Singing at the Food Festival

The Coffee Choir had been invited to sing at the “cafe” set up in the Crown Court room in the Guildhall on the Sunday of the Food Festival.  Initially we were to do 2 sets, but as the number of songs Fiona was happy with was quite small, that changed to 3 sets:  at 12.45, 1.45 and 2.45.

I don’t usually do the gigs, but I couldn’t think of a good excuse not to…….  I hadn’t got anything else on, it was possible to walk there after church without too much problem and I have felt a bit guilty about avoiding gigs.  So I decided I ought to go.  Having not slept well and then felt slightly sick all morning due to nerves (!), I turned up on the Guildhall steps soon after 12.30 (the time we were supposed to meet), even though it was pouring with rain.  There didn’t seem to be any of our lot there, so after looking round more and panicking a  bit I went inside and found everyone.  And I wasn’t late for the first set or even the last to arrive!

Getting ready to sing at the food festival
Getting ready to sing at the food festival

There were only a few of us (oh dear, I might be heard) and only 4 altos – 2 good and quite loud, one OK and me.  During the first set I was standing at the back and couldn’t hear well, so who knows if I hit any right notes?  I made sure I wasn’t loud anyway.

During the first break we went out to look at the food festival, which was quite fun.  It had stopped raining by then, which was even better.  A couple of us came back in after we had looked round and had an orange squash as I had forgotten my water and was quite thirsty.  It also meant that I wasn’t late for the second set.

Waiting for the last arrivals after the break
Here come the last arrivals after the break  (lateness accepted as one in a wheelchair / on crutches)

I stood next to one of the louder altos during the second set, so I had a better idea how badly I was doing!  She only turned round and looked at me a few times……  and a couple of those were when I had stopped singing as the notes are too high.

In the second break most of us stayed in the “cafe” and had cups of tea and cake.  Two of us had gingerbread men, but then the question is how to eat them?  My friend pulled off one eye and then broke off the head – quick death? I prefer the slow torture method – one arm, one leg, the second arm, the second leg, the body and then the head!  We had some discussions about jury service (brought on by the room) and how we would hate to do it and how those who thought they had avoided it might not have done so as the age limit is being raised.  Anyway, staying in meant that I wasn’t late for the third set either.  Not that I had got any better.

So I can now say that I have done one of our gigs.  And I got away with (almost) no-one I know seeing me!

Would I do another?  Not unless I improve a good deal.  Or if the choir is larger so I can hide and not be heard.  Or if I forget how nervous I get and how bad I am.  Or if I decide I need to do more scary things (which is sometimes good for me).  Or if I start feeling more guilty about not going than I do about letting everyone down with wrong notes.  Or if I ever stop feeling so nervous beforehand.  Or if can’t think of a good excuse to avoid it.  Or ………………..?

Did I really hate it?  Well, not too much when we got going, but I was really nervous before hand.  I also know that I get some bits wrong and I am letting everyone else down, and I hate doing that more than anything.  I did enjoy the breaks and seeing the food festival and chatting to friends and the gingerbread man!  I didn’t sleep well that night either, going over it in my mind.  Obviously singing is bad for my sleep…..

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