We did it

[gilana]

SomerVaudeVille was an unqualified success. Thanks to the amazing efforts of desireearmfeldt, eclecticavatar, and derspatchel, we had a really impressive group of performers, and things ran pretty darn smoothly on the technical front considering we had never been able to rehearse in that space or with their crew or even using mics. The house was standing room only, due in part to a piece on us in the Boston Globe Sidekick. but the majority of the people there were friends, which was wonderful. A million thanks to the best audience ever -- you guys made the show as good as it was.

I was most nervous about my first number, in which I had some solo singing. My body likes to tense up when it sees me on stage about to sing alone, which means that my throat gets tight and my voice either doesn't come out, or just gets really wobbly, or can't find the right notes. Always a joy. And added to that, this was my first time singing with a monitor, it really changes the sound. Anyway, the first verse felt a little wobbly to me, but at least the mics meant I didn't have to worry about trying to be loud enough, and after that I managed to just get caught up in the story of the song (Millwork, by James Taylor, from Working) and hope that my acting was enough to carry my singing. And you know, I even managed to enjoy doing it.

After that it was all fun. I got to perform as Linus in The Book Report from You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, complete with blanket and a home-made copy of The Annotated Peter Rabbit. And I had the joy of singing harmony on On the Willows with the rest of the incredibly talented Heisenberg's Mezzos, desireearmfeldt, chanaleh, and greenlily. And I got to get up on stage wearing a coconut bra and grass skirt and dance my hula to a very appreciative crowd. (And there are rumors that smacaski has video, for those of you who had to leave early...)

And even my program was appropriately admired! I have a deep love for wood-type printing, and I really enjoyed getting to design the posters and programs using my knowledge of that style. I think those programs are one of the best things I've done, and it was nice that people appreciated them.

I keep starting to write about all of the other fabulous acts, but really, there were so many great moments and great performers, and I'm afraid I'll forget one. But trust me, we rocked the joint.

And how frickin' cool is it that I got to perform on the same stage, and hang out in the same green room, as so many of my favorite musicians? Peter Mulvey… Kris Delmhorst… Jonathan Coulton… I thought I was cool because I could go to a Booty Vortex show and know people in the band -- and now I *am* people in the band! :)

Comments

[muffyjo]

I am excited to see the video of the hula hips. I am so amazed at how incredibly brave you are, and continue to be and how you push at the edges of your comfort level by getting up there and putting your voice out there. That's just amazing.

Very nicely done.

[minkrose]

MILLWORK? I'm so surprised - that was MY solo when my high school put on Working! I'm way too far away to have come to the show but I wish I could have seen you sing that!

And actually, I always found it a hard song to start but once you're in it, it's fine.

That is so weird. I haven't thought about that song in ages!

[smacaski.livejournal.com]

I actually got both the hula and "Millwork" on video. I'm incredibly sad I didn't get "Book Report," but I was trying to conserve battery power to get the acts of people who hadn't performed yet. I did grab some pictures, though, and you looked so cute with your blanket. You were a fantastic Linus--fantastic all around, in fact!

[dpolicar]

"Millwork" was lovely. Yes, you were nervous when you started off, but you got into it quickly. And the song itself is powerful enough to carry the audience along -- good selection.

My one (and thus far only), utterly humiliating, attempt at karaoke left me with a profound appreciation for the effects of performance anxiety on voice control; since then I've been impressed by anyone who gets up on stage and sings.

I'll stick to acting, thanks...

[kissoflife.livejournal.com]

*smile* Yeah, what he said on the humiliating and appreciation and impressed thing. I kinda do ok on karaoke though, now. And go you, Gilly!

[chaiya.livejournal.com]

Hey, Peter Mulvey is coming to Passim again in the fall ... they're already selling tickets to it online. :)