Blog the first. Charity and imagination

I may have said before "If i was getting paid the proper rate I'd be doing well for this number of gigs"> Many people have told me to be wary of performing too often for free. I must confess my self esteem takes a hit when I find out I'm working for free whilst other people at a charity event are being paid. Such it was about tonight's gig, Even though no pressure was applied and I accepted the commission freely I felt a bit of a mug for agreeing to drive for almost 2 hours to the gig, a charity and fund raising gig for people I don't know. I agreed as I was asked by someone who helped raise money for a friend of mine, I thought it only fair I help his friends. I realised I was building up a resentment, which was unfair, he did nothing wrong, he just asked for some help.  So I decidede to see this gig as I initally thought of it, a stepping stone to Festive Fun. As a kid early November was the start of Christmas, it's when my surgeries tended to be, so it was the end of the winter term and the start of reading at home by the fire with hot chcolate. In resent years I left getting festivly minded too late, not having time to prepare a Christmas event and getting stressed. So I set off in the car, lictendin to "A Christmas Carol".
In the first part Marly's ghost talks about how the human spirit must go forth amongst it's fellow mans'  if not in life then in death. The whole section goes on to talk about charitable actions. I felt a lot better about doing this gig.  And what a gig it was. I'll post again about what went down BUT actions were amazing, expenses paid, journey  enjoyable, the p[participants fantastic. A real boost to my confidence as well as a few possible gigs.

And now a little about imagination.  As I left the venue it was raining, HARD. I had parked in a multi story car park, on the roof and relaised I'd have to walk up the sections reserved for cars as all the doors and stairs were shut. THe darkness, the weather and walking somewhere where you normally wouldn't work fired my imagination.  I started thinking of film noir detective thrillers, and then urban fantasies. The roof was littered with HUGE air intakes and had a strange industrial almost sci fi feel to it. In the darkness it felt more like a space station, and then something from "London Below" from Never Where.  I had to hop over barriers and run up and down service ramps to find a pay station (there were none, I made my escape by eventually using the "help" button on the wall. I should have been worried, or at least peeved off by the driving rain, the wind and the fear of being stuck there for a night. But instead I was elated, I felt like i Was having an adventure, all be it in my own mind. Maybe that';s the etheral moment I crave to create. Adventures of the impossible in the minds of my participants, even if it's for the meerest flicker of a second