‘Tis The Season…? Oy Vey!

Christmas Greetings From Burning Man!

Above, Charles files suit against Dickens Carolers for trademark infringement…

Probably in anticipation of a turnaround in the California economy, Christmas Caroling quartet companies are announcing their auditions, uhm, now…in August.

Always seemed to me that they got around to it in mid-September.

But, indeed, this is fantastic news because the benchmark for a Fortune 500 company’s prosperity has always been whether they are willing to pay for carolers at the annual holiday bash.

I joke, but it’s kind of true.

Anyway, you’ve heard me harp on “stage time” and that all time on stage is a learning experience worthy of acquiring.

So get out there and audition, get hired, put on yer top hat or bonnet, paste a smile on your face and sing for angry, stressed out shoppers in the local mall, or angry, stressed out families at a theme park, or angry, stressed out company workers worried about next week’s pink slips…

Have I made it sound horrible?

Good, because that’s as bad as it gets.

The best part of caroling makes all the “other parts” quite tolerable.

First, it’s December, the darkest month of the year, and here we are singing the most joyful music — night after night after night;

Christmas lights are up and, next to fireworks, nothing appeals to my eye more than Christmas lights;

People WANT to celebrate something, anything. People WANT to celebrate;

There is hope — and it’s not even the new year yet…

So, in your performance, as you collect your caroler stage time (and paychecks), you have the option of focusing on the downside or focusing on the upside.

Spread the grumpiness or spread the joy…it’s up to you.

Yes, you’re going to be singing “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” ad nauseum, but you’ll also be singing “O Holy Night,” “Chestnuts,” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and a whole bunch of classic songs that you only sing for one month out of the year.

Joy to the world, baby!