Playing HD for Red Kettle

[OrchestraEric]

Last Saturday I played my HD for the Salvation Army Red Kettle. I enjoy having more notes than the bell. I always get a great response from folks. Will be playing again tomorrow. It will be around 55 degrees. The high 40's is a cold as I have experienced. I invite you to look up your Salvation Army people and try it (if the weather permits).

[Dan Landrum]

Eric,

This is a great idea. Not only do you get to do some good for others down the road, spark a little surprise joy in the moment, but also, what a great chance to practice your holiday repertoire in a no stress situation.

I know you didn't put this out there as a challenge, but I accept, and pledge to find out tomorrow if the BR at the grocery store near my home would enjoy a little accompaniment.

[OrchestraEric]

Finished my 2 hour shift. Several people thanked me for performing for such a good cause. One lady commented on having an LP of "Trapezoid" years ago. She was happy to hear a HD again. I told her about the Kentucky Winter Dulcimer Weekend. She promised to come to the Saturday evening concert.

[Dan Landrum]

I made arrangements for join the bell ringer next Saturday. Aaron O'Rourke is going to be visiting, so I'll take him along to play too. Thanks again for the idea. Anybody else care to donate an hour or two and report back here?

[cboody]

I've wanted to for years, but the Bell Ringers are outside and the temperature hovers around 32 here in MN so I never have. I wish they'd let the bell ringers inside... We did go out a couple of years, set up in a mall with a sign saying all contributions would go to the food shelf though, and that worked well.

Chuck Boody

[Sarah]

I've wanted to for years, but the Bell Ringers are outside and the temperature hovers around 32 here in MN so I never have. I wish they'd let the bell ringers inside...

A couple years ago WalMart corporate headquarters decreed that bell-ringers had to be all the way outside the store, not in the heated entryway. That pretty much rules out having them operate during the Christmas season. (It was 32 BELOW zero in town Saturday. Today a heat wave is rolling in, and it got up to -6, and may even get above zero Monday.) There was a lot of hullaballoo in the local paper, and I believe the local WalMart manager convinced corporate to make an exception in order to maintain goodwill with the community. I would think stores ought to make an exception for ALL the cold climate areas. It isn't like Minnesota is THAT balmy.

I don't shop at WalMart so I don't know what happens there now, but at the grocery stores I frequent, there are bell ringers in the heated arctic entryways of the stores from Thanksgiving until Christmas. You can't avoid them when entering and leaving the store. I strongly dislike those bells: they are so piercing, and I always seem to encounter them when I already have a headache. I know that encountering some real music would certainly create a lot more goodwill in me. Maybe it will work on others, too. Best of luck to those of you who substitute dulcimers for bells!

[Wildlifephotographer]

What an inspiring idea!! Can't do it this year, but I'll take up that challenge for next year. If I played this year, they'd be taking money out of the pot!

But, I promise to practice my holiday songs all year long, each and every day until I can play them in my sleep. Here in Iowa, some bell ringers are actually inside the malls, so I'll secure one of those spots and play my heart out.

Now that's a splendid idea! Thanks.

[Wildlifephotographer]

So, how is everyone's bell ringing going?