Another successful fund raiser for Bethesda Lutheran. Piano music added an extra dimension of joy and laughter Saturday night.
They are A Not For Profit lending housing and assistance to Developmentally Disabled Adults. Katey Higgins contacted me and organized the entire affair. She did a great job.
This gig was at The Orrington Hotel in Evanston, IL. It was a real treat to entertain everyone. They had a very successful silent auction. The funds raised went to their Illinois affiliates. They had some great items available for bidding with a targeted Chicago area slant; Cubs, Hawks, Bears & Sox memorabilia and autographed items were on display.
Many of the residents were on their feet dancing in no time. So it wasn’t a whole lot of sing along. But that’s okay. Anytime the dance floor is filled and groovin’, I don’t mind one bit.
You see, I go there with one idea in mind — nothing. I know what I would like to see happen; lots of interactive fun and singing and laughing and great memories.
But the idea is to see what the people in attendance are responding to and give them more than that.
One older guy was entranced as much with my fingers playing the piano as he was with the stage lights.
Also The Orrington is an historic hotel with a great history as well as very narrow staircases and difficult loading area. I was able to ‘improvise’ the set up. Instead of placing the lights on the dance floor where they might have been — no scratch that — definitely would have been — in the way, we set them up inside the piano shell and pointed them right at me. Very effective and it solved the problem. Tell me how they look …
So you never know how it is going to turn out but you always know it will turn out great! Pianist Dan Gillogly is a master at improvising not just on the piano but also as an entertainer and a technician.
Thanks for stopping by
