So when the volunteer list goes out I am stumped.  Make baked goods?  Cook dinners for the volunteer corps doing the public service project?  Organize a Tupperware party with all proceeds going to the 5th grade?  Sorry, I somehow missed that class along the way to parenthood.  I am not June Cleaver or Carol Brady.

But I finally found my niche this week. 

My oldest is involved in a high school play.  Yes, she’s very good and has a lead role. Yes I am bragging.  However, when the list came out for making dinners, baking cookies and sewing those costumes, I once again went. Well…until…

 I got the email on how they were doing PR and realize they didn’t have a clue.  Not one f-bomb of a clue.  And suddenly all those years of putting up flyers, begging fellow college DJs to play tapes, calling every friend I knew to “come see the band, please come see the band” paid off.  Newspaper coverage?  Radio PSAs?  Posters?  Calling in friends and relatives for contacts, promotional opportunities.  That I know how to do.

And so I quickly became the PR person for the performing arts group.  Made the calls, got the webpage calendars out there, pulled in a few favours from friends and got them airtime on three radio stations via PSAs.   All in a two week window.

Yes, you never know when your odd life skills as a musician can pay off, even as a parent.