Barnes & Noble Virtual Streisand Author Event 2023

Streisand / Television

2023 Barnes & Noble Virtual Author Event

Streamed: December 5, 2023 via Zoom

Barbra Streisand as she appeared on the 2023 Zoom interview about her memoir.

U.S. bookstore Barnes & Noble hosted a virtual author event for Barbra upon the release of her memoir, My Name is Barbra.


This was an e-ticketed event; fans could spend around $58 for admission;  there was a limited amount of tickets that included a Barbra's book with a signed bookplate. Those sold out almost immediately.  Do to heavy demand (and selling on eBay!), B&N reached out to more fans to "upgrade" them to the signed bookplate.


The Zoom webinar with Barbra began at 8:00 PM Eastern Time, and she was interviewed by CBS Sunday Morning correspondent Mo Rocca, who did a good job.


There was a countdown on the Zoom screen with Barbra's recording of "You'll Never Know" then Mr. Rocca delivered an impassioned introduction of Barbra.  "One of the biggest takeaways for me," Rocca said of her memoir, "pretty much any decision's she's made, from the singing of a particular lyric, to the reading of a line, to the direction of a scene, to a cause she supports, has been deeply considered, conscientious, and intentional." Then with some cleverness, Rocca added: "And that goes for what she eats as well."


Mo Rocca concentrated on her early career at first, asking Barbra to recall the Bon Soir where she performed in 1962.  "I thought it was very comfy. I loved the place."  As for the Lion, the club around the corner where she first appeared, Barbra admitted she didn't know it was a gay club — "even though my friend who brought me there was gay," she said.


About 20 minutes into the event, Barbra asked about the fans who were watching and Mo Rocca explained how so many fans had joined from around the country and the world.


Then Rocca switched the focus to Swanson's TV dinners.  Streisand preferred the fried chicken dinners but wasn't a fan of the apple desert. "Did it have a crust on it?" she wondered aloud.


Rocca brought up Streisand's meeting of her longtime assistant Renata — who had an "X" on her arm where she was bit by a snake and had used a knife to cut the wound open and suck out the venom. "I thought, This is a girl for me!" Barbra said. "She is an extraordinary person who I am blessed to have in my life," Barbra added.


Mo Rocca interviewing Streisand on screen.

Gabby from Los Angeles asked Barbra: "What song would you sing for your father if he was alive when you were performing?"


Barbra's answer: "Not While I'm Around."  "It's a song of protection ... If I could have helped [my father], I would have taken him to the doctor before it was too late."


A fan who knew the Choys (the family who owned the Chinese restaurant where Barbra worked as a teenager in Brooklyn) elected Barbra's usual Chinese ordering schtick. Another question about Chinese food — Barbra said sweet and sour pork (with pineapple!) was her favorite dish – with fried rice.  Then she revealed that one place in L.A. has the fat, dry egg rolls that she loves.


Mo Rocca mentioned that Barbra wrote that she should have been born in a different era.  When he asks her which one, Barbra explains that her barn house has a stone labeled 1790.  But then when she finished the house, she carved a stone with 1904 — the number 4 is one of her lucky numbers.  Then she explains that Yentl was set in 1904.


At almost halfway through the Zoom, Barbra asked Mo what the emojis were (the hearts and happy face emojis that were flooding the chat). "How do I know what they're saying," Barbra asked. "It's all very celebratory," Mo responds. "There's a lot of happiness there."   Barbra responds, "That's sweet.  That brings tears to my eyes."  (In the live chat after this was said, the participants FLOODED the Zoom with heart emojis!)


Mo read another question from Lilian from Lawrence, Kansas. "Your music was so meaningful for me growing up in a very toxic household. When you were a teen, was there a particular writer, artist, singer, actor, that made that difference for you?" (Barbra responded:  Marlon Brando).


After another couple of fan questions, Mo Rocca asked Barbra about the cat food commercial she recorded in Detroit, Michigan back when she performed at the Caucus Club in the 1960s. Barbra explained that the cat commercial in A Star Is Born was inspired by this Detroit gig — and that she still receives a residual check for fourteen cents.


Rocca appeased Streisand's foodie side when he mentioned Poutine — a dish of french fries and cheese curds topped with a brown gravy from Quebec. "We have to look it up, girls!" Barbra exclaimed.


Next up:  Laura from Dubuque, Iowa asks: "What is one little thing that makes you happy?"


Barbra responds: "Two days ago, my grandchildren who come over — one is five, one is gonna be three.  They always look enchanting with a little bow in their hair ... they both are gorgeous to look at ... and they're so interesting to talk to. I'm just fascinated by what their thoughts are ... How they grow from week to week — mentally, in height. I sit on the floor and play with them because I find them so interesting."


PHOTO:  Streisand signed extra copies of the book for Barnes & Noble customers because some of the purchases surfaced on Ebay for exorbitant prices.  Thank you, Barbra!  And congrats to the true fans who received these signed books!

Photo of Barbra Streisand's memoir autographed

End / Barnes & Noble 2023 Memoir Book Digital Event

Share by: