I love to get all 'blingified' and hear people laughing and having a
great time! I have met so many new people this year! I want to thank everyone who bought CDS from me and
supported me in my music career. Keep the gigs comin, and I'll keep
releasing albums! 

Time to get started on a new album which will be out later this year!

The place was jam packed with people who were shopping, eating food samples, and relaxing while I entertained them with holiday favorites from my new Christmas with Holly CD. My Christmas album was once again a hot seller!

The most interesting thing that went down was a couple from Madison, SD accidentally stumbled upon Coborn’s, because they had a flat tire. The woman bought all three of my albums and even knew my old fifth-grade teacher. What a great gig!

Then when I was done, we packed up and it was on to my next gig, which was at Kelly’s Koffee for the Comfort Keepers Open House. I definitely had my groove on, because this gig was also packed! People were chatting it up with their friends, enjoying appetizers, and of course, my music to smooth out the evening. People bought CDs to relish the memory of the night. I saw two of my teachers I had in elementary school, and a friend I’ve known since high school showed up to act as my personal assistant. Sweet!

My holiday season is really heating up! Having back to back gigs definitely tested my organizational skills, but I thoroughly enjoyed every minute! 

Vendors sold a variety of stuff for the holidays ranging from things to decorate your home, toys, books, mittens, baked goods, and the list goes on. It was pretty sweet, because I was the only musician there. I promoted my new Christmas with Holly CD along with my other 2 albums. Overall, the day was very profitable. Count me in for next year! 

The gig was an intimate setting with both longtime fans and also newbies who enjoyed food, bling bling from The Clothier by Dawn, and of course great music. I was honored that a young boy who is taking piano lessons came to my gig and told me I was his inspiration. The audience asked me questions how each song was created from my three albums.

My swimming and Facebook buddies came to my gig, as did a high school friend, who was acting as my personal assistant. I would love to have one full time. Then the editor from the Pipestone Star newspaper stopped in and took pictures of me for the article on Kelly’s Koffee as a venue for aspiring musicians. All of this excitement made my gig fun! Kelly’s Koffee is a perfect venue for musicians to showcase their talent.  I can’t wait to come back and play! 

We chilled at home for a couple hours, and then it was off to the Atlas Fundraiser. This was a gala event which included an art auction where pottery and paintings sold for thousands of dollars at a crack, all for a good cause. There were other musicians too.  A cellist and an opera singer performed the song "Habernaro" from the opera Carmen. Wow, What a voice. The acoustic guitar and pop singer duo sang a song called “Vincent” themed after the Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Starry Night painting, which was also the theme of the event. I played both as an entertainer and for music needed to chill while people were bidding on the art for the silent auction and finishing their fancy deserts. I played 2 songs from each album including my arrangements of I’ll Be Home for Christmas and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. The crowd told me they were impressed both with the sound of the music box intro of I’ll Be Home for Christmas and me playing Carol of the Bells and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen at the same time during the interludes.

After the fundraiser I went back home and got all cleaned up, went to bed for maybe 4 hours, then at 5 in the morning got back up and was on my way to a day at the Sioux Falls Sidewalk Art Festival. I played piano and sold CDs from 8 in the morning until 5 at night. And of course, Isaiah, the boy next door who sold jewelry was my booth neighbor for the third year in a row. I told him I wore the bracelet he gave me when I played at my previous gig, the fancy fundraiser I mentioned above.  He complimented me on how beautiful my music is, and how it helps his sales. And out of the blue, he gives me a necklace to match the bracelet. So to make a long story short, the boy next door really stepped it up. Sweet!

After the festival was over we went out to dinner at Huhot Mongolian Grill, one of my favorite restaurants.  Afterwards, I went home, took a shower, and fell into bed.  I was beat.  All three gigs were positive and rewarding, and this whirlwind of a weekend paid off in more ways than one.