The Cat's Pajamas: Thinking Big-Picture With Music for Little People

Many people these days, if not most, it seems, are unhappy with their jobs, if they are lucky enough to have one. Janet Schreiner is one of the lucky few that have found the perfect job and is completely happy going to work everyday.

A former music education teacher and Wynnewood resident, Schreiner began performing for young audiences in 1991 under the name "Janet Schreiner, Music for Children featuring Debbie Stahl." In the beginning Schreiner and fellow musician Stahl developed shows and original music incorporating several instruments and theatrical presentations. The duo's popularity began to grow through word of mouth and soon enough, Schreiner decided they needed a new name. Taking the popular 1920's phrase, The Cat's Pajamas have grown in size and popularity over the past decade and a half.

Later this month, they'll play the World Cafe Live in West Philadelphia.

Schreiner combines fun music with a lively stage performance. The Cat's Pajamas may appear clever and zany, but there is always a positive message. Recently they wrapped up a three-day, six-show tour of Tamaqua, Pa., where they performed a literacy-centric show called "Reading Rocks." They've recently won several Kids Music Awards such as "Best Album" for Reading Rocks and "Best Song About Reading" for Read to Me, from the same album. Schreiner keeps the overall theme educational, but her main goal is to get families, not just their kids, to embrace live music.

As the popularity of the shows grew, fans were asking to take the music home.

"People were asking why can't I buy that song, 'I want to take the Bellybutton Song home.' So we cut our first album in 1999," explained Schreiner. "Then it really exploded."

Not only did they get more gigs, but the venues became larger. Schreiner recalled a parks and recreations department who wanted to book the Cat's Pajamas for their summer concert series. Before then, the shows mainly consisted of just Schreiner and Stahl, but after the album they had several musicians that quickly became involved.

"So for a venue as large as yours I would need to book my band," she told them. "And they said 'How much would that cost?' And then I took another deep breathe and made up a number. Then I hung up the phone as I said [to myself], 'What have I just done?'" After a few phone calls the live band was put together. They were only four of them in 1999; now the group has nine members, with seven of them performing at live events.

A recent crowning achievement for the PJs was playing the Ultimate Block Party in Mew York City's Central Park for a crowd of 50,000. Schreiner feels the experience was just amazing, but once she got over the sheer size, she realized she preferred the smaller audiences, like a recent show at Penn Wynne Elementary.

"In many ways it was more fun to play [the school], because you have 350 kids right at your feet. You can see them; they can see you. You can hear them sing back to you. When I come off the stage at the end of a show, they can't wait to run up and hug me. I had three fifth-grade girls [on the Tamaqua tour] say for Halloween they wanted to be me. You don't get that from a crowd of 72,000 people. One of the things that everyone in the band loves is the interpersonal real connection we make with these kids that make us feel like we are making a difference."

Schreiner feels the connection of live music makes a great impact on children. Too many times kids just pop in ear buds, but she feels live music really sends a positive and energy-filled message that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Sometimes it is hard to connect with parents, but the energy of their shows are infectious, she says. If parents see their kids having fun, they quickly join in and vice versa. Schreiner and the Cats make an effort to reach out to a variety of communities, and they have played everything from special-needs schools to retirement homes. A testament of the Cat's Pajamas' appeal happened at a Christmas performance when Schreiner brought onstage a 103-year-old woman and a 3-month-old to participate. They also work with Art Reach, a group that brings art and music to schools or organizations that may not have the budget for such programs.

"I think too many people go through life so shut down they're just afraid to let themselves be present in the moment and just bask in it. Children are still at that wonderful age where they can look back and say 'I went to this concert and it was so exciting it made me want to go hear music for the rest of my life," reflected Schreiner.

Recently she received an email from a young lady asking if Schreiner remembered her. The fan had seen the Cat's Pajamas years ago and the music made such a profound impact on her. The letter ended with the line, "I still have your first album, and when no one's looking, I still dance to it. "

The Cat's Pajamas will be celebrating the release of their second concert DVD, "Pajama Party" at World Cafe Live on May 21. To purchase tickets visit World Cafe Live online.