The Relay for Life
Sorry for the lack of diary entries lately. My week has been fast paced since getting back from Atlanta. My students need me to teach them new songs; my Mom has needed more help than usual with shopping and housework; the stock market has presented opportunities and risks; and to top it all off, I was asked to perform at a cancer benefit called The Relay for Life.
The producer of the music entertainment told me that he had heard that I was a good guitar player. He asked me to substitute for a band that had cancelled. Although I had not practiced the intergalactic cowboy material in two months, I accepted this challenge. A cancer benefit is a worthy cause which might directly benefit me in the future. The benefit was tonight. Two days ago the producer told me that I needed to play for an hour. Ordinarily I would ‘kill’ to play for a whole hour, but this challenge came at a time when I had hardly any time to rehearse. But, I assumed that the event was going to be small and low-key and that amateurish musicianship would be tolerated, all in the name of charity. My voice is currently so out of shape that my vocalizations are mostly atonal in nature. But, I am more than happy to humiliate myself in the service of the aim of helping someone out at a charity event, that frankly, I imagined would be small.
You can’t imagine my surprise and worry when I drove up to the outdoor track tonight to see about 500 cars parked throughout the neighborhood. I had to park a quarter of a mile away from the event ! So here I go carrying a guitar and gig bag a long distance, wearing some uncomfortable cowboy boots that are only suitable as stagewear. I then get into the gated area where there are probably a thousand people congregated. I couldn’t believe it ! There were hundreds of people walking around the running track, raising money for charity with each lap. There were dozens of vendors selling items inside tents along the inside perimeter of the running track. It was only a few minutes until my start time and I could not see anything resembling a stage; not anywhere! I then heard the sound of a marching band and followed the sound, through the crowd, to the stage, which was surprisingly proffessional looking, about four feet of off the ground. I introduced myself to a volunteer, holding a microphone, and then spotted the promoter of the show. I quickly assembled my loop; sound checked; and began my set fifteen minutes early. Most of the thousand people were walking around; throwing frisbees; pushing baby carriages; with only a few actually listening to me. This was fine since my vocals were not up to par. The movement in the audience was distracting, but I discovered that I could keep my concentration by looking at the grove of pine trees in the distance. By looking at the trees I could focus half of my attention on my vocal pitch and get it somewhere within the ballpark of acceptability. The guitar playing was ok. Occasionally, the producer would have to interrupt my set to make an announcement about someone’s car needing to be moved out of the way of another vehicle. There was a cool breeze blowing while I was playing. It was the most comfortable that I have ever been on an outdoor stage. I was offered three gigs after I finished. I have never experienced an outdoor festival like this in this community. I am glad that I pulled it off as well as I did.
With relief,
I.C.