Tonight the final concert in Spencer. David was fielding questions from the audience. He said that they have played in places from famous, big places to school classrooms and that it's all the same because what it is really about is people touching people. That is what it is. That is what this week has been about. No wonder it is so good.
David read some of his poetry later at a gathering. I was stunned and I really will never be the same. My gratitude to Daniel and David continues to grow with all they have given us.
Tomorrow on to Marshalltown. Half done.
Ron
April 28, 2007
Day 6 on the Spot Tour--Spencer
I just went downtown to get a cup of great coffee from Micah. He is new to town, hooked up with a long time resident, and opened a coffee shop. You can just tell he is the kind of barista that really cares about his product and his art. Everything is done methodically and precisely. The brewed coffee is French press. Amazing. So I went to pay and he said that there was a paid running tab for us from someone in town. What?! How many ways can you say nice? I hope whoever it is will read this and hear my thanks.
But on to Spot. After awhile the superlatives start to become superfluous. You have to experience David and Daniel to really understand the magic and depth of what they do. Friday's activities all were amazing. A jammed classroom at Johnson School of lower grades were once again taken on David's journey. David met with the teachers the day before to talk about the special needs kids in the group and what to expect for these special kids. David's background in music therapy and working with kids once again made the event very special for all.
A teacher workshop later in the day was so good. These 20-some teachers jumped right in to the activity. I was thinking how you take 20-some regular folks and it is like pulling teeth to get them to participate. I have to admit I am one of them and I hide behind my camera so David won't say to me: “You, sir, you're not helping us here. Get those hands up.” I watched one young adult guy at an after school program crack up laughing when David chided him for not participating. And of course he did join right in and had a ball.
One of the most successful activities in Spencer (well, actually, they all are but...) is always the family workshop night at an empty store front at the mall. I forgot to count but there were tons of people there and they all learned the basics of storytelling while having way too much fun.
So that was day six. Some of us went to a movie at the mall too late last night and I was thinking again about the music. Daniel said he has done movie music. I have noticed how quickly I get into one of David's stories when the music starts. The music sets a mood and I think really facilitates getting the picture. Much of what Daniel does is improvisational and amazing. There go those superlatives again but I just don't know how to do it any better.
All along I have been aware how when you leave one of David's stories, you leave with a really strong, good message about life and relationships and raising kids. I know in large part that is David's ability to make the story work on so many levels. He told the teachers that he does the story to make it work for kids but be interesting for adults. An example of this from his story of "The Fisherman and His Wife" are two asides. One is about a great big tv which the kids always gasp at and the other is about the fisherman refinancing his shack at just the right time which the adults love and appreciate. These are in the context of a fairy tale story and very funny.
So anyway, great day today in Spencer. Next up, the big show.
Ron
But on to Spot. After awhile the superlatives start to become superfluous. You have to experience David and Daniel to really understand the magic and depth of what they do. Friday's activities all were amazing. A jammed classroom at Johnson School of lower grades were once again taken on David's journey. David met with the teachers the day before to talk about the special needs kids in the group and what to expect for these special kids. David's background in music therapy and working with kids once again made the event very special for all.
A teacher workshop later in the day was so good. These 20-some teachers jumped right in to the activity. I was thinking how you take 20-some regular folks and it is like pulling teeth to get them to participate. I have to admit I am one of them and I hide behind my camera so David won't say to me: “You, sir, you're not helping us here. Get those hands up.” I watched one young adult guy at an after school program crack up laughing when David chided him for not participating. And of course he did join right in and had a ball.
One of the most successful activities in Spencer (well, actually, they all are but...) is always the family workshop night at an empty store front at the mall. I forgot to count but there were tons of people there and they all learned the basics of storytelling while having way too much fun.
So that was day six. Some of us went to a movie at the mall too late last night and I was thinking again about the music. Daniel said he has done movie music. I have noticed how quickly I get into one of David's stories when the music starts. The music sets a mood and I think really facilitates getting the picture. Much of what Daniel does is improvisational and amazing. There go those superlatives again but I just don't know how to do it any better.
All along I have been aware how when you leave one of David's stories, you leave with a really strong, good message about life and relationships and raising kids. I know in large part that is David's ability to make the story work on so many levels. He told the teachers that he does the story to make it work for kids but be interesting for adults. An example of this from his story of "The Fisherman and His Wife" are two asides. One is about a great big tv which the kids always gasp at and the other is about the fisherman refinancing his shack at just the right time which the adults love and appreciate. These are in the context of a fairy tale story and very funny.
So anyway, great day today in Spencer. Next up, the big show.
Ron
April 26, 2007
Day 5 on tour/more from Bailey
Go down an entry or two and find Bailey's most recent two blogs. She wrote about the final performance in Perry and then her feelings a couple of days later. I am so grateful Bailey did this for us and she has a great future ahead of her.
One thing Bailey commented on that was so enriching for everyone was the way David uplifts language and diversity. His ability to be inclusive with his ease of bilingual storytelling was truly uplifting for all the listeners. It makes me wonder if people who are worried about losing English have ever experienced the richness of sharing another's language and culture and stories and lives. You just have to watch one of these times when David is doing both English and Spanish to understand the rich culture of America.
Ron
One thing Bailey commented on that was so enriching for everyone was the way David uplifts language and diversity. His ability to be inclusive with his ease of bilingual storytelling was truly uplifting for all the listeners. It makes me wonder if people who are worried about losing English have ever experienced the richness of sharing another's language and culture and stories and lives. You just have to watch one of these times when David is doing both English and Spanish to understand the rich culture of America.
Ron
Day 5 on the Spot tour--Spencer
The folks today at the activities ranged from early preschoolers to older folks. I especially tried to watch people today. The main thing I noticed consistently was the intentness with which everyone listened to the stories. David is so engaging with this his actions and creativity that you really get focused on what he is telling.
One comment I heard from the adults today several times had to do with Daniel's ability to do so many kinds of music with apparently no effort. Do you remember the running joke that was based on a comic book ad, I think, that read: “He sat down at the piano and entertained and amazed his friends when he began to play.” Hey that is Daniel. He is amazing all his new friends like crazy.
But the effortlessness thing is what I really wanted to comment on. It is such hard work to do what they do. They perform and it all seems so good and so rich. That is because of all the hard work that went into it. But what I have been noticing is all the work required to keep on schedule, schlep intruments and such around, and be ready to perform. We try to help out when we can with moving equipment and such but it is pretty negligible. Hard work to be a performer.
Ron
One comment I heard from the adults today several times had to do with Daniel's ability to do so many kinds of music with apparently no effort. Do you remember the running joke that was based on a comic book ad, I think, that read: “He sat down at the piano and entertained and amazed his friends when he began to play.” Hey that is Daniel. He is amazing all his new friends like crazy.
But the effortlessness thing is what I really wanted to comment on. It is such hard work to do what they do. They perform and it all seems so good and so rich. That is because of all the hard work that went into it. But what I have been noticing is all the work required to keep on schedule, schlep intruments and such around, and be ready to perform. We try to help out when we can with moving equipment and such but it is pretty negligible. Hard work to be a performer.
Ron
Day 4 on the Spot tour
Today was pouring rain as we loaded the van for the trip from Perry to Spencer. It has been raining all night and the fields around Nadine's and then on the trip north have huge lakes of water. When we got to the highway to head into town, a field was dumping its overflow of water all over the highway bringing with it a bed of corn stocks that covered the road. It rained about three-fourths of the way.
When we do this tour I get a tiny inkling of a life I would never know otherwise--the life of an artist touring. It takes a real dedication to do what you believe in when you tour. We do it for just a few days and it seems difficult. Finding food, beds not your own, places to relax. I have a new appreciation for what it takes to see the artists on stage at Hancher, what the artist goes through, that is.
Ron
When we do this tour I get a tiny inkling of a life I would never know otherwise--the life of an artist touring. It takes a real dedication to do what you believe in when you tour. We do it for just a few days and it seems difficult. Finding food, beds not your own, places to relax. I have a new appreciation for what it takes to see the artists on stage at Hancher, what the artist goes through, that is.
Ron
Bailey with an afterthought
Hi, it's me again, Bailey, the SPOT reporter from Perry. David and Daniel have only been gone two days, but I miss them already. I miss David's funny, enthusiastic stories, and Daniel's great music. My sister and I couldn't decide if we wanted a DVD or a CD, so we got both, and I'm glad we did. I can listen to David's stories, or watch them, whenever I want. I hope a lot of people did as I did, and bought The Frog Bride to remember David Gonzalez. And just possibly, they will run into them somewhere or another and want to see his next performance.
Spot Reporter Bailey on the final performance in Perry
Hi! It's me again, Bailey, the SPOT reporter for Perry. Oh, my gosh! The performance last night was spectacular! David and Daniel were excellent! Out of the whole tour, I only heard David tell two stories twice.
Some of the stories David told were the turtle story, a true story about him and his uncle, and a story about Juan Bo-Bo. There were singing parts in some of the stories, and he would ask for the girls to sing, then the boys, then the adults. During lots of the stories, he would say a word in Spanish, and ask if anyone knew what that word meant. They would answer correctly, and he would make all these comments, saying, "He hits it left and right, he makes a home run!" meaning that the kids could speak Spanish and English. After David went back to his stories, you could see the kids beaming!
When David asked for questions, lots of kids asked for stories they had already heard, and wanted to hear again. David kept looking back at Daniel, asking, "Is that too long? Can we do that one?" One kid asked, "Can Daniel talk?" Daniel gave a short "Meow".
At the very end, everyone ran out to buy the CD's and DVD's that David and Daniel were selling. Daniel stayed on stage for a couple of minutes afterwards, and there was a big crowd of kids wanting to ask him questions. I think the show was a big hit. David and Daniel were funny, kind, enthusiastic, and like a lot of kids said, just plain cool!
Some of the stories David told were the turtle story, a true story about him and his uncle, and a story about Juan Bo-Bo. There were singing parts in some of the stories, and he would ask for the girls to sing, then the boys, then the adults. During lots of the stories, he would say a word in Spanish, and ask if anyone knew what that word meant. They would answer correctly, and he would make all these comments, saying, "He hits it left and right, he makes a home run!" meaning that the kids could speak Spanish and English. After David went back to his stories, you could see the kids beaming!
When David asked for questions, lots of kids asked for stories they had already heard, and wanted to hear again. David kept looking back at Daniel, asking, "Is that too long? Can we do that one?" One kid asked, "Can Daniel talk?" Daniel gave a short "Meow".
At the very end, everyone ran out to buy the CD's and DVD's that David and Daniel were selling. Daniel stayed on stage for a couple of minutes afterwards, and there was a big crowd of kids wanting to ask him questions. I think the show was a big hit. David and Daniel were funny, kind, enthusiastic, and like a lot of kids said, just plain cool!
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