FIRST, THE NOT SO GOOD NEWS
So what have I been up to? We'll start with the
less-than-stellar news of, well, I've had no in-person gigs
since mid-March. The live music scene came to a screeching
halt then, and hasn't been able to do much to redeem itself
due to the restrictions that remain in place in many
communities. It's been a tough time for many of us who rely
on music for our livings, and I wish my fellow musicians all
the best. Hopefully we'll all find our way through these
difficult times!
I'm hesitant to put a schedule with this update because so
many shows have been cancelled or are in a state of
uncertainty. I would kindly ask that you keep an eye on the
Schedule page here, and the
Events page
www.pintsizepolkas.com, and
I will do my best to keep those pages updated. Also, please
never hesitate to email me if you need to confirm a specific
date. I’ll do my best to answer promptly!
NOW, THE GOOD NEWS
So what's the good news in all of this? I have
been extremely busy producing virtual programs for libraries
this summer. My income is still going to be way, way down
from what it normally is, but it’s still something, and I
see a lot of possibilities for expanding my virtual
programming services in the future.
In the spring, I also produced a series of short videos of
me playing some of my original music, as well as several
polka covers. Please check out my YouTube channel at
www.youtube.com/mikeschneiderband
to see those videos, along with a few interviews that I did
years back for the Polka Visionary Society - the official
fan club of the Mike Schneider Band. Some really interesting
discussions there you will not want to miss!
AND, THE REALLY GOOD NEWS
My kids and their teammates are on an amazing
run! Heather and I coach their FIRST Lego League team, named
“The F.O.U.R.” They won their regional and sectional
competitions this season, and at state earned a Global
Innovation nomination for their creative (and now
patent-pending) idea to keep mice and rats out of homes and
buildings. They proceeded to make it through the next round
of judging, so out of 40,000 FLL teams worldwide, they are
in the top 20. I am so incredibly proud of our kids, and of
Heather, who is their main (and amazing) coach!
How can you help our kids, and also learn more about their
project? First, please visit, like and share their Faecbook
page at
www.facebook.com/TheFOURtop20.
There, you can read daily updates about their project and
their progress.
As always, be sure to join
our growing list of fans on Facebook
here, or for Pint Size
Polkas
here. Once you’re there,
click the Like button at the top of the page.
That's all for this month. Thanks again, and stay healthy
and sane during these challenging times!
Mike Schneider
The Mike
Schneider Band |
