Audiences ask: What will John Mayer do next?

In June 2004, John Mayer was on the roster for Eric Clapton's first Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas. Attendees included guitar geeks; guitarist fans wanting to see popular, well-known guitar gods or bands; and a few younger pop fans. At the hint of Mayer's appearance, the female fans began screaming.

On day two around 7 p.m., Mayer joined the "house musicians" on stage and began his set on an acoustic six-string. This was no gentle folk ballad, evidenced by his engulfing vocals, showing each facial muscle's strain.

The adoring fans screamed only between numbers and were acknowledged with a smiling nod. The photographers were asked for souvenirs -- a guitar pick, dirt kicked from his sneakers, anything!

As he switched to an electric Fender, the intensity of his vocals was matched by his guitar playing; his presence was now understood by new witnesses.

The next day, Mayer was invited to join the legendary B. B. King on stage for a blues jam with Jimmie Vaughan, Eric Clapton, and Buddy Guy! Some who hadn't witnessed his prowess the previous evening wondered what Mayer was doing there. Others suggested they just watch and listen.

Clapton and King were into mellow -- with eyes closed, feeling the blues; while Vaughan, Guy, and Mayer were stretching strings, straining not to fall off their chairs as they played their three-way fugue against the duet next to them. The stadium was enraptured.

Enter a matured, 32-year-old Mayer this July, 2010 and the Kennedy Center's "American Playlist" Series. On July 20, the legendary Smokey Robinson was joined by Mayer, opera singer Harolyn Blackwell and the National Symphony Orchestra to support arts education.

Waiting in line for the distribution of the free tickets for the concert were two distinct groups of fans -- those for Smokey and his vintage Motown and those much younger, texting with i-pods. At the concert, there were then two distinct types of appreciative sounds -- cheering and screaming. Dressed in black pants, shirt and jacket, Mayer commanded an awesome Johnny Cash-esque stage presence as he praised Kaiser's work, asking the audience to ponder, "What if no one introduced Buddy Guy to the music of Muddy Waters…. or no one gave a microphone to Smokey Robinson?"

Donning his guitar, Mayer was ready to follow conductor Sarah Hicks' baton but looked sheepishly over his shoulder for the cue. A guitar pick slipped and he started to flick it, rock guitarist style, then paused, musing, "I'm not sure what the etiquette is for guitar picks at the Kennedy Center." He formally bowed to a person in the front row, placing the pick in the person's hand.

Mayer heartfully sang, "Waiting on the World to Change." In his next appearance, Mayer quoted Bob Dylan honoring Robinson's gift as a songwriter. He announced that he would perform a Dylan compo-sition- "one man and one guitar," looking over his shoulder again, "with one orchestra". "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" brought unanimous approval from the audience.

Mayer's 2010 tour "Battle Studies," brings him to Jiffy Lube Live this Saturday. His website reports surprises he's bestowed on his fans and audience- a live video stream backstage tour, live streaming of a concert song, and more.

What will happen for our venue's evening? Might he reprise the bear costume in the parking lot? What-ever it is, the audience will have both screaming fans and pleased guitar god worshippers.