The pressure's on

Just an update on the project Val and I are working on. No, not the partnership. The theatre play. Well, Val's done all the hard work, I just play guitar. We had a rehearsal last night and everything went really well. I'm meeting up with him again on Thursday to learnt these last two songs that are outrageously difficult to play and I can't seem to get my head around them.

Still though, 7 of the 9 songs are down pat. We're 100% on those songs. Though the pressure is on because the organisation who's now funding the play has booked us a preview gig in 3 weeks time for the 7th of Feb. Then we're playing an open mic night on the 8th of Feb, just for more practice in a public area.

We'll be doing another official preview in March at the Greek Festival in Darling Harbour, followed by the full theatre piece, played at The Vanguard in Newtown. That's the BIG day. But I'm not sure when that is, maybe in May.

If all goes well, then it's off to Greece.

The pressure is on. Val is feeling it. He's got a lot to do now that I told him "I told you so" back in October when we were all relaxed about learning the songs. I told him "It'll creep up on us and we'll say SHIT, it's January already." And guess what? Last night at rehearsals I said to him, "It's not only January, it's almost half way through it."

He looked at me, knew that we had to all pull our finger out and has suggested we rehearse two or three times a week, not just once.

I have my own pressure at the moment, a guy called me from this business for sale I looked at, sounds interesting and now I have to see the books to make sure it's working well. The agent called me and gave me the old trick of "We have someone else interested in the shop space to rent, I'd rather give it to you." I hate it when agents do that, and I usually say "ah well, find me another premises that's similar." I bet they hate that because I call their bluff. I'm not ready to commit to the place yet as I'm still unsure what's to happen with my business. I'm not interested in making rash decisions anymore. I'm making calculated ones, if I've learnt anything.

Performance Number Duo update

My friend who got up for the first time in his life, on stage, and performed a few songs all by himself last month called me a couple of weeks ago to play music with him live on stage at a venue where his singing teacher told him to go. Then our drummer cancelled, so my friend cancelled our band's time slot.

He did however have another band to play in which was formed at the music school he goes to. They had a drummer (a young little bird), a guitarist who was pretty impressive for someone who wouldn't even be 15. Another guitarist who's decent at soloing, and my friend of course singing and playing guitar on a few songs.

I told myself "Surprise me mate" as he got up on stage, nervous as usual. For the hour before hand that I was there, he went to check when he's on about 4 or 5 times. He went to the toilet about 15 times and never sat still for more than 3 seconds. As time drew closer, he admitted he was starting to get nervous.

However, when he started to sing to the band's music, he sang. He did well. Admittedly, there were a few flat notes, a few falsettos that were just too high to reach, a few missed lyrics. But so what? He had fun, the crowd mostly enjoyed it. Some people looked on it horror and I heard them comment "Great band, sack the singer" I felt like telling them this was his first time on stage with this band, only his second time singing and only after a few months or singing lessons. But I didn't have to, the MC of the show got up to congratulate them and told the crowd all that anyway.

He did exceptionally well. I'm proud of him. He's becoming a performer, not a bedroom Rock N' Roll star.

Speaking to him afterwards, I told him my honest opinion, the stuff ups, etc. He asked for it. So I was "brutally honest". His words, not mine. But I guess you can't tell him he was the best otherwise he'll never improve. So I gave it to him straight.

Later on, I asked him what's actually happening with "our" band and said our drummer couldn't even make it tonight to drum for us let along come in later on to support you in your performance. So, what are we doing?

Our drummer is also our friend and I feel my mate doesn't want to tell him "You're out of the band" because it may come across harsh. That's fair enough, but when you haven't played for three months then you get together for a couple sessions, then you disappear again. It's never going to happen.

I told my mate, if he was serious, he'd make an effort. No effort, no passion. It's time to find another drummer.... as I motioned to the pretty girl who dropped some beats on his performance.

He looked at me.... "Her?"

"Yep..... her"

He asked. She was happy about it. So I told my mate, "Set up a rehearsal. Email the drummer the songs we'll practice. No originals, just stuff that everyone knows so we can get a groove on. Worry about your originals later."

Meanwhile Val and I are still waiting to hear back from accountants. It turns out his accountant had to leave work for a short time because his son has been hospitalised. I hope he's okay, but we should hear back from Val's accountant next week.

Val called me the other day as I was about to snooze off in front of my computer while I did my accounting for my business. He said that he had a meeting with some people about the music we've been rehearsing as part of this theatre play Val has created.

They (the people Val spoke to) have accepted it and have put us into a festival to give the crowd just a taste (20 minutes) of the play in March next year. This will be followed by a full theatre play in Melbourne for a couple of nights. And then they are considering sending us to Greece to perform the play there.

The great part is, they're planning on covering all our expenses and because the organisation is non-profit, they plan on paying us with what's left over.

I was awake after that phone call. I finished off my accounts, decided to call it a day, went home, prepared dinner for my wife and I and told her the good news. I can't wait to start performing live.