Happy New Year @ Los Cerritos!!!

End 2011 right at Los Cerritos Mexican Restaurant in Baldwin, Georgia. I will be hosting the evening of karaoke fun, and the owner is providing a free champaign toast (Ginger Ale) for those of us who don't imbibe. Regular karaoke times apply--6:30 until 10:30, as usual. Be there or be square!!!

Hard vs Challenging

Over the years, as I've worked with teaching and coaching children, I've learned how mental blocks create difficulty in achieving goals. Often, the anticipation of difficulty causes a concern that can undermine progress. Now, I'm not a psychologist, but when one listens to children, or our own inner fears, we can see a problem with negative "self-talk". Many times it is the little thought that seems to warn "This is going to be hard!"

I've learned to watch for such signs in the children I've taught, and many times the negative thought is verbalized, "This is hard!". That's when I feel I should get down on the child's level, smile big, and correct their thinking to an empowered perspective "Digging a ditch is hard, and no matter how many times you have to do it, it's still going to be hard. But learning to do this is challenging, not hard. When something is challenging you can develop skills that will help make it easier. Just as spoons-playing is the easiest thing I know how to do, and for you just starting out, it is challenging. But I promise that if you continue to try, and not quit, you will develop skills, and before long, you will master spoons-playing (or whatever you are learning to do.)"

I feel that if I can help them make an accurate evaluation of whether something is truly HARD, or simply CHALLENGING, and then help them learn to be determined to meet challenges, it can help them in their future endeavors.

Empowering children has been my passion for many years, and I particularly enjoy that I can use music as a catalist for learning, motivation and fun. And using the right music that makes learning fun is like sprinkling magic can-do dust over the challenge.

A New Focus...Never Felt So Empowered!

Today I have a driving desire to share observations and experiences I've had over many years, having to do with the joy and awe of having the priviledge of working with children in their process of learning. Although, much of my interactions started with me preparing learning experiences for them, they always turned the tables, and taught me something, as well, and something often more profound.

Because my mind is flooding with stories and feelings of the wonder involved with the blossoming of childhood awareness, I feel happily compelled to change the primary focus of my blog from myself and my performing schedules--although I've promised many that they can find such info here, and must continue to keep my current readers up on my whereabouts, now I will turn the spotlight onto the empowered kids I have known; observations of HOW they have learned; and what they have taught ME about empowerment...a higher purpose for my blog, I think you will agree.

I could not be more excited to share what I have learned, not only while I've been in Edutainment, but also as a 6-time youth-league coach, a cubmaster, a home-school teacher, a sunday school teacher, and a concerned and an engaged father. I don't pretend to be a child psychologist, or even a music therapist... I have high regard and respect for them all. I fall more into the category perhaps of one of their case studies. They could tell you the whys and hows of what works--I can only convey to you what my experiences and observations have been. I look forward to it, and I hope you do too. Seek the help and guidance of a trained and certified professional if you have a person in your life who you think may have problems, and needs therapy or treatment. I've just put a gadget at the lower right of this page to enable my readers to follow the updates in my blog, if they are so inclined. And I invite all to contact me for any reason, and especially to share your child/self empowering experiences. Please, only send them if you intend to give me pemission to share them with others, bacause if I read and remember your story, I will likely share it with someone someday, so be advised. :o)
Thanks for reading. Now, why not go listen to the song "I Can Go The Distance" by Michael Bolton, for a few minutes of personal empowerment music?

Children's Hospitals Gigs

Recently I've been online checking out the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals work, and found that most children's hospitals need entertainment, soooo I have a new goal to play all of the 170 children's hospitals in the United States! I'm excited by the idea, so I made a plan... the plan starts with me setting a world record in spoons playing, then I'll travel to each hospital and break my record, and also set a new record that the kids at the hospital can help me accomplish... an empowering event for them! Like the idea? My next goal is to get corporate sponsorship. I've discovered that there are 10 places on a chef coat to display logos of corporate sponsors, so I'm looking for the corporations who will share my vision and heart to empower the kids who are facing health challenges.

It's Jam Time! Lots to report...

Hey, thanks for checking in on me and my doings, there are several performance dates coming up, and I hope to see your smiling face in the crowds.

June 9th Rabun County Library has invited me back for their Summer Reading Program edutainment where I'll perform a bit and talk to the kiddies about journaling and researching their family history/genealogy.

June 16th Rabun County Elementary has asked me to perform at a school function.

June 23rd I'll be performing at a private party at Highlands Country Club.

June 30th Chickamauga Public Library's Summer Reading show (same as Rabun's)

And afterward you can find me at Mama G's Restaurant on Thursdays and Fridays as usual.

P.S. Happy Birthday to Sadie, Faith, Jess and VeatriceH!!!

Warm Sunshine, Yummy Food and Karaoke Parites!

Well, Spring has sprung, the sun is back and the patio at Mama G's Italian Restaurant in Clayton, GA is waiting for us to begin another season of karaoke partying!!! We'll be partying each Friday evening starting April 29th, until autumn. We have a new system and many more songs in my database, and it's easy to check because it's all on my new laptop!!! So, no more dealing with my old super cdgs! I can still play your cd-gs, or you can ask for whatever song you'd like to sing and I'll do a quick search and voila!

Remember, you'll win AWARDS again like last year, so bring friends and an appetite because the food is wonderful. And Mama G's is providing the entertainment, so Karaoke is FREE. Even if you don't sing, come and watch. We'll also be line-dancing, too. It's the most musical fun you can have in Northeastern Georgia on a Friday night!

I hope to see you there!

Thank you for your testimonials!!!

Everywhere I perform people are so gracious in telling me how very much they enjoy my show, and I just want to express my appreciation, and suggest that if you are so inclined, you may want to visit my new entertainment services page on Thumbtack and express your thoughts in the testimonials area. I'm excited about my new page regarding my DJ and MC services on Thumbtack, so please check it out by clicking the link below.
Music + Karaoke DJ and Entertainer Extraordinaire

Remember, on my blog you can scroll over the videos on the bar to see a clip of Mama G's Rhythm Chef Karaoke Dance Party. And you can find the videos on http://youtube.com/rhythmchef as well.

Thanks!
P.S. See you at Mama G's Italian Restaurant in Clayton for the Rhythm Chef Karaoke Dance Party every Friday evening 6:30 to 9:30 starting April 29.
P.P.S. Happy Birthday Sadie!