Purpose

I’m thinking this morning about how my mindset is affected by how I approach life each day. I find that if I don’t frame my day when I first get up then I tend to wander without direction and purpose throughout the day. I can pick up a bad attitude while reading news or worrying over bills and correspondence that affects my music and how I perform and how I treat people the rest of the day. I mentioned before how one of my residents at a senior facility once told me that my purpose is to encourage others and give them joy with my music and interaction. I took that to heart, and I still think of it when I start my day. Of course my philosophy is one of looking at the big picture and believing the best about every person. It’s easy to forget these things on some days when I go out in the world. On these days I tend to be lost in my own head and my own thoughts, and I don’t give my all like I want to. I find that if I just slow down for a minute and increase my awareness of what is going on in the big picture then I can resume my purpose and be happier. That’s really all it takes. How about you? How do you frame your day?

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What have I been up to?

I had 12 senior facilities last week, and it was so cool doing fun and spooky Halloween tunes for the folks. A couple of them I got to play outside on beautiful Fall days that just sparkled!

My Wednesday online show was doing Halloween songs, and it was a blast. I had a great group of folks who really got into the spirit with me. We’ll do it again this week with more tunes.

Friday night at Garden of the Gods Club playing instrumental tunes was very sweet. I’m having so much fun working up arrangements of songs I usually sing and finding other songs with strong melodies that I can pour myself into.

Saturday night I played at the Garden of the Gods Club again in the Rocks Lounge for some really nice folks from different parts of the country who were so appreciative and kind. I forgot how much fun it can be to play for and talk with hotel guests like I used to have at the Pueblo West Inn so many years ago.

My Sunday online show was a spontaneous adventure where we ended up doing a mini Simon and Garfunkel theme for part of the night. It’s always such a ride with my Sunday night group that never fails to thrill me.

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What am I up to this week?

I only have 5 senior facilities this week since for 3 days it’s a 5th week of the month again where many of my monthly repeating gigs don’t fall. It’ll be a fun week of Halloween shows - especially on Halloween where one of them is a party where I can dress up a bit and get into the spooky tunes.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be Halloween tunes again with special lighting and costuming and effects to paint the right mood. Come on out!

Friday night 6-9 I’m back at the Garden of the Gods playing instrumental tunes in the Grand View Restaurant. I’d love to see you there if you’re up for a great meal with one of the best views in the state with Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak out the window over a beautiful lawn and pond. Call 888-994-3156 for reservations.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always. These Sunday nights always turn into a strong night of good tunes and friendship with folks tuning in from all over the country. Come on out!

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That’s it for this week. I’m booking Garden of the Gods regularly playing instrumental tunes - 5 nights next month, and I just booked Friday, November 29th at the Pueblo Country Club playing instrumental tunes too. With my voice aging and not being able to hit some of the high notes as well this is probably a good thing that I’m playing more of these fun instrumental gigs. 

I hope you’re heathy and happy. Don’t forget to change your clocks on Sunday.

Best,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Halloween songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, October 30, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing

Where:  Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in the Grand View Restaurant. 888-994-3156

When:  Friday, November 1, 6-9 pm 

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, November 3, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Halloween

I’m thinking today of Halloween since I am doing an online Halloween show this Wednesday and next Wednesday. I’ve always enjoyed the fun aspects of Halloween. It comes from that innocent time of kids growing up after the war when we dressed up in costumes to go trick or treating. The biggest fear we had was that someone might slip a needle or a razor into our caramel apple or popcorn ball. I never really liked scary movies - especially when they had demons or supernatural elements to them. I had enough nightmares just from scary TV shows like “Dark Shadows”. We say it often, but it really was a simpler time. One of my favorite memories was the year I made a werewolf mask out of a milk jug, the fur from a buffalo hide, some green shiny buttons for eyes, a piece of screen, a grocery sack, and some masking tape and spray paint. It looked so realistic at the time to me, and I delighted in jumping out of the alley as other kids walked by and growling and howling at them. Then in high school we had fun costume parties where we’d try to be as creative as we could be with our costumes and party games. It was all pretty innocuous and fun. Even in college we delighted in sitting in an empty field on a dark night and scaring each other with ghost stories. That kind of frivolity has always been the way I think of Halloween through the years. So Wednesday I’ll do a bunch of Halloween songs both spooky and fun. I’ll add a cool green-screen backdrop and wear my skeleton vest. How about you? What does Halloween do for you?

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What have I been up to?

I had 11 senior facilities last week, and all but one wanted some Halloween tunes. There was a full moon too, so everyone was primed for it. I love these folks.

My Wednesday online show was doing another batch of songs I’ve never done for my online shows, and there were some good ones - both familiar and new. I think everyone really enjoyed it.

Friday night I played instrumental tunes at the Garden of the Gods Club for a good audience. People are so appreciative of the little unexpected touches - even when it’s background music. It’s refreshing how you can create the atmosphere that makes an evening special for folks.

Saturday I did an online show of Philmont songs for a great audience of Philmont friends. It’s so great to be able to connect with people you haven’t seen in years with songs that bring back so many memories.

Sunday brunch I played instrumental tunes at the Garden of the Gods Club for another good audience of diners. I’m working up some new instrumental tunes so I never bore myself or the staff with the same songs. Sometimes I can do a spontaneous arrangement of a tune that I sing as an instrumental that really works.

I forgot to mention my Sunday online show last week in my weekly “What am I up to this week?” blog detail, and it was good one. So many people come out on a Sunday night to say “Hello!” and enjoy the music. It’s always so gratifying and rewarding to see so many folks.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 12 senior facilities this week, and it should be a delightful week of Halloween songs and jokes. This is a fun month!

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be Halloween songs as I mentioned above. It should be a rollicking good time with some spooky songs thrown in for good measure. Come on out!

Friday night 6-9 I’m back at the Garden of the Gods Club in the Grand View Restaurant playing instrumental tunes. It’s really a nice restaurant with good food and views. It’s probably the best view in town with their beautiful lawn and pond and landscaping providing a perfect foreground to the Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak. You really have to see it. I recommend reservations. Call 888-994-3156 ASAP if you’d like to come.

Saturday night 6-9 I’m also back at the Garden of the Gods Club, but this night I’m in the members-only Rocks Lounge. I’ve only played this room once before on the lawn outside, and I assume I’ll be inside this time since the forecast is only calling for temperatures in the 50s when I start. When I was in the restaurant last Friday the lounge was really hopping, so I expect it’ll be a really fun night. Come on out if you’re a member or guest.

Sunday my online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and I know it’ll have great energy and lots of enthusiastic folks. It’s so good to have a place to play where people enjoy each other and the music.

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That’s it for this week. It’s really feeling like Fall this past week with much cooler temperatures and snow in the mountains. October is pretty sweet! I hope you’re healthy and happy, and I hope to see you soon.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Halloween songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, October 23, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing

Where:  Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in the Grand View Restaurant. 888-994-3156

When:  Friday, October 25, 6-9 pm 

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing

Where:  Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in the Rocks Lounge. 888-994-3156

When:  Saturday, October 26, 6-9 pm 

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, October 27, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Busy

I was looking at my schedule this week, and I started to feel a little overwhelmed. I never thought I’d be this busy again when everything slowed down during the pandemic. I figured that there were some things that would never really happen again. Many of my musician friends got back to work as fast as they could, but I held back because I had liked more time at home. I love to play, and I know I will never completely stop, but something inside me changed as those months wore on in 2020. Though I played online and recorded and played over the Internet for as many of my senior facilities as I could, I just never thought I’d be back with a vengeance to those early times of playing several nights a week. But now I’m suddenly very lucky with requests from all corners to have me play at several venues and many events. It’s a blessing to be sure, but I’m finding that I lack the drive I once had for some of the tunes, and I’m not sure why. Some of it is because I can’t hit the notes I used to reach with my voice and pick the fingerings I used to flow through on the guitar. There are moments when I break through the limitations and have a blast, but I have to work harder to find these. I realize too that I have to make more time for joy and relaxation so that I have the balance that keeps the enthusiasm up. I’ll find my way like always, but it’s worth reflecting for a moment and taking stock. I know we all go through these thoughts, and voicing them lets us share the realization and move forward. I’m just turning the stone over to see different facets.

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What have I been up to?

I had 9 senior facilities last week, and I enjoyed them all. One of them has a lot of Covid cases now and I’m really hoping they can get through this infection without much pain and suffering. It’s tough watching them go through it.

My Wednesday online show was doing the music of Kris Kristofferson and the Highwaymen, and it was great sharing his music and remembering his life. He wrote some really good songs.

Saturday I played at the Littleton Museum Harvest Festival, and it was so much fun seeing all the kids and parents in the pumpkin patch playing and picking out pumpkins and listening to my music. I love playing this event.

Saturday evening I played a 1969-1972 high school reunion for Pueblo Central High, and it was fun doing a lot of the tunes I have recently played for some of my online 1970s shows. They really had a good time.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests as always, and I had a great group of friends come out to support me and each other and enjoy some special tunes. I love this group.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 11 senior facilities this week, and I know they will all be loads of fun. I’m doing mostly Halloween songs now, and it’s a goofy, spooky time.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be what I call “never done” songs - songs I haven’t ever played for these online shows. This is always a good time playing songs that people don’t know that I have learned and performed. Come on out if you’d like to hear some real gems!

Friday 6-9 I’m playing instrumental tunes at the Garden of the Gods Club in the Grand View Restaurant again. I have really been enjoying these nights, and I do different songs every time. Come on out if you’d like to hear some first-class noodling!

Saturday night 7-9 I’m playing an online show for Philmont alumni as I do 3 times a year. This is a chance to reminisce with good friends I worked with or who shared the same experiences I did when I was in high school and college at Philmont. Come on out if you’re a Philmont alum!

Sunday 11-2 I’m playing instrumental tunes at the Garden of the Gods Club in the Grand View Restaurant for brunch. This is such a great venue with very beautiful views. It’s open to the public, and I really recommend calling ahead for a reservation if you’d like to come out!

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That’s it for another week. It’s great to be so busy. I just need to take time to breathe occasionally. I hope you are healthy and happy.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of “Never Done” songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, October 16, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing

Where:  Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in the Grand View Restaurant. 888-994-3156

When:  Friday, October 18, 6-9 pm 

Who:  Tom Munch

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Philmont songs

Where:  facebook.com/share/sLzZUYu1EEUvyMNN/ and tommunch.com/online-concerts

When:  Saturday, October 19, 7-9 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing

Where:  Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in the Grand View Restaurant. 888-994-3156

When:  Sunday, October 20, 11 am - 2 pm 

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, October 20, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Tributes

I’m doing a tribute to Kris Kristofferson Wednesday online, and that has me thinking of all the tributes I’ve done and all the musicians who have contributed so much to the lives we all live. I’m always amazed at how a song can affect a person’s life and outlook, and when I think that a song started as just an idea in a songwriter’s head I’m even more amazed. Some songs are contrived to sell, and some songs are a labor of love that has to be expressed. Either way when we hear them they have an impact on us in an almost unexplainable way. And the people who choose to go into music will do it for all kinds of reasons - fame, fortune, love, or just because they are internally compelled to. The ones who are able to make a lifetime career are the ones I usually do tributes to. I respect the effort and resilience they have to keep going even when the business isn’t great for them and they only see the smiles on their audience’s faces. And unfortunately some of the tributes I’ve done have been in remembrance as some musicians have passed. I believe in keeping their music alive even if that music seems irrelevant. A lot of understanding can come from the heart that someone put into a song - even if that song is 20 or 200 years old. So I’ll pay tribute to Kris Kristofferson on Wednesday and many who played with him and celebrated him.

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What have I been up to?

I had 7 senior facilities last week, and it was fun starting to play Halloween songs or them. I love these folks.

My Wednesday online show was doing songs about wildlife, and it was creative and fun. I love doing shows where there is some leeway for some surprises. I think the audience really liked it too.

Friday I was at the Garden of the Gods Club in the Grand View Restaurant in Colorado Springs, and I had a good group of folks to play for. I played the guitar that I have tuned down to a lower pitch, and it makes the instrumental songs I play there have a really interesting quality to them. Several people noticed and gave me compliments. 

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and there were some good ones. We always have a Zoom call before the show, and these are really fun too. You’re always welcome to join in.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 9 senior facilities this week, and I’m looking forward to all of them. It’s always an interesting dynamic. They all know that I love and respect them, and that makes it all worthwhile.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be the music of Kris Kristofferson and the Highwaymen as I wrote above. Kris was a wonderful songwriter with a touch of heart that belied his gruff persona. So many of his songs speak right to me, and I will do a few songs from the Highwaymen as well to round out the show. Come on out!

Saturday 11-1 I’m playing at the Littleton Museum outside in the pumpkin patch for their Harvest Festival. This is a really fun event that I’ve played for several years now. I’ll be in the tent by the pumpkin patch where families will be picking out their Halloween pumpkins and going for a wagon ride. It’s really cool and a good time. Come on out if you’re in the Denver area!

Saturday evening I’m playing a high school reunion in Pueblo that should be great fun too with all the songs I know from 1967 to 1972. I was made for these kinds of parties.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and I know it will be a good night with good requests and great friends. I never have a bad time at these shows. Tune in if you can!

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That’s it for this week. The Fall is really coming on now. Jen, Beau and I went for a drive to see the leaves changing in the mountains of southern Colorado last Saturday, and it was beautiful. I can’t say enough how much I love this time of year even as my morning walks with Beau get chillier. I hope you are healthy and happy.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Kris Kristofferson and the Highwaymen songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, October 9, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch

What:  playing and singing at the Littleton Museum Harvest Festival

Where:  Littleton Museum, 6028 S Gallup St, Littleton, CO, 303-795-3950

When:  Saturday, October 12, 11 am -1 pm 

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, October 13, 7-8:45 pm mountain time