Second, we've had a couple of gigs in the past couple of weeks and three more in the next couple of weeks! Sometimes it's tough being a jazz group in East Texas, though. It's hard to fit in at the Edom Festival of the Arts, where the belly dancers followed us, or at the Golden Sweet Potato Festival. Exactly as it sounds. But we try our best to force a little class into our neck of the woods, no matter how blatantly we stand out. :)
Those gigs have paid off, though, as we've already booked a couple of Christmas parties because of them!
But our most exciting news, and this is third, is that we are headed to North Carolina next week to represent the Contemporary A Cappella League at the nation's biggest contemporary a cappella festival: SoJam! CV went to SoJam last year and made a ton of great contacts and found out that there were people "out there" who loved to sing just as much as we did and strived for excellence like we did! So we had already made plans to be there this year.
Side note: the Contemporary A Cappella League (CAL) is made up of groups across the country who are out of college, but not professionals. As in we have lives and real jobs and kids and other responsibilities. We joined this league about 2 1/2 years ago.
Well, a couple of months ago, the folks planning SoJam announced that they were going to have a CAL video competition. The winners would be the headlining group for the Friday night concert and then open for the two professional groups Saturday night. We sent in our video, not really expecting much ........... AND WE WON.
So off we go to pull this crazy stunt. After the initial panic and denial stages, we decided we had better get to work. We've stuffed in several more rehearsals and even a practice concert for friends and family. We have our show order and our outfits (almost) ready. Now it's just time to polish.
We've also added a full-time sound guy, Ben Crawford. Woo-hoo! Ben and his wife Leana also go to church with the rest of us. It's amazing the difference he has made in just under a month. He'll be going to SoJam with us as well and will get to attend sound classes under the master of a cappella sound, Tony Huerta (just the sound guy for Take 6, m-pact, Sonos, and has even run sound for Nota a time or two! No bigs.).
Needless to say, we are all so excited and quite nervous. Prayers would be greatly appreciated!
One more side note: I wrote a song for CV. It's my first one ever. Just finished it last night. Actually, I have been singing the melody for about 2 years, as it was what I sang to Jonas as I nursed and rocked him. Therefore the title is "Lullaby for Jonas." The group hasn't even heard it yet, so I'm a little nervous to put myself out there like that! But hey, it's something different. We won't even be able to get to it until after SoJam, and maybe even after Christmas. We have a lot of work to do in the next two months! But someday ...
Schedule: tonight, rehearsal. Friday night, rehearsal. Saturday night, family and friends concert. Tuesday night, rehearsal. Wednesday night, private party concert. Thursday, drive to NC. Friday night, big show! Saturday, classes and concerts all day. Saturday night, open for Sonos and Basix. Sunday, drive home.
It's going to be LEGEN ................ DARY!!
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5 comments:
Soooo exciting! I can't wait to hear how it goes!
How exciting for you all!!! I know you will be great and I can't wait to hear "Lullaby for Jonas."
Wahoooooo!!!!!!! Keep the updates comin'! Can't wait to hear all about NC and your time there. What an adventure. And I also can't wait to hear your song. :)
This is so cool! Cannot wait to hear your song. I have no doubt it will be incredible.
How exciting! I'm thrilled for you!!
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