News and Updates
June 1, 2009

I am relieved to note that the tour personnel seem to be in good shape. Last year, I fired road managers and merchandise people regularly, for reasons like:

Perhaps I should have mentioned that interstate driving is not my forte? (A week before we were due to leave.)

I didn’t realize there was lifting involved. (After one show, with minimal equipment.)

I can’t deal with sleep deprivation. (After one show, with a 6 am departure for home so we could all have a life.)

I forgot to renew my license/I wasn’t in town/I couldn’t get to the DMV. (These excuses after driving me around for 10 days on a suspended license!)

I usually have an assistant to deal with those things. (And how spoiled are you?!)

Fortunately, Jan Elliott and Debra Hyslop stepped into the breach, and things finally began to settle. This year, Jan stepped down for health reasons, but Debra is doing a fantastic job. Much to my relief.

We went out this month with Amy Cartia doing merch/driving, going as far north as Norfolk CT (where we played Infinity Hall, an unbelievably cool venue Mark Twain once played – and the view from the back of the hall, bullrushes and empty land, was worth the trip) and as far south as Clearwater, FL (where we met the local alligator, named Murray after the venue.) The big surprise was Marjan, who flew in from Holland for the five shows – and Elliott and Andy, who were Roadies For a Day our first gig of the run, and did a great job.

Janis and Uncle Bernie - picture by Peter Cunningham

Janis and Anthony DeCurtis -Photo by Debra Hyslop

I finally got to do something with the 92nd Street Y – Anthony deCurtis did a fabulous interview, the audience was great, my Aunt Mona and cousins Judy and Donna drove in for the occasion, and all in all it was a success. I’ve been looking forward to that for months now, and it’s so good not to be let down!

We spent 3 days with my Uncle Bernie and Aunt Emily up in Nahant, culminating in a lobster feast. Very messy, very delicious.

You may have noticed a couple of small changes to the merchandise pages. For one, I went in and lowered pricing on a bunch of things, from the Best of Janis Ian CD set (and the combo) to the 15 minute phone call and living room concerts. We’re trying to lower the combo on tour as well, basically doing everything we can to continue raising money for the Pearl Foundation while keeping the economy in mind.

I’m touring on and off for the rest of the year, so I hope to see many of you out there. In the meanwhile, I’m headed off to water my garden – my astilbe have really taken off this year, and the yarrow is trying to take over the rest of my beds, so I’ve got my work cut out!

Murray the Gator - Photo by Debra Hyslop

We are reading: Greetings & Other Stories by Terry Bisson, and The John Varley Reader by John Varley (for my money, two of the great short story writers in the world, even if you don’t like science fiction – and Varley’s website is really interesting); In the Name of Heaven: 3000 years of religious persecution  by Mary Jane Engh (who was author emerita at this year’s Nebulas – this book is fascinating!); The Resurrection Man’s Legacy, by Dale Bailey (also wonderful short stories, and why have I never heard of him before?!)

We are listening to: Harps and Angels, by Randy Newman – his best in a long time, just fantastic.

We are hoping: that everyone we know and love has a job, a roof over their head, and people who love them as well.

Janis and Amy - Photo by Debra Hyslop