Don't ... stop ... thinking about tomorrow

Let David and I know how often we want to entertain others

First things first!

If you’re planning to play with us on Valentine’s Day for the New Hope Keenagers at New Hope Baptist Church on Louisburg Road, email RUJ if you haven’t already let me know. The gig starts at noon, but the fine folks are offering lunch at 11:30 if you like. I’ll need to know how many will be there for lunch so they can plan accordingly.

The setlist has been tweaked a bit since Thursday’s jam. You can get a copy here.

The next regular jam is at the church Thursday the 16th. Pelagic will be on the 28th. Then we hit March, and — we hope — warmer weather.

What then?

As you may know, we’re in demand. Victims(?) of our own success(?). We have two definite engagements in the months ahead:

• A date at the Wake County East Regional Library in Knightdale Saturday morning, April 15. I’m not sure what that will entail, other than playing a set for the patrons. I need to circle back with the library to fill me and you in.

• Make Music Day, June 21, somewhere in Raleigh to be determined. I talked about it a bit Thursday, but I’ll have a lot more info soon. I’ll share that here.

Thursday, I asked everyone to think about how much more we want to do. We meet at least three times monthly — twice at the church (along with a third, open mic session on those months with five Thursdays) and the last Tuesday of each month at Pelagic.

How much more do we want to do as a group? As several of you know, we could play somewhere for somebody at least once a week. Some of you are already doing side gigs with ukuleles and other instruments now. (That’s fantastic! Well done.)

I may have opened us up a bit too much as COVID subsided, especially during the holidays. I love to play, and love to play with y’all, but I also don’t want to mess with the vibe that got the Raleigh Uke Jam going in the first place — strumming and singing in a friendly, pressure-free environment. With the occasional open mic so individuals can let their uke flags fly.

I don’t want to mess with the magic. The jam should be a pleasure, not a chore.

At the same time, David has mentioned that we would like to make the jam more visible so new folks want to check us out and regulars keep coming. I agree!

That said, I’m inclined to limit us to no more than one outside gig a month … if that. It does take time preparing a setlist, rehearsing at the jam (taking time away from our general, loosey-goosey frivolity and maybe even improving our playing — horrors!), and then actually getting to and playing the gig.

RUJ isn’t a democracy. David and I have to set some limits for you crazy kids. But we would appreciate your input. Any limits we set will disappoint somebody who wants us to play regularly at their place.

Enough from me. What do you think? Please email raleighukejam@gmail.com with your thoughts. We’ll consider them.

And now, grab a cold drink and some popcorn and enjoy this Canadian-produced film from 2010 about the Uke Revival!

Rick the Calendar Maker