Bob Dorr And The Blue Band Update

Alright! The summer festival season! And what a kick off weekend! See ya later today (Friday) for our annual appearance at Urbandale Friday Fest, Walker/Johnston Park, about 88th & Douglas in suburban Des Moines, we play 5:15-8:00p. The contract says there is a "rain sight" but they don't say where!... Then, Saturday, we move one suburb to the west to be part of the day long Smokin' In The Junction Blues and Bar-b-que fest in Valley Junction, West Des Moines, we're the last band of the day, 8-10pm...And then Sunday, it's our first appearance at the Liberty Centre Blues & Barbecue Festival in North Liberty (Iowa City suburb), again, we're the final band of the day, 8-10 p.m. More info on those festivities can be found at http://www.northlibertyiowa.org/bluesandbbq/ We'll be a seven piece band all weekend with Ron DeWitte helping out on guitar while Jeff continues to mend from the surgery of May 6. (wasn't that an heroic performance that Mr. P put in last Saturday, playing two full sets just 10 days after that surgery?!) Jeff is bound an determined to play all three nights and Heath will join Al in the horn section on Fri/Sat, Bunky will be the saxman on Sunday. This is gonna be ALOT of fun and don't hesitate to celebrate the Memorial Day weekend by bringing CAKE...

Please take note that our annual Memorial Day show at FB & Co. in Waubeek is now NEXT Saturday, May 30. More info on that in next week's note...

Tickets are now selling fast for the Blues Cruise River Boat Ride in Dubuque on Friday June 5. This is a fundraiser for Iowa Public Radio. Advance tickets are only $15 and we will have some with us this weekend at the Merch table. Otherwise, info and on-line tickets available at www.iowapublicradio.org or 800-772-2440 ext. 0. There's only 300 spaces on the boat, get yer tickets NOW!!...

And speaking of Iowa Public Radio, today I attended my first "informational conference" on the possibility of early retirement from (the station formerly known as) KUNI. I'm finding fewer and fewer reasons why I shouldn't do it! Many more people weighed in with their thoughts this week, including:

Retirement: doesn't sound like you're ready. And if you retire now, what are you gonna do all day? Work on your tan? Golf? I plan to work until I drop that last carton of books and keel over....

When one door closes, often a window opens, if we’re ready to see new choices, and not too busy staring at the closed door. Good Luck!...

I say take the money and run!! Ha wouldn't that be fun, you can probably find enough to keep you busy!...

Stay at the job unless the deal is outrageously advantageous (just another free opinion, and probably worth that or less)...

Sounds like a no-brainer if there's going to be a cut-back and potential for a lay-off prior to another offer for early retirement. Being a business owner I can tell you there are many creative ways to keep the "good guys" on. You can be hired (subsequent to "retirement") as an "independent contractor" and thus "off" payroll. It's like writing a check to the electric company...

One piece of retirement advice I forgot, Buy a Powerball ticket, win the big prize, then BUY KUNI – be your own boss...

How about marketing your show to other outlets, such as other Midwest public stations, nationally via NPR or commercially with Sirius Radio or other satellite radio services? You might find you could build a Midwest or national audience for what you do in your garage!...

Mainly...I want you HAPPY...and you seem happiest when you're working. Whatever it takes to make certain you can work as long as you want to do it (!) gets my vote...

I have spent a lot of road time listening to various public radio stations (since most of our vehicles are so old they still have 8-track players in them!!!) and I haven't heard anything even slightly similar to what you have been doing on KUNI. The biggest single age demographic in the US now -- as we all get reminded every time we endure another TV spot for Activia or Zocor or (spare me!) Viagra -- is 50+, and that is exactly the market your programs attract. It sure seems like other stations would be interested in picking up programming that would appeal to that demographic...

I always enjoy your newsletters, but the retirement issue was really interesting. Tough decision to make….but early retirement options don’t come around very often...

I find it interesting that responses over the last two weeks are almost split 50/50. I truly appreciate everyone's insight. I feel like I've got Should I Stay or Should I Go by the Clash on repeat in the cd player of my mind! Keep weighin' in, I'm not gonna make my decision until mid June...

Be careful on the Blue Highway this holiday weekend, remember, the Governor's Highway Patrol cars will be out in full force and they won't be out there just rubbin' their washboard to the beat of a different drummer! Remember, the holiday is in respect for those that made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. CAKE is always a great way to celebrate! We love you, Bob Dorr & The Blue Band