The Lake Superior Freethinkers had a Darwin Night at Beaner's Central in Duluth and had put out a call for entertainers. I decided that, after a few years of being timid about singing public solos, I would give it a try with "Die Gedanken Sind Frei (My thoughts are free)", a centuries-old German protest song. I have it pretty well memorized as well as "Arirang", a very popular Korean song. So, I said yes and was put on the playbill.
Being in a house with a very good musician, it is kinda tough for a late-bloomer like me to practice. But I did, doing two or three sessions most days. Surprise, sometimes my wife said I did it well.
Then in the middle of last night, I forgot some of the words to "Die Gedanken". I carefully thought through them and could recite them again.
I practiced a couple of times today and decided that was enough. I didn't want to wear my voice out.
We arrived at the appointed time for performers and I introduced myself to the emcee. She went over her introduction of me, we ordered some food, and waited for things to start.
I was second in the line-up. I started getting fears about a "senior moment". I was concerned about standing too close to the mike or too far away. I think I forgot some words and had to go over them again in my head.
The first pair was done, both long-time musicians.
I was introduced and I climbed on to the stage. I figured out just the right distance to speak into the mike. I could not see the audience except as dark shapes. I said most of what I wanted to say, and started singing: "Die Gedanken sind frei, Niemand kan sie erraten…" My volume was good, my flow was good. I think I faltered once. Tah dah! I did it and received hardy applause from the two dozen or so in the audience.
I introduced the Korean song "Arirang" with a few words and started belting it out. Again I faltered a couple of times but recovered. Again I received some hardy applause. I made some more remarks about the song that I had forgotten to make before I started, got some more applause, and left the stage.
Then I got even more response. My wife was pleased. A choir director who I had sung with years ago said that I had come a long way. A former professional musician was effusive in his praise. A few other people gave me big grins and made appreciative remarks, some whom I didn't know, some whom I knew were musicians.
This has gotten me a bit more ambitious about performing, but I don't know if I'll follow through. After all, I have all these books to read, blog entries to write, wood to cut, and software problems to figure out and correct.
Maybe if I can practice a couple of songs a day and get them memorized, maybe I'll stay up late for somebody's open mike night.
