Song Writing and Team Building

The Song Team

This was the best team building and leadership event we've ever had. Our team is still on fire! — Delta Airlines

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Local Band Review: Rockin’ the Pub with “Celtic Bridge”

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Ever been to a good, authentic Irish Pub? You’d know it if you had. Dark wood, soft lighting, dark humor, darker beer, bright smiles. You know the place right? Oh, also a good Irish Pub will almost always have an acoustic duo or trio in a corner playing a combination of foot-stompin, Celtic drinking songs, and cry me a river Irish ballads.

At The Field, on Griffin Road every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night a trio called “Celtic Bridge” takes the stage. And as I experienced last night, the regulars at THIS Irish Pub, love their string-band music. Man, do they!

Celtic Bridge is comprised of John Schreiber – bass, guitar, vocals, Roisin Dillon – fiddle, and Ade Peever -guitar, vocals.

The band plays a mixture of traditional Irish jigs and reels, Irish and Scottish folk songs, original songs, and popular music from various genres. The band borrows liberally from the catalog of The Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem, Christy Moore, Van Morrison and The Chieftains, Dick Gaughan, Robert Burns, Lunasa, Crooked Still, Planxty, Andy Irvine, and Paul Brady. They also sprinkle in original songs by Ade Peever, original tune arrangements by John and Roisin, and the occasional mountain, old-time and Appalachian influenced tunes.

Ade and John have a great stage presence, and it’s clear to anyone paying who is attention, that these guys LOVE the collaborative music-making process. For them, making music is not just a collaboration between musicians on the stage….but also a joint exercise in merry, melody making with the audience themselves.

And Roisin on Fiddle simply rocks. She’s played in string bands all around the world, and these days Hollywood is very fortunate to have her as the string shredder of the house band at our own local establishment.

The band takes requests, cues the audience when to clap on certain songs, stomp their feet on others….or chime in with a line of a song such as “I think I’ll have a pint!” All of this interaction leads to a truly unique evening of entertainment. Playing live music requires a live audience if you know what I mean. Certainly, some kinds of music engage in different ways, but in a genre and setting which demand a true give and take with the audience, these guys didn’t let us down.

About halfway through the 2nd set, The fellow on the barstool next to me walked up to the stage and dropped a few bucks in the request jar. “Galloway Girl”, an old Irish ballad was the tune he wanted to hear. As the band plowed through this emotional melody, I looked his way through the corner of my eyes. I could see he was tearing up during the first chorus. Who doesn’t love a good cry?

This song was followed by foot stompers and hand clappers such as “Finnegan’s Way”, and “The 200-Year-Old Alcoholic.” These songs that I was previously unfamiliar with, now are on my list to look into further, and maybe even learn myself to have some fun on the guitar. The songs of the Irish are often poignant, often festive, and often humorous. Sometimes, all in the same title.
I can’t wait to dig deeper into original recordings by Ade and visit again with these guys. They make Hollywood proud. If you want to visit them check out their Facebook page for more information. Another Guinness please barkeep!

Email Jeff Jacob if you have a local band you’d like us to check out!

Find the original article here.

United All Boats Rise

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United All Boats Rise

So, I’m sitting on a colorful blanket under a palm tree on Hollywood Beach. Having found a little shade in the heat of the day, I am content. Toes in the sand, I have a notebook and pencil with me.

There is sand, breeze, and salt in the air. Heavenly. About an hour into my “allotted” two-hour window, (how much money I’d put in the meter), I noticed the sand around my blanket was moving. Little red ants were going about their business.

At first, I was startled. I love all things outdoors, but some of the DNA in my family tree does not.

However, I’m not them, and they’re not me, right? Trying to be calm about it, I use hands and feet to push piles of sand around me and move the ants (without harming them..mostly) away from the blanket. Surely, they would get the point if I kept digging these moats and building these…well, ant “defense” hills?

Nope. These industrious critters kept on their merry mission. United and focused on the task at hand. They seemed to be working together towards a purpose of higher calling. One that largely involved moving around my blanket, though not on it. Mostly. Some of them did make it onto the blanket as I held still and tried to focus on my book, the ocean, the breeze… is something crawling on my leg? Nope, nothing there, wait….nope nothing. Oh, there’s one. Crap.

I was fascinated by their determination, their collaborative instincts. The way they worked together reminded me of an article I once read about a forest of trees all of whose roots were connected. They communicated with one another in an organic, almost mystical way.

This red army was on their own little scavenger hunt for who knows what…food? Building materials? A Ms. Pac Man machine with a joystick that works well? Not sure what, but they had a mission, and somehow they were energetically connected. Did they ever quarrel? They must sometimes.

I recently saw “Bohemian Rhapsody” and Queen, like all bands, had their fights. But they also did some amazing work through collaboration.

Did you know that infamous foot stomping, drum-banging part at the start of “We Will Rock You” was not Freddie’s invention? Rather, it stemmed from the genius of guitarist Brian May. At the start of a rehearsal that Freddie hadn’t yet arrived at, May got tired of waiting and pitched his idea to the band of somehow involving the audience in part of this new song. Giving them their “own part.” Can you hear it? Stomp, stomp, clap…stomp, stomp, clap!

If you are inspired to do something collaborative with the entire community, join us in our annual city-wide scavenger hunt. We’ll challenge you, have fun, get to know each other, shine a light on some local non-profits, and celebrate all the good that Hollywood has to offer!

Here and everywhere, we are intrinsically interconnected. Amidst the daily grind, it’s easy to forget how nearly every action we take, or decision we make, has a domino effect on the ones around us. A butterfly effect if you will. Keep that in mind every day, every moment. At work and at home.

Think about it. Stay present. Give, collaborate, lift up your neighbor, breathe, rinse, repeat and do it again. Dare to see through the eyes of the other, dare to truly listen, be a great friend, an inspirational teammate, a leader who makes a difference.

United all boats rise.

All together now, get to it.

Find the original article here.

All together Now: The Art & Science of Collaboration

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John Lennon was 16 when he met Paul McCartney.  John’s band, “The Quarrymen” was playing at a church fair in Liverpool. The story goes that at the gig, a mutual friend introduced Paul to John and the two both played music later in the day with John’s band.

The pair was mutually impressed with each other. Their desires were similar, as was their love of music. Their styles and abilities were different. Complimentary.  In short order, it was apparent to John, just how talented Paul was.  And John, as angst-ridden and ego-centric a teen as any, still had the self-awareness, the insight to invite Paul to join him in the band. To share the stage, share their future glory, do the work and equally share ALL writing credit moving forward.  A new band was in the works, and soon “The Quarrymen” would be nothing more than an answer to a trivia question.

You know the story here, and it won’t be complicated for you to figure out the thrust of this column.

Nearly every culture-shifting product introduced to the marketplace, nearly every cure created to defeat a major illness, nearly every innovative service that becomes available to address a community malady, and yes…the vast majority of #1 songs, spanning popular music from Motown, to Rock, to Broadway and Country… have been the result of collaboration.

In Hollywood, a town bursting with creativity, and a community very enthusiastic about finally busting out from under the shadows of big brother and sister cities, Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, collaboration between individuals, between non-profits, and between the public and private sectors is the secret ingredient to sustainably, and finally pushing our community forward to where it needs and deserves to be.

When you look at the growth of The Yellow Green Market, or the condos rising up in the downtown areas you can see, taste and touch, the tangibility of collaboration.
When you see the worlds largest guitar-shaped building taking form right here in Hollywood…you’ll see a common thread. Collaboration.

Here, state and local governments, the Seminole Tribe, and The Hard Rock Company, all game (oops came) together. Equally, if not more impressive is the cooperative formed by the eight architectural firms sharing their resources, experiences and designs to bring this project to fruition. These firms might typically be competitors.

This project will create jobs, grow tourism, and increase local tax revenue. Some of these dollars will become increased contributions to benefit our schools.

The point of this column will be to remind each one of you of that which you already know. As thinkers, doers and community leaders you understand that collaboration and strategic planning lead to success, whatever one’s definition of that word is. Let’s call it “measurable community improvement.”

Remember all boats rise, when players get together on any project. More voices at the table. Good ideas becoming great.

Every month, we’ll end with a call to action in this space. So read to the end and collaborate with us!

In the coming months you’ll learn more about this year’s Hollywood Scavenger Hunt, which begins on December 7th. We’re calling this year’s search “The Hunt for Good,” and it will weave together our community, businesses, and non-profits in truly harmonious fashion.

Every year the hunt gets better and this year there will definitely be some cool surprises. Mark your calendar for the free, family-friendly kick-off event Dec. 6 at the Hollywood Jaycee Hall. The BEST part, is that simply by getting together to have some fun, the local community will benefit in multiple ways, on a multitude of projects. Imagine that!

The Hollywood Scavenger Hunt is designed to inspire participants to learn about Hollywood, Florida while having fun, meeting new people and making lifelong memories.

So, as soon as you’re done reading, and I mean…now, take a minute to download the free app “SCAVIFY” from the iOs app store or the Google Play store, search for the Hollywood Scavenger Hunt and create a team name for yourself so you’re ready to hit the ground running.

Find the orignal article at https://hollywoodscavengerhunt.com/all-together-now-the-art-science-of-collaboration/.

Visit www.hollywoodscavengerhunt.com for more information. You can also follow the hunt on facebook.com/hollywoodscavengerhunt/.

All together now, get to it.

Food Poisoning! And the team that healed me.

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The doctor came in for the 2nd time in as many hours. “How are you feeling Jeff?” “Well, I haven’ t felt the urge to dry heave in over an hour Doctor, thanks for asking.” “ I can’t allow you to be discharged until you can keep something down”, she said. “Do you feel up to a little juice?” “Yes please.” I was at Memorial Hospital in Hollywood, Florida. Ironically, tomorrow I’ll be there again at their conference center for TEDx rehearsal. A more “fun” visit. But, for today’s visit, I had made a grand entrance by hobbling into the ER doubled-over, with a bucket in my hand just in case, and promptly lay down on the floor blocking the entrance as effectively as I could. “Sir, your drivers license please”

A few minutes later in my “room”, Alex, a tall… very cool RN/dude who was my primary ER caretaker, came by with a tiny Apple Juice, and a matching container of Apple Sauce. ( I don’t like apple sauce, but oh well.)

An hour or so earlier, Alex had done a fairly good job of inserting the needle to insert anti-nausea medicine, and then a bag of fluids. (I’ve had better, but I’ve had worse as well.) I was quite in need of these mind you, as I had been throwing up since 2am and was parched and exhausted. Alex was both friendly and efficient..at the same time.

A bit earlier than that even, Zetta my admittance counselor from up front, had come back to see me and ask a few contact questions. Then we talked about her upcoming vacation to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. We had a great talk, and it was so nice to get to know her a little bit. She exuded positive vibes. I needed that smile almost as I needed those fluids.

As I lay in that hospital bed for hours, surrounded with the hustle and pain, the fear and coughing, I became truly aware of all the sounds and smells that permeate the atmosphere in an emergency room. There are people here in much worse shape then I, I told myself. The ER team made me feel cared for. That was a relief. When I facilitate our music team building programs in Florida, Nashville or anywhere for that matter… before I step on stage, I always try to channel a positive experience I’ve personally had with a team somewhere in my past. At a restaurant, a doctors office, a non-profit…

Every time a team works well together, it becomes more than the sum of the individual parts. It becomes the strength and potential of “the collective.” A force that can bend rivers, build dams, and change cultures. That potential, is awesome. So, before speaking at TEDx this weekend, (www.Tedxyoungcirclepark.org)  I want to say thank you to the team at Memorial Hospital for healing me. You have a very tough job, and experiencing your drive help, your collaborative spirit, and your smiles was inspiring. I hope that I don’t see you again for a long, long time! Now, let the music carry you forward.