<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.3395" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Recently I have read and seen a great amount of
dispair within the performing community. Theatres have closed.
Funding has become scarce. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I would like to voice my opinion where "live
performance" is concerned. I read recently in the spotlight on Eric Oswald
where he was determined to never wear a "gorilla costume" again. I know
Eric and believe he has many GREAT stories related to his singing telegram
career. I would venture to say Eric's stage success is partly due to those
years at Eastern Onion. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The fact is, all of us who are lucky enough and
talented enough to perform in ANY live arena (from Theatre to Caberet to the
lowly Singing Telegram) know that we are here to stay.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We are recession proof. We are technology
proof. We are certainly depression proof. As long as we keep honing
our talents.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Good, well trained performers will always draw an
audience. Skilled singers, actors, acrobats, dancers, comedians..........
(the list goes on) will always find themselves relevent and necessary.
Venues come and go. Performers require audiences and will do what's
necessary to display their talents. And those lost within the constraints
of hard times RACE to find solace in the joy of a truly gifted
performance.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Fact is, no one can download a LIVE
performance. Not of a play. Not of a revue. Not of
a gorilla singing telegram.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And, we all know, there's NOTHING like performing
in a live show. The thrill of being in the NOW is like no other.
It's what we crave and what we love. And why we, in turn, are loved.
This NEOHIOPAL forum itself survives SOLELY as a result of the bond shared among
our community (well, there is Fred's idealism.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So, don your hat, slip into your dancing
shoes, grab your cane or juggling balls, put on your chicken suit or just
karaoke. Hard times were made for those of us who cherish the opportunity
to cheer people up. Time to find your inner gorilla! Who knows, you
may get a helluva tip.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Doug Wilson</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Akron, OH</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>