Sometimes Our Toughest Teachers Give Us the Greatest Gifts

Me playing guitar in Zócalo Square in front of the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, where construction began in 1573.

A lot of people may not be aware that I am semi-fluent in Spanish.

The reason why is because when I was a teenager, I went to a prep school and had a fantastic Spanish teacher.

She was really hard on us, but I am eternally grateful to her in my adult life.

This was before Google Translate, so we had to actually learn the language. And in my house, if I didn’t get good grades, there were consequences.

So, I learned.

Many years later, I understand the value of what she instilled in us.

I started traveling internationally in my 20s, and now, at 41, I have spent nearly 10 years traveling to and spending extended periods of time in countries like Mexico. Knowing Spanish has allowed me to explore and become part of the culture in a way that simply wouldn’t be possible otherwise.

Even when I am in Mexico, people constantly comment on how good my Spanish is.

I love visiting and spending extended periods of time in Mexico because it is only a short flight from Texas, where I am from, and there is so much to see and do.

Needless to say, the food is amazing. Pair that with a great beach or a picture-perfect city landscape, and it can be quite the retreat.

In my downtime when I am not performing, sometimes I go there to work and coordinate things for the program. I can do that from anywhere, so why not do it from Mexico?

The coolest thing is that when you “live like a local,” things can be about half the price of the United States. So, if you have flexibility, it can actually be a more economical lifestyle.

For example, at my grocery store in Austin, Texas, one single avocado costs $1.85. In Mexico, you can get an entire kilo—which is basically a bag of avocados that actually taste better—for about that same price in pesos.

I could go on and on.

But in a way, this is also the essence of my Mr. Blue Shoes program.

I have simply taken an old art form and put it into a new package, so to speak, and placed it in an environment where it can thrive.

Schools need presentations. Kids are starved for connection. So why not provide them with an opportunity to see something cool at a cost that makes sense for schools?

That’s really what Mr. Blue Shoes has always been about: taking something valuable and finding a way to make it relevant and accessible to a new generation.

I just thought I would share that.

But reply back and let me know your stories about Mexico or any other foreign country you have visited. I’d love to hear them!

Have a great week, and always keep me in mind if you’re looking for a great program for your students.

Why Human Connection Still Matters

Mr. Blue Shoes with students with ESL students in Dallas, Texas

I have seen a lot of trends come and go over the last 18 years working with kids and in the education sector. Of course, with social media, all of these things have exploded. New music, new styles, new songs, new everything pretty much.

And now we have Artificial Intelligence. Many people are afraid of it, and I totally understand that perspective. It is scary. But just like many things, it can be used for both good and bad purposes.

I use AI on a daily basis, and it has helped me a tremendous amount, but it hasn’t replaced me. Honestly, I don’t think it ever will. The one thing AI cannot do is feel, and that is the critical part that machine learning can’t seem to contextualize.

I have even experimented with AI to create music, and some of it sounds really great, but the part that’s missing is me.

Educators make a difference. Human connection is critical and is the essential piece that technology will never replace.

It can be a great aid, but it is not a replacement.

This is why my program has withstood the test of time. It provides real, authentic human connection that cannot be replicated.

We all have a distinct ability to connect with other human beings, educators especially. I remember the educators and the seemingly small things they did to help me along that made a lasting impact on my life.

When I play guitar, it still makes an impact. A machine will never be able to replace the nuance associated with being a live performer.

Even today, with all the advancements, especially with AI and music, once a user is made aware that what they are listening to is non-human, it can change their sentiment. I’m not saying it will always be this way, and there are certainly people who are not concerned about it, but at the end of the day, most people value authenticity. We all want people and things to be real.

I’m not afraid of AI. For all that it knows, it actually gets a lot wrong. If you have called the technical support line of any major corporation recently, you probably already know. It just doesn’t seem to understand things that it should.

Even Elon Musk learned this lesson at Tesla. The company initially pushed heavily toward automation while building the Model 3, but Musk eventually admitted they had gone too far. Some of the automation was actually slowing production down, and Tesla had to bring humans back into parts of the process.

Musk summed it up pretty simply: “Humans are underrated.”

So there you have it. Even one of the biggest proponents of technology discovered that sometimes the technology just can’t do the job as well as a human can.

And we need you. Your students need you. Students also need to see live programs, whether it’s Mr. Blue Shoes or another artist or creator.

We are the missing link that no piece of technology will ever be able to replace.

That being said, if you’re looking for a great program, give me a shout! Together we can provide an experience students will never forget.

How a short assembly program can make a lasting impact

Signing autographs for the children from Hexter Elementary in Dallas, Texas

Several months after I visited Hexter Elementary at Dallas ISD, one of the teachers told me about an exercise her kindergarteners had done.

The objective was simple:

“Tell me your favorite thing about the school year.”

Then she sent me a picture of one student’s answer.

It said:

“Him.”

The “him” the student was referring to was Mr. Blue Shoes.

All these years later, I don’t have the exact picture the student drew, but I remember what happened.

I actually played at that school at least twice—so they liked me!

I remember a little something about almost every show I’ve ever played, which is now in the thousands.

You can actually see a snapshot of where I’ve been over the last 18 years here:

https://www.mrblueshoes.com/tour-archive

Not every show is listed, but a substantial portion of the dates since I started keeping track are there.

But the point is, it wasn’t just that one student.

Other students started drawing pictures of Mr. Blue Shoes too, almost as if they had come to some sort of playground consensus about what they were going to report to their teacher.

All these years later, even the artwork I got permission to use on my letterhead was made by a kindergartener named Emma, who is probably in college by now.

And these aren’t just drawings kids make.

They’re memories.

Experiences like these can become seminal events in their lives.

The same thing happened to me.

I remember when the high school band came and played Christmas songs at my elementary school, T.J. Lee Elementary in Irving, Texas.

Out of everything that happened during elementary school, why is that one of the few memories I can still see vividly?

Because experiences like that stick with you.

And that’s why, after 18 years and thousands of performances, I still believe in what Mr. Blue Shoes does.

It works.

⚠️ Did you request information about Mr. Blue Shoes?

Artwork by Aiden

Did you request information about Mr. Blue Shoes? Please check your Spam/Promotions folder!

Unfortunately, school district and Gmail email filters are incredibly aggressive, and some of my replies are ending up in Spam, Junk or Promotions folders.

I respond to 100% of emails and inquiries, so if you requested information and haven't heard back, please check your Spam/Promotions folder and select “Mark Not Spam” or “Move to Inbox.”

Take a minute right now and search your email for “Mr. Blue Shoes.”

If you find my message, reply back—even with just “Got it!” That helps make sure future information actually reaches you.

I would hate for your students to miss out on an opportunity like this simply because an email ended up in the wrong folder. The drawing pictured here came from a student after one of my visits, and it's a great reminder of why getting these programs in front of kids matters.

If you already took the first step by requesting information. Take the next one: check your spam folder and reply so I know you received it.

Just a quick public service announcement from Mr. Blue Shoes!

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If you're a teacher, principal, PTA, librarian, or administrator planning assemblies or events, I'd love to visit your school or community.

Check available dates & pricing:

https://www.mrblueshoes.com/learnmore

Or call or text (469) 949-3113.

Thanks everyone and I look forward to having you on board!

Why songs stay with us for a lifetime 🎸 📚

During a summer program recently, a student raised his hand after one of my songs and asked me a question that really made me think.

"Why would someone put a story in a song?"

I told him that songs have a remarkable way of capturing our attention and making ideas memorable. Long after we forget a conversation or a page in a book, we often remember the words to a song we haven't heard in years.

When a story is paired with melody and rhythm, it becomes something we don't just hear—we experience it. That's one of the reasons music has been used for generations to share history, preserve traditions, and teach important lessons.

It's also the philosophy behind every Mr. Blue Shoes program.

Rather than simply talking about the history of American music, students experience it through live performance, storytelling, audience participation, and songs that help those ideas stay with them long after the assembly is over.

It's always rewarding to watch students discover that learning can be just as engaging as it is memorable.
If you're planning assemblies for the upcoming school year, I'd love to bring that experience to your campus.