My circus train pulls through the night
Full of lions and trapeze artists
I’m done with elephants and clowns
I want to
Run away and join the office

I like the comparison here, and I really liked this post

These days, though, I just want to rock. We can talk later.

***

Great post, Larry. I think being shy and awkward around strangers is a major characteristic of performers. (Maybe bloggers, too?) There’s another. At least for me. When I used to sing a lot, the smaller the crowd, the more horrified I was. I had to sing a jingle once at a client meeting in this tiny conference room in front of 7 people, and I was too nervous to do it. But, I swear I could sing the national anthem at Yankee’s Stadium and not feel all that nervous at all. Well, maybe just a tad nervous at Yankee’s Stadium. But, you know what I mean. The bigger the crowd, the easier it is/was.

You should go read Tom Watson’s Pete Townshend post over at newcritics. Here’s Townshend…

“…as I turned the corner down Old Compton Street towards Frith Street my heart began to pump. I reminded myself, in a familiar mantra, this is futile. To feel fear is pointless. There is nothing to fear. I am a man now. No one can hurt me any more. In thirty minutes time The Who were to play their new rock opera Tommy…”

Not that I want anyone to ever feel frightened, it’s still reassuring to me that someone like Pete Townshend would feel afraid. We’re all shy and afraid … of something. Whatever that something is.