October 1988. New York City
the first time i performed solo in new york was at open mic night at the speakeasy
on macdougal street. sign-ups were at 7:00. i was staying in the bronx, so that
meant leaving around 5:00.
i got there early and got a good spot in line, which i mistakenly thought would get
me a good time slot performing. when i reached the sign-up table i drew a number
from a hat – number forty-four.
the open mic i was used to, at the fox and goose in sacramento, got ten people on
a busy night. forty-four? i asked what that meant.
“you’ll go on around 12:30 or 1:00. after midnight you get one song”
“so i should come back in” – i had to count on my fingers – “5 hours?”
“yeah. that sounds right”
first i got a falafel. then i watched a guy escape from chains in washington square
park. i went back and heard a few performers. i walked around the village.
“wings of desire” was playing at the bleecker street cinema. i bought a ticket.
it was the first time i took my guitar to a movie.
when i got back to the club it was 11:30. another hour to go. when i finally went on
there were 5 people left. 2 of them were performing after me. one was passed out.
i played my one song
i got back to the bronx at 2:00
nine hours to play for three minutes in front of five people
welcome to new york