Too Many "Natalie's" for One Bathroom Stall

One of the harder things to do as an artist, is to play original music during long sets at a club. I've gotten spoiled lately by doing only college/ Performing Arts Center shows. Club shows are very different from a show where you get to just be an artist... At colleges I get to do all my own music. But at a club (until you get to a point where you ARE the draw) You have to create such a balance. Most people come to a club to hear songs they already know... so if they don't KNOW your songs, you run the risk of disappointing your crowd. And it is much easier to keep people on a dance floor when they KNOW the music.

I have always tried to balance that by playing a few of my strongest originals here and there... in between all the recognizable covers... and usually earlier in the night (before everyone is crazy and just wanting to dance and sing as loud as they can).

Every time I get a new batch of songs rehearsed with the band, I get so excited to play them for a crowd. That's the TRUE test.

But tonight, every time I did an original, there was a noticeable difference in the crowd response. It lets me know I am headed in the right direction. If I can get a room filled with hundreds of people who have never heard me play before to respond almost as strongly to my stuff as they do to a Shania song.... I am doing something right! It hasn't always been that way. But the progress is visibly different to me. And THAT, my friends, feels wonderful!

The show was REALLY REALLY fun. We were all able to cut loose and let it all out on stage. The stage and lighting and sound was AMAZING.... so that always inspires a more energetic show. When we first walked in, I thought that Georgia must have switched over to the "no smoking" law. The club didn't have any remnants of smoke in it. It wasn't until I noticed the ash trays that I figured it out. Well, until the doors opened and everyone started smoking.... THAT was a big clue ;) But it's just ventilated that well! It was one of the cleanest clubs I've ever seen... And every bathroom stall in the ladies room had a full length mirror on the back of the door. Hmmm... I guess in case you want to watch yourself pee?? But yeah, I was surrounded by "Natalie's", which was a tad umm, let's say, Strange. There were posters on the walls with my picture... plus the mirror.... too many Natalie's for one bathroom stall!

Before we even got started, Chester walked in and brought me a picture from the last time we were in Augusta. He came to our Coyote's shows. What a great surprise!


Brandi and Chad were celebrating their 6th Anniversary!!! We played "When You Say Nothing At All" for them and afterwards they told us it was their wedding song. I LOVE it when that happens!
Plus Bradi was down front dancing and singing all night long!


The Bachelor and Bachelorette - Chris and Kaelin
They had a huge party up in the VIP section right next to the stage.


21st Birthdays!!!



God Bless our Troops!! And we had a lot of them at the show! The one with the tags is stationed at Fort Gordon which we are playing on June 6. YAY!



And I will leave you with my favorite audience member of the night. I don't like to play "favorites" but this guy was amazing. he was down front and dancing from the first song on. He had the most infectious smile and was a sweetheart. :)



Yay for The Country Club!!! Can't wait to go back there :)

I have now officially been up for 28hrs. We had to drive back right after the show to get Miguel to the airport. He gets to go home to Chile today!!! YAY!!! But oooohhh how I am about to sleep!!! My husband and puppy have already crashed. And now, so will I :)

Peace, Love, Fiddle,
~natalie

Weird Signage

A few weeks ago someone asked at a show, "What is the strangest thing you have ever signed?"

I found myself puzzled... and laughing :)

I rattled off a few of the stranger ones I could think of... but I kept thinking of more things later. So I went through a bunch of photos and was reminded of quite a few moments and shows that made me laugh all over again. So I wanted to share!

The nipple signing at Coast Guard Day will forever go down as one of my favs


This may not have been nipple... but it was pretty dang close!


Ahhh... The skoal can


This kid was so cool. I have signed plenty of hats... foreheads... shirts... even jeans.... but NEVER sunglasses before!


Hard Hat - THAT came out of no where


And it was followed by an inflatable hammer... because... why wouldn't it be?


The biology notes have GOT to be one of the most creative and adorable things so far :)




Ah! Cowboy boots!! This made me feel WAAAAAY cool.


Let me interject something I just remembered. There were 2 guys at the Matterhorn that had me sign little wallet sized photos of their own kids. Hmmm. Not sure why... They didn't want me to address them TO the kids... just wanted my signature on the back.

Speaking of kids - the kids at the ski resort all had some creative ones.
Palms of the hands


Ski helmets and ski boots




The most recent and probably one of the coolest was the iphone:


And then there was the time when a guy at a show REALLY wanted Bridget to sign the cd... Bridget is a good friend of mine and Hootie's girlfriend.... she didn't sing or play on the cd, but dude was adamant that she sign it! Classic!


And Kelly Bell signing a Peace Love Fiddle t-shirt


Buckeye fans are CRAZY y'all. He had us sign an OSU flag and then INSISTED that we take it with us. Not sure why we needed to sign it if we were the ones who were gonna look at it. That thing stayed in the Suburban until it was driving Hootie nuts. We finally had to take it out because Hootie couldn't take the pressure anymore. "Hang on Sloopy" was on permanent repeat in his head...


I had to sign the shirt for a "bachelor" who was in Panama City beach at our show. I had to sign it and give him instructions for something to do during the evening - I ended up writing "pick up a fiddle player"


And he did!


And I'll close with this one cause it made me feel like a rockstar... Scott Holt, the guys from Gov't Mule, and well... just a whole lot of really cool people + me signed this guitar. I don't remember how much it was auctioned off for - but it was to raise money to buy Christmas presents for children in Maury County. So it was really cool.


My job is so fun.

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie