David Garibaldi, Congratulations for a great Job tonight on America’s Got Talent. You made what we do look easy! Good job, dude. Way to rock it and good luck!

Team Paintjam was excited to be performing for Texan’s quarterback Matt Schaub and his lovely wife Laurie in Houston. I was having feelings of a surreal nature as I entered the hotel. I work so much all over the world that it is just too easy to work in Houston. Too… comfortable. As a caricaturist, I spent 30 years working in these hotels. I know they are just buildings, but the familiar is somehow comforting. The minute we walked into the hall, we knew it was going to be a fun event. The event planner had done a fantastic job and the room looked gorgeous. Suspended roses in glass vases and black and gold themed color scheme. Very elegant affair.

Local Television hosts Debra Duncan http://www.khou.com/great-day and the voice of the Texan’s, announcer, Mark Vandermeer were M.C.ing the evening. I ran into Veteran newscaster Dave Ward as well. I had worked with him several times in the past with caricatures.

The Schaub’s had chosen a great lineup. Ray Charles, a fist holding a Texan’s helmet and Lady Liberty. A very solid show.

I hit the stage and rocked Ray to a great crowd reaction. Ray is the best opening piece that I have. Even though people have seen it on youtube and TV, seeing it live is quite different. It always brings the house down. I then changed clothes to join my wife and a few local friends that the Schaub’s generously allowed us to bring to fill a table. I nibbled a salad, because I still had to go on again. As dinner was drawing to a close I excused myself and suited up for round two. The Texan’s Helmet painting rocked! The team logo was painted in the studio before the show, and covered with black canvas to hide it from the audience until the right music cue. The crowd exploded as I revealed the logo and then waved a giant Texan’s flag, standing in a defiant rock and roll pose. Brushes clenched in my raised fist!

I went into my monologue about being “youtube famous” ( my kids say this: You’re not really famous, your just youtube famous. You’re just a talking dog!) and closed with encouraging the crowd to follow their dreams. “My biggest fear in starting this show was that if I was successful and became a traveling vagabond, what would that do to my wonderful family? The truth is that while I am gone a LOT, and it has been tough on them, it has also enhanced my family life. Never be afraid to follow your dreams!”

I then closed with Lady Liberty offering the challenge: “I’ve been holding out on you. I can do better. Would you like to see one faster or slower?”

“The only time they said slower was at the prison show.” and then little wing queues as I explain, “Let me lay it out for you. I have a piece of music that’s 2 1/2 minutes long. When the music starts, I will start painting. When the music’s over, my name is Dan and I will be Dunn. Would you like to see THAT?” Then under my breath, for effect “I hope this works.”

By this time they are looking for Jimi Hendrix as his version of the star spangled banner plays. We surprise them again with a feel-good-America piece!
The huge standing ovation just seems to go on and on. My mother was in the audience. Before the show, I asked if she wanted to go see me, because she has seen me so many times. Her reply was ” I love to hear them applaud for you.” Mom’s are sweet that way, but yeah… I get it. it is kind of addicting.

The auction begins and Ray sells for $8000 so I offer to do a second one in the studio for the same price, doubling the bid to $16,000. Then we do the same for Lady Liberty for two more paintings for a total of 3 Lady Liberties. $24,000. The Texans line up and sign the helmet painting with gloved hands and tubes of paint. Then it auctioned off for $12,000. A framed print in the lobby of a cowboy sold for $600. So the total raised was $52.600. The Schaub’s built a play room for the kids at Texas Children’s Hospital last year with donations. The gala raised far more but this added to the bottom line for them.

We like to say we are cash positive entertainment for gala’s. It has been an honor to raise the millions we have raised for such worthy causes.

James, my tour manager and myself were invited to play golf with the team the following day, but it was rained out and rescheduled. We showed up and had lunch with the Schwab’s and met Matt’s parents. Super nice folks. I hope I am not traveling and can play when they reschedule.

I hope we can do many more events for the Texan’s. Such great people. and my home team! Lucky me.

Onward and upward!

Dan