It's over, but it's not over

A week after the show, our band participates in a "wind down" event held at a city pub.  It's a completely different setting from Fowler's.  There's no stage.   We perform in broad daylight.  The people are sitting at tables drinking beer.   We're on the same level, in a corner of the room.  We try our hardest, but the energy just isn't there.  It's like - everyone is "winding down".

A couple of months later, there's a Christmas show, and we perform in what turns out to be our last outing as "Shelley and the Pacemakers".  We don't have a future as a group.  We were thrown together for the show, have nothing much in common and all have different goals.  It's fine - we had the experience and now it's time to "dis-band".  Over the next couple of years I see some of them from time to time, and they're still playing music, but no one suggests a "comeback tour".

I assume that for me, it's over.

But then Warriors SA turns up.  It's a local group of people who've "done the program" and want more.  As it happens, a lawyer friend of mine, is President, and Ron persuades me to join.

In addition to the regular bands (the ones that stayed together after the program), they have a plan for "session performers".  Their idea is brilliant.  Set up an event, put together a backing band; call for singers; hold a couple of rehearsals in the lead-up; perform.  Then "repeat as required".  It works a treat.  Each singer gets to sing 2-3 songs, but there's no ongoing commitment.

I can hardly believe my luck.  I'm a session performer.  All I have to do is diarize a few dates; I don't have to set aside regular rehearsal times.

I get to sing, but I don't have to go on the road.

We perform several times a year, at various pubs and outdoor events.  We are invited to perform at a special '50's rock & roll event; I sing "Sweet Little Sixteen"; "Rock Around the Clock"; "See Ya Later Alligator" and Ray Charles' "What'd I Say". It feels like I've graduated to the next stage; we no longer have a coach, so we have to work out the music for ourselves  Our performances are open to the public, not just family and friends.

I expand my repertoire to about 15 songs.  I scour my CD collection for other songs I could sing.  But it's getting harder to find new songs that suit both my voice and the musicians.

I'm looking for faster progress and possibly "something else".