Christmas Program rant thread

[bassteban]

Stuck in rehearsal, listening as others learn the songs...

 

[bassteban]

Been here, tuned and ready since 11:30. Choir leader JUST arrived. On phone, dunno how to add smilies. *communication breakdown*

 

[worxforme]

Being prepared is great but sometimes it means you have to wait.

I hope you have some food and water?

 

[bassteban]

NO FOOD. Choir is now working out positions(on stage). Bout gonna order a pizza

 

[hdracer]

Jimmy Johns!!!!!

 

[bassteban]

Who dat?

 

[hdracer]

Freaky Fast

http://www.jimmyjohns.com/menu/menu.aspx

 

[Hobobob]

Order the pizza. When someone tries to take a slice, say "Sorry,this is for folks who already know their parts. You still have work to do."

 

[bassteban]

Aaah.. made it through w/o losing my composure. I'll surely need to vent more next practice Sunday though.

 

[JTE]

What's even more fun is being there to do sound at what's supposed to be a tech rehearsal- and finding that each group is STILL learning parts! No time to do staging or figuring out when we need to move mics, cue recordings for dancers, etc.

ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John

 

[bassteban]

Yeah, I feel for the sound & assorted tech peeps, who are there LONG before and after every rehearsal.

 

[bassteban]

Walp, we just did one of the Christmas tunes(Born to die, loosely based on the Hezekiah Walker version); nailed it

 

[worxforme]

Walp, we just did one of the Christmas tunes(Born to die, loosely based on the Hezekiah Walker version); nailed it

I've actually been prepared, waited and stewed and then I was so worked up that I made a mistake when it finally came time to perform...so great job being a professional!

 

[bassteban]

Left phone at home past night. Did *Now behold the lamb* - Kirk Franklin. Great tune if that's your style(I like it) but the once-a-year choir director did it differently EVERY TIME...

 

[bassteban]

They also * rearranged* O holy night so as to effectively skip the crazy, climactic high note at the end- Inadvertantly I think, as the choir dir has great pipes but seemingly little or no real musical knowledge. I am/was prepared for that, and no longer need to vent- the overall vibe is *OK, just try to follow and anticipate where shes going now*

 

[bassteban]

Alright- 1 svc down. No full on train wrecks but MAN I gotta listen. Never the same twice

 

[Jon Moody]

I hear you. By and large, I'm usually more patient with the Christmas service, because the MD usually gets people from the congregation to come up and sing some pieces and many of those people are modest talents at best. Had a lady who was Haitian sing "O Holy Night" in English and French, which was cool. Her timing was off at points, but it was a very beautiful piece and easy to jump a beat/add one in a couple spots to help her out.

But we had two sisters come up at rehearsal, with just the guitar tab for the Transyberian Orchestra's version of "Carol of the Bells" and expect us to play it. After one run through, it was apparent that it wasn't going to work but they wanted to go through it again at the end of the rehearsal. It was better, but still nowhere near where it needed to be. Still, they insisted to the MD that it was going to be fine for services last night. Thankfully, as I walked in yesterday, I was told that they decided on a more traditional piece that they would play as a flute duet. Went off much better.

 

[bassteban]

Oh man- I've certainly been THERE a few times. Worse yet is when no one has the sense/nerve to stop the madness, & its *awkward moment* time..

 

[Fretless1!]

Been there, done that. Hated it. Your posts were making my stomach knot up.

 

[bassteban]

Been there, done that. Hated it. Your posts were making my stomach knot up.

Sorry! I have done a bunch, but not for several years- was expecting the worst, but it turned out pretty smokin.