JPF Home Page Forums Southeast US Chapter Message Boards Tampa Chapter Message Board Fish Lips The Next Regeneration - 8-11 p.m. every Tuesday

Starting this Tuesday, February 20th I will begin my journey as host of the open mike extravaganza that is Fish Lips. I am honored to take on the mantel that has been passed down from Bob Lever to Jim Mason to your humble servent (and thank you Steve Dockendorf for keeping the dream alive last week when I couldn't attend).
I have two vocal mikes and stands to serve your lyrical needs and an additional two channels to project your instrumental genius to the world (it's a four channel Fender keyboard Extended Range Amp, but I bought it because it has such a clean sound, so give it a chance, it's my back that it's going to be throwing out as I try to move it).
Please continue to join us (or begin to). We have a great core of performers and a wonderful venue. What's not to like?

Thanks for taking this over Jeff.
See ya Tuesday at Fish Lips on Ulmerton just off of 19.




Jerry

I'll be there for the last hour, as is my custom.

Fantastic that you have stepped up to the plate are are swining for the fence. This open mic has been a home run from the gate and will continue to do well under Jeff Blake.
Keep Strummin' Al
www.bspass.com
www.aandrproductions.com

My pleasure, Jeff. I'm looking forward to more excellence in local talent presentation.

And for anyone who is interested in running open mics, if you are already a performer there isn't really a lot else to learn. There are, from my good and bad experiences, few points I'd recommend -

Next time you attend any open mic, come early, if possible, and watch the host. It's easy (even as the host) to get caught up in the performances and the networking, and that brings me to the next point. The host is responsible to keep things moving. That means staying aware of the list and making sure the next performer is aware and ready. Al the Pal is so good at this that he once rounded me up from the parking lot (I was practicing) when my turn was about to come up. Also being handy by the stage towards the end of the last song so you can turn down the PA when performers unplug their instruments (that's only if you care about the health of your PA speakers). And between performances I try to validate the performers and the management. Other than that, when talking to the crowd, just being my own weird self.

Hope this helps.

See ye all on Tuesday!
Thanks Steve & Jeff!



Jerry

Tomorrow is the night of another weekly adventure at Fish Lips open mike.
Bring your songs and polish them up for next Sunday the Tampa Bay Chapter Of Just Plain Folks kick off of the year meeting/showcase at ricks on the river in Tampa.
See ya all tomorrow night!

Jerry

Fish Lips also has a pretty good selection on their menu so come with your apetites.
Fish Lips is doing an excellent job supporting us so it is only fair for us to return the favor.
This open mike is tonight 8-11pm.

Jerry

Jeff-

Last week Jerry brought some elegant sign-up sheets that he'd made (or swiped - I didn't ask him). I'll bring them along and give them to you tonight.

Jeff did a very good job running/hosting the open mike.
It was great to see and hear everybody!
See ya all Sunday at Rick's on the River for the kick off showcase/meeting!

Jerry

Thanks to Barry Moses, Colin & Bruce, Terry & Roby, Steve Dockendorf, Don Noble, Jules (Just Jules), Meyer Baron, Jerry Jakala, Jim McGonigle & Bill Manley for the great songs and for making my first time hosting an open mike such a pleasure.
Hope to see you all (and more) next week, and don't miss the JPF Extravaganza at Rick's on Sunday and the open mike at La Casa Dolce on Monday.

Jeff

Wow, sounds like a great evening of music. Good job buddy. Glad to see someone so talented and capable step up to the plate and carry the evening to success.See ya'll Sunday. Al

It was really a surprise and great to see & hear Don Noble & his wife Carroll.
For those of you that don't know,Don is on of Jpf's most prolific song writer's.
Don also has a new (first)cd out that is worth getting.

Jerry

Good job, Jeff. I think the battery concession should go quite well. I wish I'd thought of it. I'm loking forward to more of the best talent in Tampa Bay.

Steve

Oh, for those not in attendance, Jeff will be providing (at a reasonable mark-up, of course) spare batteries, picks and other items as needed to complete one's performance.

My mother is back on an IV again so I am not going to be able to make the open mic tonight.
I am her IV nurse and it has to been administered twice a day.
Have a great open mic and I will see you soon!

Jerry

Tell Chris we're thinking of her and we hope to see her and her "Nurse" back at Fish Lips next week.

Sure will,Jeff.
Thanks!


Jerry

Thanks to a small but spirited (and extremely talented) group that made it out to Fish Lips last night.
Bruce & Colin
Terry (ably performing solo due to Roby's anniversary plans)
The Bilge Boys (Colin in another duo along with Scott)
Meyer Baron
Steve Dockendorf
The Elusive Sid Blittman
Bill Manley
See you next week!

Keep it goin everybody. I will be back in April for a couple of weeks and will need a place to play.

We're looking forward to seeing you Bob.
Hope all is going well,

Jeff

Chris & her nurse will be back on Tuesday night!
See ya all then.

Jerry

We're now listed in the Weekend section of the Times! Come see what all the commotion is about, share your songs, bathe your ears in beautiful music, fill your gullet with great food & drink, revel in the comraderie, choose one or all of the above.
8 to 11 tonight.

Ya mean we are famous?
Guess I am going to have to shave my head and buy some wigs!
Yuk!

Jerry

Just as long as you don't wear your Nurse outfit.

I'm leaving my nurses outfit at home.

Jerry

Sorry I'll have to miss all the shenanigans. I'm in the Panhandle on business, but will be back next Tue to fill in for Jeff as guest host.

Jeff - that's great about the newspaper coverage. Somebody should send a reporter to cover the various open mics and print the story in the entertainment section. I'm sure they could can one of the bad news stories and make room for something really cool.

Meyer:
Gordon Lightfoot is alive and well and touring this year.
I checked out his web site.

Jerry

I had a great time tonight, thanks to Jeff and everyone who contributed. You guys make it great!

Great to hear about Gordon, I'd heard he had a serious stomach ailment but hopefully he's past the worst of it.
Another fine Fish Lips Tuesday!
Thanks to:
Colin & Bruce
Don Noble
Jim McGonigle
Jules
Jerry Jakala (not in nurse apparel)
Terry
Bill Manley
Thanks to Steve Dockendorf for covering next week, I'll see you all (and more hopefully)in 2 weeks (Tuesday, March 20)

Good times tonight.
Highlights for me were Jim's new guitar, Terry's harp playin', and shooting the breeze with Jules, Meyer, and Crew.
See you all (sans Jeff) next week.

BTW Gordon Lightfoot is at Ruth Eckard Hall tonight for all you "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" fans. Rumor has it that the flowers from the little old ladies began arriving for him on Monday and they had to have an extra dressing room just to accomodate them all.

It was great to see & hear everyone.
See ya all next week.

Jerry

This Tue, March 13, I will return as guest host from 8:00 - 11:00 while Jeff catches up on his snail-tending or sleep or something.

The usual amenities to which many of you have become accustomed will be provided - including two mics and stands, lighted music stand and floor monitor.

This is a positive scene for musicians and singers in the area. I look forward to working again with the amazing talents that have become regulars at Fish Lips.

And for anyone who has been on the fence about performing in front of a live audience, this is a perfect place to start. The atmosphere is cozy and the audience has always been warm and appreciative.

I hope to see you there for some fame, fortune and fun (well, at least some fun).

Another fine night of great music and good friends. Thanks to:
Don Noble
Ranger
Dan Copeland
Meyer Baron
Andy Kapinski
Kevin Thomas
and
Just Jules

See you all (and more) next week,

Jeff

I'll be back next week for sure.
If you don't see my smiling face check the obituary column in the Wednesday morning paper.

Jerry

Come on out to Fish Lips tonight from 8-11 and share in the magic that is Open Mike Night. Located on the southeast corner of US19 and Ulmerton, Fish Lips has great food, libations and music to turn your Tuesday night into an event. Come out to share your songs or just enjoy the fine talent that flocks each Tuesday night to Fish Lips.

I wear clean socks so when I put my foot in my mouth the taste ain't so bad.I'll be putting my obituary in the morning paper.
Mom had a reaction to a new antbiotic so I won't be there tonight.Next tuesday she is having surgery so I am not sure about that one either.
THIS SUCKS!


Jerry

Unfortunately I'm stuck at work.
Rock on Guys.

We missed you Bill. And Jerry, I hope we don't really need to check the obits.
The night started out very slowly but built nicely to the end.
Thanks to:
Steve Dockendorf
Roby & Terry
Meyer Baron
Pat & John
Barry Moses
See you all next week!

I checked the obits and I am not in there so I guess today is going to be ok.
Glad to see that the Lipian's are keeping it going.

Happy to hear you're still with us. I'll be in Boston this weekend so I can't make the JPF meeting, but I hope to see you at Fish Lips next Tuesday.

Last night was one heckuva night! The girls from the gentleman's bar next door came over and started dancing. I never knew that Barry Moses singing a Lou Reed song could look like that. It took every ounce of energy we had to get them to keep their clothes on. Fortunately, we prevailed.

Probably best that a lot of you guys missed it. Just too much excitement.

I'm sure Barry helped, but I think it was more the dozen or so bikers singing (?) along to Not Enough Chicks.

It figure's!
My eye's missed a night of exercise!

Another night of great music!
Thanks to:
Terry & Roby
Jerry Jakala
Tom Ellis (who drove down all the way from Crystal River to play)
New JPF Coordinator Jules
Barkin' Barney
Bill Manley (with vocal assistance from his brother Matthew)

Special thanks to Jerry's Mom Chris for making it out despite the fact that she had surgery earlier in the day.

See you next week.

New JPF Coordinator?

Al retired as JPF coordinator.
Under another post (changing of the guard)Al explains.

Sorry I was out of town and had to miss the festivities. Sounds like quite a lineup of talent. See you all next week.

Mom & I will be at this weeks Fishapalooza.
We will be there early as usual to get some food before all of the fun starts.
Anyone else coming?

WARNING: I'll be toting my keyboard tonight. You might want to bring a book... or earplugs.

The Fishlips experience now expands further with the keyboard stylings of Meyer Baron and continues to feature Jerry Jakala, myself and a cast of several sharing their talents from 8-11 p.m. tonight. Come on out.