A few weeks ago, after having a few too many glasses of wine with our friends Andrea and John, we decided it would be a good idea see Yacht Rock Revue – a cover band that plays, you guessed it, yacht rock. Shortly thereafter, our friend Keirnan got in on the action, tickets were purchased and there was no turning back.
In preparing for the show, we all considered dressing the part, but decided that that would be a bit over the top. However, as we approached the venue, we saw hundreds of people in line, with more than half wearing captain hats, blue and white striped linen tops and boat shoes. This was going to be an interesting night.
As the band came out, the audience of about 5,000 people started cheering as if Freddy Mercury had taken the stage. And, shortly thereafter, this group of seven 40-60 year-old dads (and their back-up singers) had the crowd on their feet singing along to the Pina Colada song (Rupert Holmes), Do it Again (Steely Dan), Africa (Toto), Dancing Queen (Abba) Lonesome Loser (Little River Band) and numerous other classics. By the end of the night, my wife and Andrea were both donning captain hats while John and I were doing the best “dad dancing” you’d ever seen.
So, why do I share this story? Well, for one, so that John and Andrea will finally stop asking me when they will be included in one of my blogs. But, moreso, because of the life reminders/lessons I took away from the experience:
- When in Rome… Seeing the crowd in their yacht attire upon arriving at the venue, I thought it may be best to turn immediately around. But once I got over myself and decided to join the party, the fun kicked in.
- Music Connects Us. If you want to meet people, go to a place where everyone knows every word to every song that’s being played. You’ll always know exactly what to say.
- Anything is possible. These guys were a cover band, selling out 5k+ seat venues at shows (sometimes for multiple nights) around the country. if that doesn’t say anything is possible, I don’t know what does. (To be completely honest, I had a brief vision of a my future self as the drummer of the band. But that quickly passed.)
- Live in the moment. This experience just reminded me to live in the moment and enjoy the show. Don’t worry about what others may think. Sometimes, all it takes is a little yacht rock to remind you to do so.
- Captain hats can be a good look. I don’t expect this to become a major trend, but I have to say that my wife looked really good in that captain hat. (Unfortunately, I was told I couldn’t share pictures here.) 🙂
So, if Yacht Rock Revue happens to come to your neighborhood, I recommend checking them out. And, be sure to dress appropriately. (Don’t worry, they sell captain hats there if you forget yours). And, most importantly, enjoy the show!
Jeff Freedman
CEO/Managing Partner
Small Army | Finn Partners