It’s a new season for the local community band. We performed our Halloween concert tonight; on an evening when the wind was howling and the rain pouring we had perhaps 200 or more people show up. Seemed like a good crowd to me.
I’ve been dreading this concert. Previous years we’ve shared the stage with a couple of middle school bands, but this year we didn’t have any six graders to help us fill the house with parents, and we had to learn a whole lot more music since it was only us. We’ve had 6 weeks to rehearse…and I missed last week while I was gallivanting out in California. Plus I guess it’s just human nature to put off practicing until the concert is right on top of us.
Last night’s rehearsal was the worst I have ever endured. We sounded terrible. With a capital T. It was so discouraging! After a full day of work and a two hour rehearsal I came home and practiced for another hour. Still, though I knew I was as ready as I could be, I didn’t sleep as I worried about how horrible tonight’s concert was going to be.
I even told my husband not to come.
I worried all day at work. I worried as I drove through the blinding rain and as I changed into the band outfit in the car. (I figured it was pouring rain, who was going to be standing out there watching me change?) I worried as I warmed up. I worried as we were announced. To be honest I worried until the first piece was done and we at least all ended at the same time. In a community band ending at the same time is reason for celebration.
Turns out it was OK. We had people in the audience dressed in costume, kids there dressed as wizards, and butterflies, ghosts and princesses. Most of the music sounded relatively fine. We got a standing ovation that went on and on…and we didn’t have an encore prepared! The conductor told the audience we’d have an encore prepared if they’d give us a standing ovation again at our holiday concert in December. They laughed. So did we.
And my husband? He showed up even though I told him not to come. And he said it sounded OK.
From him that’s high praise indeed.
Change Is Hard 
October 19, 2011 at 10:33 pm
Worrying works, doesn’t it! What we worry about almost never happens. I worry a lot
🙂 Congratulations! It’s impressive that you all make such an effort and I’m sure the community appreciates it..200 people is a lot! It also sounds like it was fun so that makes it A-Okay!
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October 20, 2011 at 4:36 am
WHat a fun night for everyone! Perfection is over rated.
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October 20, 2011 at 5:28 am
Congratulations!! 90% successful is a high number and even professional orchestras are relieved when everyone ends together! I so understand all those worries you had – been there myself many times. Glad it went well and you had a good time!
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October 20, 2011 at 5:44 am
Congratulations!!! So glad that it turned out to be a good one and everyone had a fun time.
I think I can understand how you feel before and after the concert even though I am not a musician. Rosie always tells me how worried she is before the concerts and how happy or unhappy after the performance. I think most musicians feel that too!
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October 20, 2011 at 8:36 am
Isn’t the whole idea of a community band to have fun and to share it with – trumpets here – the community? Perfection isn’t required – it’s really overrated. I think some of the best things have happened because of mistakes.
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October 20, 2011 at 9:05 am
Dawn, did you ever hear that a flawless dress rehearsal is very bad luck for opening night of a play? No kidding. The more that goes wrong in the last rehearsal, the better the performance is supposed to be. Two hundred people is a very good audience! I’m impressed with your band’s dedication–and I’m sure you all sounded “fine”!
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October 20, 2011 at 1:39 pm
things have a habit of just falling into place at the right time and it sounds like it all came together in the end
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October 20, 2011 at 9:05 pm
I saw a quote on a poster today. I can’t remember it exactly, and I don’t know to whom to give credit, but something like. . .
‘Use your gifts. Think how the world sound, if only the perfect birds sang.’
You and the band gave gifts to all those who braved the wind and rain.
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October 21, 2011 at 5:15 am
Good point Beth!
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October 21, 2011 at 9:50 am
I’m glad it turned out OK in the end! A bad rehearsal for me causes some serious dread, but I’ve been working on overcoming my performance jitters in my own band . . . progress is slow, but definitely happening.
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October 21, 2011 at 2:09 pm
I am so glad you guys had a good evening it sounds like it was really appreciated. I hate always feeling like I have to be perfect to do something, and of course I am never anywhere near perfect so it holds me back, and I do a lot of worrying…. it is silly because it almost always turns out ok-I bet you guys were great!!!
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October 22, 2011 at 7:32 am
Now the Wordless Wednesday picture makes sense! Glad the concert went well after all the worrying.
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