Tag: free

Smiley’s Tavern Open Mic

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A beatbox and bongos are part of the mix at open mic for adventurous musicians

I would like to post something daily for the next 16 weeks to develop a writer’s discipline. Last weekend my husband and I attended open mic night at Smiley’s Tavern.

Smiley’s Tavern has a storied history. It is not the most glamorous bar on the planet.

A terrible upstairs fire that threatened it’s existence a decade ago, only seemed to temper it. To my surprise, the owners just fixed it up and put it back in working order.

 I spent a lot of hours at Smileys with my husband in our courting days. It is where we used to sit and smoke cigarettes and drink beer before such things became verboten.

It’s a very informal tavern. Folks play cards in the other room, and there is a full bar with an assortment of spirits and soft drinks to imbibe.

However, we just go for open mic night. The people that belong to NUMOSS, or New Ulm Musicians Open mic society are a talented bunch and a fun group of grown-ups with an eclectic taste in music. Some of the music is original, but most of what you hear are cover songs. 

That’s okay, people like the tried and true.

Smiling at Smiley’s Tavern

There are educators everywhere

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You have to jump puddles at your own speed

I wasn’t going to blog on Saturdays, but since I have time today I will. Today I was thinking about simplicity in education. So much of knowledge is free for you in our time. You don’t have to buy any books or any informational secrets. There are no secrets. It’s all out there for you. And it’s free. I predict in the future, all book-based education will be free, and all skills-based education will be as it was in the past, based on apprenticeship, counsels, guilds, or networks. I believe professional organizations will definitely continue to exist.
Show me, tell me, let me learn. Academic learning has it’s place, but I do not believe that it is the highest form of learning for every field. The Ivy Leaguers admit that their tuition is higher, but that is no guarantee of any future prosperity or occupational success. What it takes is up to the individual. Once you get into your profession, you are responsible only for yourself, and whether you rise or fall will be based on your capabilities of listening, understanding, and performing to the best of your ability. “Follow your heart,” means you need to get a good education that is applicable to what you aspire to, and then trust your gut. You will be taught well: either by someone else, a book, or yourself!

Musically yours, Amy Zents