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Post by swanwitch on Sept 16, 2006 11:05:21 GMT
When I was little I wanted to be an opera singer or a ballerina - all those costumes and spotlights! It was like being a princess, but with music! Life had different plans for me (Nursing and motherhood, mainly!) but I've always loved singing - been in punk and goth bands and more recently started doing a bit of folky stuff in local pubs. Then last week I went to an open rehearsal / workshop run by an amateur operatic society. We had to rehearse and sing a piece that has been a favourite of mine since I was tiny. After it ended I was so emotional I couldn't speak - when my Other Half came to meet me, I just sat on the wall outside the rehearsal room and sobbed but I have no idea why. Hundreds of nameless emotions and thousands of memories I couldn't quite identify all seemed to collide. Then on Thursday I had a call from the society. The singer I was paired with for the rehearsal had recommended they ring me and ... well, I start official rehearsals with them next Thursday (If I've got rid of this laryngitis virus by then!) and I'll make my debut as a chorus member at the end of October. And the only thing I have to say is YEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  ;D ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by carrickmac on Sept 16, 2006 22:38:08 GMT
Congratulations Swanwitch,keep the dream alive.
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julian
Senior Member 
Posts: 478
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Post by julian on Sept 17, 2006 10:40:15 GMT
I've been doing amateur dramatics for about 16 years now. I was introduced to it by my sister who dragged me to the audition for Sweet Charity. I got to play Daddy Brubeck who has one of the best songs in the show, IMO, The Rhythm of Life. Since then I've been in Salad Days, Guys & Dolls, Bugsy Malone, Little Shop of Horrors, The Pajama Game and Chicago. Chicago, which we did in 1995, was the best one and the last proper musical I did as that group shut down and I moved on to a much more amateur amateur group who tended to just run made-up plays with made up words to songs. Around that time I started doing non-musical plays as well like The Merry Wives of Windsor, A Trip to Scarborough and Lady Windermere's Fan. We used to perform once a year outside a Stately home near Banbury called Sulgrave Manor. It was the home of George Washington's grandparents and was a bit of a museum of Americana. In the first few years, we used to be allowed to sleep in the house amongst the exhibits! About 6 years ago I got to try my hand at stage sword-fights when I played Rochefort in the Three Musketeers. That was great fun! Last year I played Ernest in The Importance of Being Ernest and this year we're doing Pygmalion. It's great but the last few years I've had so many lines to learn it's taken me about two months to commit them to memory  Regards Julian |
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Post by odm on Sept 17, 2006 14:36:34 GMT
;D Yes 25 years professional female vocalist. Rock, Pop, M.O.R and Cabaret. Working local and abroad, tours blah blah. Still going strong work every week and earn my money that way....  |
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Post by swanwitch on Sept 17, 2006 15:26:20 GMT
;D Yes 25 years professional female vocalist. Rock, Pop, M.O.R and Cabaret. Working local and abroad, tours blah blah. Still going strong work every week and earn my money that way.... Well done, that girl! Do you still love doing it or has it become a job? |
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Post by odm on Sept 17, 2006 16:11:41 GMT
What a good question Swanwitch. The actual truth is it is a love/hate relationship. Most people find out that this sort of work is like an extra marital affair, or an exclusive love affair that has a hold over your life. No other way to describe it for me! Does it become a job? well it is my job so in actual terms the answer there is yes. It is about the money now as well as the fact that it is a second nature instinct. I am not saying I dont feel the thrill of singing anymore..I just think that when you first begin it is rather like wondering which oyster has the best and most elusive pearl.. once you have opened thousands of them and not found THAT one you realise that there are millions more in the ocean. Dont know if I described that very well... what I mean to say is that initially it seems like some kind of brilliant paradise where you feel on top of the world and think that there are amazing possibilities. You can feel like you are the only singer in the world... and of course the fresh newness of anything spurs you forward with determined enthusiasm. Eventually like myself when the realisation that to take up offers meant to leave my boys behind, I was not that prepared to do so. I started late in the professional world. When I was in my early twenties London record companies told me I was too old yet for years afterwards I had people asking me if I had a record contract. the irony can be quite sarcastic...however, have to say, I am happy and pleased to be who I am and do what I do and If you asked me if I want to be Nationally famous, hand on my heart I can tell you ...NO. ( my own area would know me of course ....) I turned out to be an incredibly private person, who was and has been one person on stage but the minute I get off I am like a termite burying myself in a plank of wood. I dont like crowds ALL the time. I like my own privacy. I think music is a fantastic career. I have taught other people and they have become singers themselves on our local circuit. I love to bring out the best in people, and I love to see them realise their talents. I wish you immense happiness and pleasure with music because I have to be honest and say there is nothing else on this earth I would have wanted to do... the saying ..sing for your supper...was my life..and is my life... so I say good luck and enjoy, you will never ever be able to settle to anything ever in your life once you stand on a stage and sing or stand on a stage to act...these professions are like no other... and dont forget... god loves the merrymakers....welcome to his club of minstrels.... 
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Post by odm on Sept 17, 2006 16:16:27 GMT
P.s Tips for singers... dont smoke ( as if I can talk and I have only JUST given up)...AND always have a glass of red port before a show...it smooths the throat and warms you. Never drink anything like lemonade, lager or anything fizzy when singing. Water is too harsh btw...if you drink water put lots of ice in.
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Post by Admin on Sept 21, 2006 23:07:08 GMT
I sing and have been on TV and radio plus the Albert Hall and other venues around the world. Entry into the choir is by audition and it is very competitive, sight reading is compulsory as are attending rehearsals and workshops. I am not a solo artist but part of a large choir The Belfast Philharmonic Society, we sing mostly with the Ulster Orchestra. Unfortunately I have not been able to sing with the choir at concerts due to my work commitments and I miss it so much. I love singing and find it very relaxing, even in front of an audience of thousands. Hums Bethovens ninth  |
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Post by Admin on Sept 21, 2006 23:07:50 GMT
BTW well done and enjoy every moment. ;D
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Post by odm on Sept 22, 2006 18:34:56 GMT
Thats Brilliant DT...I think you should try to make time for all the things you enjoy however, life is not all about work and it would be lovely for you to spend more time with your leisure..I can hear you saying that yourself...  |
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