Ray's Five: Day One (and an explanation of my newest obsession)

No, that's not Sinatra.

It's Jivoff. Get ready because Jivoff is going to be popping up on Artsy Schmartsy a whole hell of a lot in the next few weeks.

There are plenty of reasons why Ray Jivoff needs further exploration. I will try, try, try to elucidate. Some of you may get it, but some of you may just think it's some cruel inside joke gone wrong. But trust me, we all have things to learn from Jivoff. And we're going to do it through the magic of video.

This past week I posted something called Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's finest, is highjacked!
Jim was a great sport. A superb foil to some wacko with a video camera. I had grand illusions that Jim Higgins would become an overnight sensation, a journalist par excellence whose internet day of fame had come. But no. The people have demanded more Jivoff because of Ray's starry supporting role in that 11 minute video.

And when I say "the people" I mean there actually are a collection of folks who wrote me saying, "We want more Ray Jivoff videos!" Ever the one to listen to my people, I say, "Hell, yeah! If it's Jivoff you want, it's Jivoff you'll have!"

Beyond listening to all you blog reading squawkers, I see a lot of value in learning more about Ray Jivoff with a daily video installment. Ray is certainly one of my best pals, but for all of you who don't know him, he's also kind of a wonder to behold. If you've ever seen him perform on stage, you know he's full of pep and verve. His role as an educator in the community is ever expanding, ever evolving and ever shifting to meet the needs of the kids he works with. And, I can say this because I know him, Ray's rivers run deep.

And that friends is the point of this little experiment: to dip our toes in Ray's deep waters.

For the next several weeks I will endeavor to post one five minute video of Ray per day (or at least every day I see him, which is gonna be a lot over the next few weeks) so that we all can lap up some of that Jivoff wisdom.

Without further ado, I welcome you to Ray's Five: Day One.