounge singer, but it’s true.  Take care of the staff and they take care of you.
5. Never make cat calls while the drunk guy is on stage. Yes, folks, we got a strip tease.  No, it wasn’t Allison Emry, the cute 19-year-old songwriter, but the 40-something, apparently-toasted host of the show.  He did a duet with one of the writer’s and the aforementioned Allsion gave him cat calls.  Not good.  So he proceeds to loosen his tie.  Then unbuttons his shirt.  Then he called Allison on stage and dirty danced.  Thankfully, his wife’s presence in the back of the room prevented him from going Full Monty (but obviously not dirty dancing…).  It was the last thing I saw, as I left shortly after.  At least he had a good tan and I got a good story.
6. I need to practice. The real highlight of the evening was Casey Frasier.  He’s in his early twenties and has already been a staff writer here in Nashville.  Talk about feeling outclassed.  Then he sang.  You could tell from the first verse of his first song that he’s a pro and was clearly better than everyone there.  After that, I just wanted to go home, locked myself in our guest room and play until my fingers bleed and my throat can’t produce a sound.  Then take a five minute break and do it again.