Alisha Bausone, a chemist recruiter, used to play the guitar and piano at coffee shops for many years.

Bausone admitted that she had butterflies on stage, but the casual and warm coffee shop environment made her feel confident.  She said, “It was great to be with like-minded people.”

She used to sweat and her heart raced before every performance. She said, “Throughout my previous experiences with musical performance, I actually had quite a bit of stage fright. It was extremely nerve-racking performing on a grand piano on a stage in front of others.”

Apparently, Bausone had experienced some stage fright. She said, “I had terrible stage fright, but the warm coffee shop experience gave me more confidence, that translated into my everyday life as well.”

Also, she started playing in coffee shops during her freshman year in college to earn gas money. “One of my friends lived in the Cleveland area and would go to a little coffee shop called the ‘Painesville Perk’ on the weekends,” she said.

She played a song during a break at the Painesville Perk. After she played during the break, the Painesville Perk asked her if she could come back and perform her own show the next weekend, and she accepted the offer. She said, “It was a fun way to earn 30 bucks.”

For Bausone, classical music has always been an important part of her life, since she was a little girl, she explained. She said, “I began playing the piano at age five and was drawn towards the music of composers, such as Bach and Beethoven. When I was in high school, the grunge movement had just begun, and folk singers, like Jewel, were becoming popular.”

Bausone also said, “I received a toy guitar for Christmas, and actually began composing folk music, and doing covers of popular music at the time.”

She enjoys expressing herself through music. She said, “It was amazing to get paid for doing something I really loved. I had a group of followers that I actually became friends with. It was a great experience.”

Furthermore, Bausone said, “There were people whom I’ve met at coffee shops, during breaks in between sets, who’ve asked me when I was playing next and where. I’m actually friends with some of them today.”

Bausone also said, “My favorite performance happened in June of 1998. I was playing at an Arabica in Mentor and it was standing room only. It was amazing to see that many people and make so many new friends. I had expanded my repertoire and was excited to play some really fun new pieces.”

She would be open to playing at public places again. She said, “If they had a need for a musician at a fundraiser, or similar activity, I would certainly be open to the idea.”

Bausone played many songs. According to her husband, Richard, she played “covers of Jewel, Leonard Cohen, and Bob Dylan.”

Richard’s favorite part about Alisha’s performances was her talent. He said, “Her outstanding musical ability and beautiful voice and creative original songs made her shows enjoyable.”

Additionally, Richard said, “Being that I was the designated roadie, I went to all of her shows and they were all well-done and very enjoyable. All of the patrons seemed to have a good time and to enjoy the show, as well as I did.”

Beth Pollack, a friend of Alisha’s, said that if she didn’t have a child, she “would’ve seen Alisha perform many more times.”

Furthermore, Pollack said, “I think it would be wonderful to walk in and get a cup of coffee in the morning and have somebody like Alisha playing, or on a weekend just to go and relax.”

Bausone enjoyed playing in coffee shops greatly. According to Pollack, “Alisha was up there and she had this great smile on her face.”

Richard believes that the coffee shop experience is a feel-good experience because people can “drink a quality cup of coffee while listening to some well-played, relaxing music,” he said.

According to Richard, he and Bausone bonded over their tastes in music. Richard said,  “Our first conversation was about her playing at coffee shops and that really started our relationship.”