I gotta send highest props to the students at University of Central Florida. I performed there in like April, and they somehow found it in their hearts to have me back again just half a year later! The UCF folks said I was the first API performing artist ever to be brought to campus by students. And now I’m privileged to be the second ever too - along with my mellows Bao Phi and Kiwi. Florida folks, catch us tomorrow - meaning Wednesday, October 17 - at 7P in the Cape Florida Room at UCF.

I always had this stereotype in my head that Orlando would be an all-Disney town, like I went to college in Amherst, and during the summers, when college students weren’t there, the entire city was basically a huge farm and half a strip mall. It was and still is so dominated by college students, it doesn’t really seem to have an identity outside of being a college town. So I assumed Orlando must be similarly dominated by Disney shit.

Turns out I’m an idiot, because the folks I met there were some of the realest, most enjoyable folks I’ve been able to spend time with in a while. In fact, the only thing Disney about my trip was meeting a dude who was an extra in “Pirates of the Caribbean 3.” (I see you Scott.) No pretense or nothing, and they treated me like one of the family. Maybe it’s a southern thing…

After my set, we were supposed to do a large group discussion, but what happened was way better. We took some time to chop it up about some issues facing API communities, but there was also a spur-of-the-moment open mic with folks just getting up and sharing their creative works and I’m hoping there’s gonna be a similar energy tomorrow.

Sometimes I get caught up in work and organizing and community and life, that I forget how much I love this shit. And sometimes folks ask if it’s a rush being on stage, but f-ck a rush. I like connecting with folks, however it goes down. I dig the conversations after the show as much as I dig the actual performance, maybe more. So much thanks and love to all those students who bust their collective ass to bring performers like me, Bao, and Kiwizzo to their campuses. There literally would be no reason to do this if not for yall.

See you tomorrow Florida!