I've been recording on my flip camera or zoom digital recorder the voices and images of commuters I meet who inspire me with their comments. The section of this site is called What's Your Inspiration? where I post what I capture. It’s not a difficult process, I actually don’t need to edit much, except to try and keep it under 2 minutes.
There is no absence of people inspired by life by what they see and hear, willing to walk up to me while I’m performing and chat. I’ve just recently had the guts to say, “hey would you mind if I record what you're saying for my website?" So that’s how I discovered Paradise at 125th street station who matter-of-factly said, “keep love in your heart everyone, remember that.” Sherwin at Penn station expressed, “Joy is my inspiration." These people need to be heard, they make our world a better and interesting place to live in.
And their inspirational stories resonate with me deeply. We live in a harsh world, and here in New York City it’s a very crowded and chaotic one. Ester shared, “today we have ‘soundicians’ (sic) that make noise, but real music is compelling. Music is in my soul, I get goose-bumps, I feel heightened. Maybe if people had the right music they’d be happier.” "Soundicians” ? !! Wonderful, that description is compelling enough to make me want to find more and more Ester's of the world to share with you.
Heartfelt, honest, strange, inspiring….you be the judge. Stay tuned as I introduce you to the people I meet in the subway on this website, maybe you’ll feel compelled to share or leave a comment. It’s easy. And maybe one day if you happen upon me in the subway, you too will feel inspired enough to share what inspires you.
As a performer in the Music Under New York program since 1999, I have been included in many documentaries. I always wanted to see a film made from my perspective and realized the only way to do that was to film it myself. Of course the audio and visual qualities are limited. But the stories I have captured make a compelling collaboration of sound and imagery, of music in public spaces and the effects on the passersby.
To share through film this conversation and song, a soundtrack for the daily commute is the power of interactive performance in public spaces. How integrating conversation=inspiration with performance, creates community spirit, dialogue and inner knowing of connectivity.
I created this film to help preserve the heritage and spirit of the Troubadour. By nature of performing in public spaces, includes diverse people of social economic backgrounds and ethnicities. Creating an all inclusive, free, alternative to stage performing. Bringing the outside world in to isolated locations or state of being. Using modern technology to travel virtually (social media: youtube, twitter etc). And by traveling physically, enhances the exchange of culture and art. Thereby encouraging conversation into community action for inspired change.
What's Your inspiration?
I also created a special Youtube Playlist where I feature short films I've made for others using my What's Your Inspiration? technique. I'd gladly create one for you. Contact me here