Rapid T Rabbit
12-15-2005, 08:51 PM
Today I received an email from the coordinator for the Amherst MA Teddy Bear Rally sponsored by the area Rotary Club. I was asked to no longer appear there as Tenderheart Bear of the Care Bears at this annual event, which I've been performing at for just short of a decade. Starting next year, the rally is being turned into just a Crafts Show.
Well in a way I'm not surprised at the changes being made for next year's event, having seen how the size of the rally this past Summer was so much smaller than it had been in the past. Next year would have been Tenderheart Bear's 10th appearance at the Teddy Bear Rally. A Chicago friend of mine who is a teddy bear collector has told me that such teddy bear events have declined in recent years due to changing collectibles marketplace conditions and other factors such as the rising dominance of Ebay auctions for teddy craft sellers and buyers. I was also saddened by the absence of singer Gary Rosen at this year's rally due to his failing health, and were Tenderheart Bear were to reappear next year, I was going to ask if Tenderheart could actually sing what had been Gary's "signoff" song at the rally, "What A Wonderful World" with the help of the Swing Band following the parade, dedicating that performance as a tribute to Gary's many years as a regular and native-Amherst born performer at the event.
I replied to the email, essentially acknowledging my realization that changes were in the wind for the annual event and my understanding of that. I thanked them for allowing me to appear at the rally as Tenderheart for the past decade.
This had been the one public event I had for years where I was safely able to be a Care Bear doing a sponsored, unofficial, fan-supported appearance. My performace was always appreciated at this event, and I always enjoyed a great audience here. And so, another longtime gig I had is now history.
I have so often been told in the past that when one door closes on me, that another one opens. Well unfortunately for me, that has not been my experience in a very long time now. This is just the latest in my declining fortunes onstage, and it hurts just as bad as they all do, just like when I lost Chuck E. over 2 years ago. Both of these gigs lasted 9 years.
Well in a way I'm not surprised at the changes being made for next year's event, having seen how the size of the rally this past Summer was so much smaller than it had been in the past. Next year would have been Tenderheart Bear's 10th appearance at the Teddy Bear Rally. A Chicago friend of mine who is a teddy bear collector has told me that such teddy bear events have declined in recent years due to changing collectibles marketplace conditions and other factors such as the rising dominance of Ebay auctions for teddy craft sellers and buyers. I was also saddened by the absence of singer Gary Rosen at this year's rally due to his failing health, and were Tenderheart Bear were to reappear next year, I was going to ask if Tenderheart could actually sing what had been Gary's "signoff" song at the rally, "What A Wonderful World" with the help of the Swing Band following the parade, dedicating that performance as a tribute to Gary's many years as a regular and native-Amherst born performer at the event.
I replied to the email, essentially acknowledging my realization that changes were in the wind for the annual event and my understanding of that. I thanked them for allowing me to appear at the rally as Tenderheart for the past decade.
This had been the one public event I had for years where I was safely able to be a Care Bear doing a sponsored, unofficial, fan-supported appearance. My performace was always appreciated at this event, and I always enjoyed a great audience here. And so, another longtime gig I had is now history.
I have so often been told in the past that when one door closes on me, that another one opens. Well unfortunately for me, that has not been my experience in a very long time now. This is just the latest in my declining fortunes onstage, and it hurts just as bad as they all do, just like when I lost Chuck E. over 2 years ago. Both of these gigs lasted 9 years.