The Show Must Go On

I was so scared. My mom had just gotten the email that stated the results of the band that I auditioned for. We sat down together and opened it. We scrolled down, looking apprehensively for my name. This band was for the most advanced students in musical abilities and dedication. I honestly didn't think that I was going to make it. There were so many singers that were far better than me. We saw the email and there it was, my name in tiny print. My heart stopped beating for a second and my eyes grew wide with excitement. The worried face instantly disappeared and was replaced with a wide grin. I turned to my mom and immediately we reached for the phone to inform my dad.

The next week, we had to go into the studios to record a few songs. We learned the songs like the back of our hands. Doug, the instructor in charge of the band, submitted the songs to Jazz Fest. Two weeks later, the Jazz Fest line up came out, and believe it or not, our band was on it along with John Mayer, Florence + the Machine, the Foo Fighters, and the Zac Brown Band. Just the thought of them being there, struck me with sudden fear. What if they actually saw me perform? When that thought popped into my head, I automatically regretted even auditioning! I went for months not wanting people to know. My parents would tell people, and I would get extremely upset with them.

Since our band’s acceptance into Jazz Fest, I have had the chance to perform in many local festivals. Because of all this experience, I feel like I am ready for the pressure. I am much more comfortable telling people about it now. The band is so excited to play at not only Jazz Fest, but also many other festivals and fairs.