This was my first book expo. My radio guest, Dan Poynter of The Self-Publishing Manual, said I should go as press. I did. The keynote speech featured Clarence Clemmons of the E Street band, and Steven Tyler. BEA has the keynote guests sit in nice comfy chairs in this informal interview format. Clarence was an affable, friendly person who shared some of the things he wrote about in his new book. He shared a story about Robert DeNiro and the movie Taxi Driver. The famous scene where DeNiro’s character is in the mirror asking, “Are you looking at me?” comes from seeing a Bruce Springsteen concert. Apparently Springsteen would play with his audience by asking them that very same question. Who knew?
Steven Tyler of AeroSmith fame was the next on keynote agenda. Steven was every bit the rock star: flamboyant in style, and laid back in temperament. He had this cosmic sensibility, asking, “Are you dreaming the dream or is the dream, dreaming you?”
Clarence and Steven have played in famous bands for many years. Yet, they were down to earth and accessible in sharing their stories.
Next up: What I learned by not saying hello to Chris Brogan.
Taxi Driver (Two-Disc Collector’s Edition)
Walk This Way: The Autobiography of Aerosmith
