PORT TOWNSEND — When Country Joe McDonald performed at the Upstage Theatre and Restaurant last week, he drew a random group of aging hippies — but not everyone there came to give him an “F.”
“I like Country Joe,” said Jim Angle of Port Townsend. “But I’m really here to see Annie.”
“Annie” is Anne Clark, a Jefferson County woman who has built her business serving as a sign language interpreter in both government and entertainment applications.
These are different worlds, but with the singular purpose of clearing obstacles to communications.
Governmental agencies, which first employed Clark, need to provide services for deaf people as required by federal law.
Since this need is only sporadic, especially in a small town, local agencies are happy to hire Clark on an as-needed basis.
Musical experience
Musicians also are eager to hire Clark to augment them on stage, as she enhances the experience for those who may not hear as well as they used to, while providing some visual variety.
This is a boon for performers like 1960s icon McDonald who still sound pretty good but aren’t that interesting to watch through an entire set.
“There are a lot of people who love music but have lost their hearing,” Clark said.
“They can feel the bottom and the drums, but they can’t hear the words, so having an interpreter allows them to enjoy the concert.”
Last week, Clark signed on to interpret McDonald’s songs, but he recruited her to perform his narrative as well.
In these cases, Clark usually doesn’t know what’s coming next and interprets on the fly.
Portray substance
She also doesn’t have time to learn all the lyrics, but trusts her ability to portray the song’s substance.
If it takes longer to sign some words than speak them, she needs to keep pace with the music.
But watching her gestures and expressions can be quite entertaining even for someone who has no idea what the signs actually mean.
“I used to think that sign language was the best way to communicate love and emotion, and English provided the best way to communicate scientific concepts,” she said.
“But after I interpreted at a physics conference, I was told that many of the participants would watch me when it got too technical for them, and it helped them to better understand the material.”
Inspired at festival
After working in various fields, including medicine and art, Clark saw an interpreter work at the Vancouver Folk Festival in British Columbia in the late 1980s and decided to give it a try.
Without telling anyone, she bought a book and learned 600 signs in a matter of weeks.
After reading more books and adding to her vocabulary she turned pro — and was on the same Vancouver stage within a few years.
Folk music is a natural fit for an interpreter, but she has also appeared with rap and punk bands.
While maintaining a local base, she has traveled internationally to provide interpretation for a variety of people and events.
Aside from her own work, she also conducts classes for people who want to learn how to sign.
“This is a great career,” she said. “Retired people are the largest growing population segment in this country, and many of them need help communicating.
“I’m doing well,” she said. “I have a house and a car and plenty of work that pays well enough, so I don’t have to work full time if I don’t want to.”
13-hour day
She ends up working some 13-hour days like last Thursday, when she got up early for a government job and spent the evening working for Country Joe.
She teaches students at their own pace and estimates that about three semesters work is needed before becoming marketable.
“It amuses me when someone sees what I do and says, ‘I could do that,'” she said.
“It takes a lot of work to do this, a lot of concentration, and you need to be in great physical shape.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
