The Showcase
I recently took part in a showcase. I was one of seven acts performing at a beautiful theatre at a retirement community in Boynton Beach, Florida. Scattered throughout the audience were forty-two talent buyers representing other communities in the southeastern region of the state. You’ve heard the names: Boca Raton, Delray Beach, West Palm, Fort Lauderdale, etc. sometimes cruelly referred to as God’s waiting room. Posters in the lobby advertised shows that were coming up. The names were impressive: Robert Klein, Rita Rudner, Little Anthony, Gary Puckett, Clint Holmes, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., and Charo. Yes, I said Charo. Cuchi-cuchi. Most of these acts are easily over 60 years old, but most of the audience is well over 70.
Retirement communities in Florida can be massive. This particular community, Coral Lakes, boasts 38,152 residents at various properties. Three percent of that fills up this state of the art 1000+ seat theatre. Having done many of these theaters, I can attest to the quality of the crowd. They so appreciate that you have come to their turf, sparing them a trip to Vegas or Branson or Broadway. I especially look forward to these gigs because the audience have lived my jokes. When I say, “I took my dog for a walk. He pooped twice and I was jealous” they roar! Young audiences in comedy clubs just make a face and go, “Eww.”
The only other comedian performing was a friend and resident of the area. He has a very funny one-man show called, “Till Death Do Us Part, You First”. There were three cover bands. They play music of the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. One did Motown and disco hits with Temptations style dance moves. Sometimes there are bands that cover only one group. There are Eagles cover bands with names like Hotel California or The Long Run. Beatles cover bands like Rain, The Fab Four, The Sun Kings. Stones cover bands – Satisfaction, Shattered, Rocks Off. In fact, there are so many for the Stones, you can Google “Rolling Stones cover band near me”. You’ll get 3, maybe 4 results.
A male tenor trio was on hand called Destino. They covered Broadway show tunes from Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Rent, etc. They closed with the obligatory “Nessun Dorma” from Puccini’s “Turandot”. It’s the law. I had to follow them. I started with, “Let’s hear it again for Destino. I love those guys. So talented. So young. So slim…I hate those guys!”
Occasionally, there’s a flaw. The opening cover band had recently lost their lead singer. They replaced him with a woman because they couldn’t find another guy who could hit the high notes in Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’”. The problem is that she was also called upon to mimic the lead singer in all the other bands they covered. Imagine Olivia Newton John doing AC/DC’s Highway To Hell. Somehow, it lacked the same grit.
Before the show, I like to roam among the patrons in the lobby. I witnessed uncommon conversations. I heard, “It’s benign” three times within five minutes. When you’re young and you meet someone you haven’t seen in a while, you might exclaim “Hey, Jim, you look great!” At a senior colony it’s, “Hello, Esther. You look well”. It’s the polite version of “Oh, you’re not sick. Good for you.” Or “Barbara?! I was sure you’d passed.” It’s often a relief to find that the friend you were talking to yesterday is still around today.
I had big fun hanging out backstage with the Motown revue. One of the singers was a retired cop. He had a nice pension and complained that the only reason he’s still gigging is because his wife spends all day shopping online. “Man, I hate that Amazon! She ends up returning half the stuff, anyway. Always sending me to the UPS…I hate that Amazon.” Knowing I was a comedian, they all felt they had to tell me jokes. After reciting about ten, I protested, “Oh, so now everybody’s a comedian. Hey, just cause I know you’re in a Motown revue that doesn’t give me license to sing “Ain’t too Proud to Beg”? Does it? You guys got to stop!” We all laughed.
The rest of set went very well. I hope to get some work out of it for next year. It was so much fun. It’s always calming to walk out and see that sea of white hair. I know then, that I am with my people.