As a songwriter/storyteller I think the most important thing to do is to constantly survey your surroundings. I'm always watching for something out of the ordinary to kick off an idea. It could be a phrase on a hand painted billboard, a person that stands out or an expression on someone's face. A few years ago it was a crumpled up candy wrapper with the picture of a girl stamped on it and a bumper sticker on the back of a Mac truck that read "This Truck Makes More $$$ After Midnight" More importantly, it seems the that the things that strike me the most inspiring are the things that either make me laugh or uncomfortable. I think it helps to not only think but look outside of your comfort zone. With that said, here are the top things I watch for....

1. Interesting Women - Goes without saying. It could be a the awkward girl in the corner of the room or the life of the party, and it all depends on what you consider awkward. For me, it's usually the women that look dangerous. Dangerous curves, dangerous looks or dangerous behavior. Many a song has been inspired by a quick trip to a downtown hot spot on a Friday or Saturday night. Won't take long. I'm rarely disappointed. Beauty, style and environment are irrelevant...it's all how they carry themselves. All I've learned is I know nothing about women. They always surprise me. We men are too predictable too often to fully observe.

2. Local Religious Zealots - About a year ago we were prepping for a show in a local club that was above a haunted house attraction, and the street evangelists showed up. Now, no attacks here against anyone's religious beliefs- live and let live- but watching these folks scream and wave their bibles, signs and posters warning of the impending judgment day is right up my alley. I spoke to one of them for about ten minutes and he seemed real friendly. Asked him where he lived, what he did for a living and why he was there. He was very polite, soft spoken and calm when we spoke...the second I walked away he was screaming at the top of his lungs and right back at it. Never did tell him I was a member of the Profane Saints (I thought I might get gang exorcised). Later that night I drove past the local gay bar and saw him throwing religious tracts through the door as it opened. I'm still writing material about this guy to this day.

3. Hobos - I use this term loosely. Not the classic "homeward bound" individuals that make up the stuff of legend but usually the rough, unshaven down and out types you see at the end of an interstate exit ramp holding up a cardboard sign. Sounds weird- but sometimes if the sign is clever enough, I'll slip the guys a few extra bucks for the laugh. My favorite one was a guy and his dog...had the dog holding the sign that read "Out of everyone I could of followed home it had to be this guy...Haven't made it home yet...anything helps" Another "fave" was a guy in Vegas laying flat on his back holding an empty beer glass in his hands...wouldn't accept money- just alcohol...even yelled at some poor gal that tried to slip him a buck in his glass saying "How would you like it if I followed you to a restaurant and threw quarters in your mashed potatoes?!"

4. Midways, Carnivals and Fairs - I'd say freak shows but too few still exist in such politically correct times...to say that I love the traveling road show is an understatement. I dream, live, eat and breathe it. The greasy food, the cotton candy, the carnies, the rides, the show-goers. I love it all. Things you will always see:

-A prepubescent girl dressed like a 40 year old hooker
-The ride that looks like it will fall apart if you yell too loud while walking by but you ride it anyway
-a carnival employee that wants to not only entertain but hold your kids...I've seen the attempt before but last one I took the wife and kids to tried to grab my six month old son and put him on the kiddie train. No way. Wasn't going to happen. He told me he was disappointed in me as a father for not letting him ride...I told him I'd learn to live with that knowledge.
-The carnival employee that plays air guitar while operating the rides and knows every word to any song ever written by Meatloaf
-The Midway hustler (man or woman) that is so good looking you can't believe they work in a traveling carnival operation. Seriously.
-The worst rock/country cover band you will ever hear, performing on a near by stage.
-A person selling tickets that looks like he/she hasn't slept since 1977. If you get the ticket booth job...you're screwed.

I could go on and on...whole albums remain to be written about what I've experienced at these things...my songs "Midway Babylon" "Gypsy Town" and "Plank Road Drag" have all been inspired by the American carnival.

(to be continued...)