Since recovering from heart surgery I've found several opportunities to rebuild my confidence on stage. In mid-December I sang at the Toastmasters Christmas meeting, and later on the same evening I sang the same song ("Christmas Time is Here") at the singing school concert.
As a result of these low-pressure performances, I feel ready for the next big opportunity: I've been invited to be a "headline performer" at The New Cabaret Live. This show is just a few days before Christmas. I am asked to present 10-12 minutes of material; stories and songs.
In the past, it's taken me a whole week at Cabaret Summer School to create a segment like this, but now the piece seems to write itself. I start with a song I desperately want to sing - "Lost in Wonderland" (music by Jobim; lyrics by Marshall Barer). It's based on Alice in Wonderland, but with psychedelic overtones. It's a really weird song, and doesn't fit easily with anything else. But I work backwards. What on earth was Lewis Carroll taking? I combine this concept with the idea that I might have needed medication that would prevent me from drinking alcohol. Two other songs present themselves: "You Go to my Head" and "Come Fly with Me". I link them with some simple patter.
I call the piece "Under the Influence", and set a time to rehearse with pianist Matthew. He likes the concept, and suggests some developments - varying the rhythms of the first song; adding some patter in the middle of the second one. Within an hour we are finished. I feel pretty confident about it and I still have one singing lesson left before the show.
On the night I arrive early as requested. Each of us takes to the stage for a sound-check and short practice. This helps a lot - by the time I've finished I feel very comfortable on the stage. In the days when Cabaret Live! was an open-mic night, we never had this opportunity. The adrenaline would surge when I stepped on stage. By the end of my song I would start to feel more relaxed, but that was the end of my performance for the month.
Now audience members start to arrive, and I go upstairs with the other performers to wait for show time. This is a lot better than sitting amongst the audience, where there is pressure to chat and be sociable, introduce people to each other, and speak loudly to be heard above the noise in the room. Upstairs the mood is calm and we can speak quietly to each other.
I'm the first headliner. I come downstairs and listen to Sidonie's opening song. Then I'm on.
The story flows smoothly. The rehearsals pay off as Matthew and I cue each other as we've agreed. I only fluff one line of one song, but quickly pick up the next line. I put it into perspective - it's a very small error.
I'm pretty happy with this performance, and I feel that event this marks my return to the music world. Now I can make plans for the coming year.
You can view my performance here:
"Under the Influence" Part 1
"Under the Influence" Part 2
"Under the Influence" Part 3
As a result of these low-pressure performances, I feel ready for the next big opportunity: I've been invited to be a "headline performer" at The New Cabaret Live. This show is just a few days before Christmas. I am asked to present 10-12 minutes of material; stories and songs.
In the past, it's taken me a whole week at Cabaret Summer School to create a segment like this, but now the piece seems to write itself. I start with a song I desperately want to sing - "Lost in Wonderland" (music by Jobim; lyrics by Marshall Barer). It's based on Alice in Wonderland, but with psychedelic overtones. It's a really weird song, and doesn't fit easily with anything else. But I work backwards. What on earth was Lewis Carroll taking? I combine this concept with the idea that I might have needed medication that would prevent me from drinking alcohol. Two other songs present themselves: "You Go to my Head" and "Come Fly with Me". I link them with some simple patter.
I call the piece "Under the Influence", and set a time to rehearse with pianist Matthew. He likes the concept, and suggests some developments - varying the rhythms of the first song; adding some patter in the middle of the second one. Within an hour we are finished. I feel pretty confident about it and I still have one singing lesson left before the show.
On the night I arrive early as requested. Each of us takes to the stage for a sound-check and short practice. This helps a lot - by the time I've finished I feel very comfortable on the stage. In the days when Cabaret Live! was an open-mic night, we never had this opportunity. The adrenaline would surge when I stepped on stage. By the end of my song I would start to feel more relaxed, but that was the end of my performance for the month.
Now audience members start to arrive, and I go upstairs with the other performers to wait for show time. This is a lot better than sitting amongst the audience, where there is pressure to chat and be sociable, introduce people to each other, and speak loudly to be heard above the noise in the room. Upstairs the mood is calm and we can speak quietly to each other.
I'm the first headliner. I come downstairs and listen to Sidonie's opening song. Then I'm on.
The story flows smoothly. The rehearsals pay off as Matthew and I cue each other as we've agreed. I only fluff one line of one song, but quickly pick up the next line. I put it into perspective - it's a very small error.
I'm pretty happy with this performance, and I feel that event this marks my return to the music world. Now I can make plans for the coming year.
You can view my performance here:
"Under the Influence" Part 1
"Under the Influence" Part 2
"Under the Influence" Part 3
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