The Painted Tape Logs

My 15?

On May 28, 2009 I will finally -- after an appalling 5.5 month hiatus -- get to leave Alaska again to fly to Chicago for the Classical Singer Convention 2009!!!!  

This is monumental for several reasons -- it is my first professional convention!  You know, like "National Organization of Pediatrics Convention 2009"...yeah, after going to this thing, I think I can truly say that my profession is "SINGER".  Secondly, I hope I'll get to network with some peeps in the biz and meet other singers -- I don't know how many are signed up, but I'm sure at least 1,000!  I keep thinking, "probably I won't know anyone there" -- but what am I saying, this world of singing is so small, I'm bound to recognize someone I can latch on to!

Also, thirdly, I will get to see renowned best friend Shaz who I've not seen in over TWO YEARS!!!!!!!  That is just wrong!

Fourth: Now, Classical Singer is not just a kitchy genre designator, but an actual magazine.   We in the singing world have a love/hate relationship with it.  On the right hand, it's a vat of useful information on auditions around the country -- on the left hand, about 85% of the articles are fairly uninteresting.  But hey, that's my personal opinion, right?

Well, personal opinion is def. going to have to go through a makeover, because you are looking at one of THE singers -- there are only about 25 of us -- who got picked to sing at one of 7 masterclasses at the Convention!!!!!!!!!  Here is the link you can see my name on the web-site: http://www.classicalsinger.com/convention/protrack/masterclass/list.php

OK, let me 'splain what a masterclass is for my devoted readers! :) 

Masterclass - a session where a master works with a student in a class, or public, setting. 

In an acorn shell, I will bring a piece or two to sing. I get up there and sing it, then the "master" gives me a coaching or voice lesson in front of the audience. It is sort of like a public voice lesson. Ok, normally masterclasses in college were not so big -- I mean, audience of like 40-50....ahem....but I have a feeling this one in Chicago will be more like in the HUNDREDS! agggggggggghhhh!

So basically, what I thought would just be a nice convention to meet some people has turned into, oh crap I really have to practice now!!! Oh man, my roots in my hair look awful!!! oh turds, I need to get my audition dress hemmed!!! oh stink, time for starvation diet to fit in Vera Wang dress!!! Monkey nuts, WHAT AM I GOING TO SING!!!!

...and in the midst of this all I can't help from wondering....will this be my 15 minutes of fame???

The life of a cover...

I can hear you now...bedspread cover? tupperware cover? coverlet?  book cover??? 

No.  I'm talking about a cover as in...cover your butt when you're in trouble! I got your back man! Lean on me! If you get hit in the knee by a psycho weilding a police baton, I'll be there!  You pop a vocal chord, I'm ready to make my fabulous debut!

This has been the year of cover roles for me.  In many ways, being a cover is like riding the Incredible Hulk roller coaster.

One minute you're just hanging on on the uphill, life is good, learning the music as best you can but all the while kinda knowing that you won't ever hit that downhill -- or possibly it is coming...but possibly it's all just a bunch of hype.  Then....you get the phone call, "Hi Christine. I think I'm going to cancel and not sing.  Do you have the music learned?" ....aaaaaaaand it's over the top down the hill, frantic texts to friends, trips to the bathroom, heart in throat, shortness of breath, sure you are going to die!!!!

    Me: OMG, I can't do it. Hyperventilating here, where is my bag?  Can't breathe.

    Shaz: You are fine, think of what an oppourtunity this will be.

    Me: Yeah, but the conductor works at the MET!!!  As in, I've seen his name on the credits in the movies.

    Shaz: So what? Lata worked at the Lyric. no big deal, you will rock this.

    Me: omg, nerves and adrenaline. brb...have to go to bathroom.

Well....then after those first three loops you get another call.  "Hello Christine?  Yeah, so I AM going to sing afterall. Sorry for the scare, thanks for being there though!"  This is like that little hill mid-coaster where peace and calm kind of reign for a minute and you pull your stomach out of your mouth...then it's bam for the rest of the ride with wild emotions of "man this could have been my big break" "I could have done it" "why am I learning this again??????"

I know at the end of the ride I really will have experienced something wonderful -- that having learned another piece of music can only make me more prepared in the end -- but at the moment I am in the corkscrew second half of the ride.