HEAD: Ball State professor's impromptu Village performances
Camille Germain | Staff Rerporter
For Chester Geiselman, Friday and Saturday nights are always the same, but never boring.
Starting at 10:30 p.m., he takes his spot on University Avenue. Geiselman, a 3-D studio manager and instructor at Ball State, has a hobby he wants to share with everyone: singing and playing the guitar.
For the past three years, Geiselman has shared his talent in the Village, playing a variety of music from the 1920s through the ‘70s.
"For most people the music I play is obscure, but for me it's not," he said as he strummed along to a Bob Dylan tune.
As a musician for more half his life, Geiselman wants to provide a welcoming and humble atmosphere.
"I've always liked to play music because it feels good and I like to share that with people," he said. "To make that connection with other people is gratifying. I hope other people will get out and play too."
Other than hearing random requests like the ever popular "Free Bird," Geiselman also hears compliments. Another noise he hears is the sound of money falling into a tin can.
"Saturday night, I made $46!" he said.
The container, which is connected to the neck of his guitar, came about when he first started playing and people would give him money.
A man of many talents, Geiselman not only plays what he loves, but he makes what he loves. He builds his guitars out of items such as cigar and wine boxes.
"I still have it in my mind to make a real acoustic," he said. "This is good practice with cigar boxes. If I get it wrong, I'm not out thousands of dollars."
Kate Johnson, a student who works for Geiselman, said music is a big part of his life.
"Chet walks around singing all the time," Johnson said. "I think [his performing] is awesome."
A lot of his students are aware of his weekend excursions, but others left in the dark become baffled when he shows them guitars he has made.
While Geiselman loves to make guitars, he said being an artist is an important part of him too.
"I don't have time to make more guitars because I'm trying to get some art made too," he said. "I am a sculptor."
Going from a musician in a college band to a college professor teaching art and playing for fun, Geiselman said it all came about because of his love of music.
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