Hurricane Sandy devastated my home town
back
in 2012.
The south shore of Long Island saw mayhem like
in a Godzilla movie. But this was REAL!
Do you remember?
For several tense days, the TV weather reports
kept me
up to date with the awful damage along
the east coast.
I was safe here on the west coast,
and
I felt so sad
for everyone caught in the crisis.
My attention focused on poor little East Rockaway.
Many homes were damaged or destroyed.
And my old
high school, too,
especially the auditorium,
where
I'd spent so many happy
hours playing in the band.
Gahhh! Those wonderful memories. I was heartsick.
Living some 3000 miles away, I immediately sent
money
and my best wishes to help with rebuilding.
It's what
they needed most right then.
You'd do the same, right?
Who doesn't care about their own home town?
We all care, usually a lot. And that's why I'm writing.
Because everyone cares so much about our own
"Home Sweet Home", we have a huge
opportunity.
Here's how to make it work for you:
Face it -- everyone loves their own special places.
Favorite landmark locations that kindle strong
personal memories.
Maybe yours are where you live now, or grew up
,
or went to school, or once visited,
or met someone
special, or plan for a honeymoon,
or dream about
exploring some day.
Back in the spring of 2012, my favorite special
place
was my home town.
These days, I entertain at weddings and parties,
and guests always request their favorite songs.
They're often about
their own home towns.
So we often play "New York, New York", "Georgia
on
My
Mind", "I Left My Heart in San Francisco",
"Going
to Kansas
City",
"Chicago that Toddling Town",
"April in Paris",
"Do You Know What It Means to Miss
New Orleans",
"Pennsylvania Polka", "A Foggy Day in
London Town",
"Moonlight in Vermont", "The Eyes of
Texas", "Carolina
in the Morning", "I'm Alabama Bound",
"Tennessee Waltz",
"Midnight in Moscow", "My Old
Kentucky Home",
"Chattanooga Choo Choo", "Girl
from Ipanema",
"Arrivaderchi Roma"
...
And more, of course.
"Where's YOUR home town?"
So here's that Tip I promised you.
I always ask this question whenever I help
someone plan the music for their celebration.
And you should do likewise.
