Narcissism - Tooting My Own Horn

I have something that bothers me that I still don’t know how to deal with after all these years - narcissism or tooting my own horn.  Part of my job is self-promotion.  I’m doing it right now in writing to you although I really do want to reach out as a friend as well.  We all do it to some extent if we’re involved in social media.  We all can see that it’s unattractive when someone pushes too hard or when their motivation seems to be arrogance and pride.  I never want to be perceived in that way, and so I err on the side of not enough promotion.  In fact, I’m uncomfortable doing it at all.  It’s not because I don’t believe in myself.  I have reached a point in my life where I know I have a purpose and that my purpose has value.  I believe that giving of ourselves is how we better the universe, and that we become a bigger conduit of love and spirit when we give freely.  That’s really what I want tooting my own horn to be about - giving an experience and a flow in my words, music, and presence that others can soak in and spread in turn.  In that way we all unite and give off even more love and spirit.  A friend once called it a supernova at a conference where we really felt this.  So I hope you get this from me when I self-promote.  I really do want to spread some love, joy and unity - kind of as the young hippie I still am inside to some extent.

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What have I been up to?

My S t. Patrick’s Day concert at the Bell Tower Cultural Center in Florence after the Celtic step-dancers a week ago Saturday was a blast!  I LOVE playing Irish tunes, and this night did not disappoint.  Thanks to everyone who came out and celebrated their inner-Irish.

The private party I played the following Sunday in Denver was also great fun!  I even got to see my sister there.  Happy Birthday, Jane!

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What am I up to this week?

Friday night 7-10 I’m back at Walter’s Brewery Tasting Room in Pueblo for another fun night of beer and friendship.  We’ve had some great nights there so far, and I’m sure this one will be just as enjoyable.  Come on out if you’d like some great beer, music, and camaraderie!

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That’s it for this week.  I’m busy booking several things this summer, so stay tuned.  Send me your thoughts on narcissism and self promotion too if I’ve inspired a pondering in you.

Best,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing
Where:  Walter’s Brewery Taproom, 126 Oneida Street, Pueblo. 719-542-0766
When:  Friday, March 29, 7-10 pm

Feeling My Irish Blood

I often tell the story of how I’ve long had a passion for Irish music even though I didn’t know our family had Irish blood. My mother was a genealogist and loved researching our family’s history. She had just found out a month before she passed in August of 2015 about an ancestor, William Bell, who came directly from Ireland. She corresponded with a woman who was researching common branches of our family tree and had  found details of his life from Ireland and a picture of his headstone in Potton, Quebec, Canada, dated 1739-1816. I helped my mom process the picture so we could read the dates (the headstone was mossy and indistinct after 200 years.) My mother and I were so excited to find out we had Irish roots on my her side of the family in addition to our Welsh and German roots. We hope to do more research on him and others in our tree to follow in her footsteps. So when you see me reveling in an Irish ballad or pub song and proudly walking in the morning with my blackthorn shillelagh walking stick you’ll know I’m celebrating my heritage and feeling the Irish blood in my veins. It burns with passion!

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What have I been up to?

Last Saturday I played a 100th birthday party that was an absolute blast! The birthday girl was full of spunk and fire, and the feeling was infectious. Happy Birthday, Elnola!

Sunday was Cuchara Chapel and all the wonderful folks of the beautiful valley up there. I couldn’t find a song to fit the message, so I wrote another expressing unity called “Part of All.” Here is the Chorus to get a sense of it:

And if I am part of all, I understand
I forgive myself, and let go demands
I am here to love, I am here to live

I even got a little choked up when I sang it. I’m a bit of a softy as I grow older, but the song expresses some very personal truths for me as well. Big surprise, huh?

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What am I up to this week?

Saturday 7-9 I’m playing a concert in Florence at the Bell Tower Cultural Center. This is a St. Patrick's Day event featuring Celtic dancers for the first hour and me doing Irish music for the second hour. The dancers are fantastic young folks who really stomp the rhythm out, and for my part I do a mix of well-known and obscure tunes you can sing along to or tap your toes. It’s a wonderful show I’ve gotten to participate in for several years now. I’d love to have you if you want to come out and celebrate your inner Irish!

Sunday I’m heading up to Denver to play for a birthday party for a good friend I haven’t seen in several years. It promises to be a fun time, and my sister will even be there!

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That’s it for this week. I’m busily trying to finish my taxes and getting ready for my show with Ken Saydak in April and my shows with Dennis Mills at the Royal Gorge Bridge this summer. Be good to each other, and as the Irish say, “Slainte!” (To your health!)

Best,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who: Tom Munch
What: playing for St. Patrick’s Day in Florence, CO
Where: Bell Tower Cultural Center, 201 East Second Street, 719-784-2038
When: Saturday, March 16, 7-9 pm

Addled

We spent a lot of time organizing again yesterday in the basement after we had a mini flood last weekend and decided to put everything on the floor in or on plastic containers to get them off the floor. That meant going through equipment boxes I’ve saved in case things needed to be shipped for repair or sold. This is similar to when I wrote about cleaning out my closet, but with the equipment I had other quandaries that kind of addled my brain. Before I get rid of a box I have to decide if I need it to sell the equipment and if the equipment is better off being donated or recycled. This starts a consideration with some pieces because they are all interrelated. If I get rid of a tape deck do I need to make sure I don’t have tapes that need to be digitized? If I get rid of an old laptop do I need to wipe or destroy the hard drive? If I get rid of a mixer do I have other equipment that goes with it like mounts and accessories? I did this with a bunch of boxes, and I have to tell you that my brain doesn’t jump through the contortions this takes like it used to. You wouldn’t think that what I do for a living would be so complicated, but I think I made it this way because I used to enjoy the complexity. I guess the lesson is to either not make things so complex, or clear everything out every so often so there’s no residue and confusion. And I don’t want to leave things behind that at some point should just be bulldozed into the earth. Maybe that’s the metaphor for what I need to do with all the complexity - bulldoze it into the earth! But a deep breath and an awareness of why I’m here and what I’m doing is all it takes to center me and get me back on track.

What have I been up to?

Friday night at Bistoro was a another stellar evening with good friends and a great time. I so enjoy these folks and this venue!

Sunday's Online Concert was full of New Orleans and Irish music for Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day. It was so much fun!

What am I up to this week?

Saturday I’m playing a private party for a 100th birthday that should be a blast! I’m looking forward to it.

Sunday I’m back at Cuchara Chapel for another morning of mountain views and a little spirituality. So enjoyable and rewarding. Come out if you like!

That’s it for this week. Be good to each other and have a great Mardi Gras!

Best always,

Tom

Who:  Tom Munch
What:  playing and singing for chapel service
Where:  Cuchara Chapel, 16400 CO Hwy 12, Cuchara, CO
When:  Sunday, March 10, 10:00 am