Gig at the BCM...hopefully first of many!

I was, to quote Sharon - well, actually to quote Patti quoting Sharon - "scared out of my tiny little mind."

I arrived at the Children's Museum this morning for my "trial" sing-along show. If it went well, they'd put me on the schedule regularly.

No pressure though.

I had picked out my outfit carefully. Trusting in the tasteful fashion sense of Patti and Lois, I had foregone the hot-pink top and pigtails for a demure salmon-colored fitted tee and knee-length black skirt with leggings. I looked professional, but approachable. Hopefully. Carrying my sound stuff and guitar for 5 blocks had left me with arms twice their usual length, but no matter. I plugged in my new portable amp, turned on my clip-on "lav" mic...and nothing. "Testing, testing." Nothing.

Oh, goody, the "low battery" light is on.

So I had a nearby staffer page the manager, who found me a spare 9-Volt battery. Thank heavens, we have liftoff. I tuned, I turned the mic on and off, testing distances and hoping for lack of feedback. Finally, a half hour later, I began.

I have to admit, I was dreadfully nervous. I know people that work here. If I messed up, I'd have to look them in the eye every day.

I opened with "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain." There was one dad and a baby, and I crossed my fingers, hoping for more. I went into my "Old McDonald" - jazzed up a little, and with added stuffed animals for effect. A few more kids trickled in. I went into "Wheels on the Bus," and bingo (no pun intended), I had a crowd. Yay! My heart was fluttering in my chest and I thought it must show in my voice, but I moved onward.

"Sur Le Pont D'Avignon" was fun, though I was sure my voice was wobbly. I tried "Turkey in the Straw."

Now here's the odd part. I'd done a gig in February and this song had KILLED. Kids were laughing, parents were clapping...this time, they were all looking at me like I had six heads. Oh well. Can't win 'em all. I was sad, though; I adore singing the "donut" verse.

(Ask me about it - it's awesome. Courtesy of Lois, naturally.)

My slow song was "Hush Little Baby," and I felt my voice coming back. Thank heavens for lullabies. I put down the guitar for "Itsy Bitsy Spider"...it's no fun without the hand motions...and it was a hit. Of course, that's when my speaker decided to feed back at me. The kids loved the "teensy weensy spider." The amp did not. Squeeeeak. I ended up inching to the left away from the amp, resulting in a very interesting sideways-walking spider. The itsy bitsy crab went up the water spout?

The audience was very forgiving.

I had planned to close with "Meetin' in the Buildin'," a fun spiritual sort of song, but I was too nervous. I knew I couldn't get the power I needed. So I wound down with "Small World" and it seemed to go over well.

After the show, the program director said she'd like to have me on once a month or so. (She also gave me a plastic carnation.) I was thrilled...and, bundle of confidence that I am, prayed that she wouldn't change her mind. Fortunately, another staffer (who's also a mom) also said she enjoyed it a lot.

So, here's hopin' it goes through. I could really use the experience, and a paying gig is always nice.