I didn’t remember her name but did recognize that she’d cut her hair since I played there last year. Babylonia, not the puppy. I don’t think the puppy existed last year. Me and two other girls figured out the music for Still Alive, by Jonathan Coulton, from the game “Portal.” The sun was setting when I first walked up to the gazebo and when you walked away, you’d disappear into the shadow of a tree and reappear seconds later on the other side in orange lamplight.

Here’s a video. I play at this coffee house in Mobile, Alabama about once a year for family members who are in town (I have lots of extended family in Alabama and Florida) plus all those friends of friends who still remember me and come out even when I’ve been away for eleven months. As a bonus, there’s a decent barbecue place next door.

Satori Sound used to be a record store AND coffeehouse, and I was always impressed by the crazy art on the walls. There was one display a few years ago dedicated to dead rock stars that included a picture of Chris Bell from Big Star, which instantly won my enduring affection for this venue.

Join the team: get a perm and go on the road as “Tad Dreis,” performing my songs, while I write new material for you in my underground bunker. We’ll split the gig income. Only high-caliber applicants will be considered - as you know, the Tad Dreis brand has a reputation to maintain. I’m joking, of course, but part of me thinks this business model really has legs.

Alex just got back into town and we are keeping him busy in the studio. The lovely lady in the foreground is named “Jennifer” and she’s 85 years young.

This isn’t even all the stuff they gave me when I played at the farmers market today. Hallelujah.

Of course, not to lose perspective here, you know can also just call your friends when you’re planning a trip. But this is so cool!

How about a Facebook group to help musicians get in touch for rides? Or an app that would let you search ride postings by city and date in a social network? Maybe it exists already, I haven’t checked. Or a carpool website equivalent of CouchSurfing.com?

Logistics example: getting from Raleigh NC to Atlanta GA. You’d either need to be the driver or find someone else who’s going all the way, and you could rideshare with folks heading to Durham, Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Charlotte, Greenville SC, and maybe even Athens GA.

Practically speaking, if you aren’t driving, you’ll need to be dropped off either at your gig venue, at a public transport hub, or at a friend’s house. Getting home could either be done with another carpool, or via bus or rail.

It could be cheaper than driving yourself, especially if you consider the 51 cents/mile standard mileage rate. Just simple gas costs could be comparable too, though.

The tradeoff would be time. Organizing the rideshare, then adding the pickups and drop-offs to your overall trip time. Plus hygiene and psychological (and, gulp, safety) issues relating to a being in a car full of weirdos.

And of course, I’m also speaking as a solo performer. Bands might have a harder time finding available seats and room for their gear.

Because of the complexity this model adds to the beautiful simplicity of “get in your car, drive to your destination,” I don’t think it’s the answer to all the needs of a traveling musician, but it could be a part of it.

This posting is inspired by Jonathan Byrd’s blog request for new touring models.

It appeared to be a double-booking, and I was a little downcast, a little cloudy like the day, but the band, Bolin Creek, was really nice and took a longer-than-necessary break to let me play a bit.

At the end of my short set, a lady approached me and said “Hey, I think they’re looking for you up the hill at the other farmers market.” Aha! There was no double-booking, I just was at the wrong place. I went up the road a couple blocks and they had a sun shade tent set up for me and everything.

Today was the first time I’ve ever received cheese in my tip jar. I also got a loaf of sourdough bread and a jar of blueberry preserves. Pretty sweet.