Random Musings

Photo (“CIMG0737.JPG”) by ramblinglibrarian

Before I begin, please take a look at Betty and Ivan’s recaps on the most wonderful Songcraft mini-concert we had last Saturday. Great recaps with excellent pictures!

(Betty’s Blog) “Our Songs, Our Show”

(Ivan’s Blog) “Thoughts and photos from the Songcraft mini-concert, 15 Dec 2007″

Thanks Betty and Ivan for the excellent recaps. Very colourful too.

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Ok, on to my blog post proper.

I thought of so many ways to approach this post, but really couldn’t think of any one best way.

Just too many thoughts coming at me at one go, can’t really put them all in proper order, to be honest.

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2007

2007 is turning out to be one of those stellar years in my life, those years that come around once a decade whereby you say to yourself “Wow, if there was a standout year in this decade, this is it!”

It all started with the crazy idea of starting the Songcraft Songwriting Circle back in April. Then came the enthusiastic songwriters from different backgrounds, personalities, styles and influences. Then came the sharing of all these amazing songs. Then came my next crazy idea of organising a year-end mini-concert for all the folks in the circle. (Piece of cake, I thought. All I needed to do was book some venue and invite the guys to come perform. Little did I realise how much of a challenge it would turn out to be! It was tough, but it sure was fun.)

I tend to be the type of person who wants things to be done well, right down to even the tiniest detail (ok lah, I admit I’m a perfectionist)…hence, maybe I put a little bit too much pressure on myself to organise a successful mini-concert. But that’s just me. I figured if you’re gonna do something, you might as well do a good job out of it. I really have to thank Jerron for all his hard work in helping me organise this mini-concert. The concert certainly wouldn’t have been made possible without his help.

Ivan mentioned that if this was what we call a “mini” concert, he shudders to imagine what a “full scale” concert would look like, haha!

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Memorable

This whole process of planning for the Songcraft mini-concert, and especially the very event itself, was one of the most special and memorable experiences for me in recent memory. And I’m glad to know that it was also an extremely memorable experience for a number of the performers too. I think it might have been the first time many of us actually formally presented our original songs to such an audience.

The audience turnout was modest (one-third less than what we had expected), but the reception to the entire mini-concert was simply fantastic! It was so heartwarming to see the audience embrace our original music so openly, and the enthusiasm which they displayed upon hearing our music was just beyond words. Hearing such genuine and sincere compliments being dished out to each and every songwriter/performer was such a wonderful sight indeed!

And that’s exactly what the mini-concert was meant to be about.

I decided to go ahead with it (crazy as this idea might have sounded back in October) because I wanted to allow us songwriters a chance to share our songs to a larger audience. It would have been a great pity if some of us had written marvellous songs, but these songs were only shared to, say, ten people at most during the monthly sessions. Huge shame. There’s nothing more sad than a great song not getting the recognition that it deserves.

Hence, the mini-concert was a little platform to showcase some of these great original songs to a larger audience, one that truly appreciates music. It also went a long way in helping us songwriters get over our shyness when it comes to presenting our own songs to others, much less to a crowd of more than forty people.

Also, one of the objectives of the concert was to help break down some of the negative perceptions that people might still have with regards to local original music. And I think this mini-concert certainly did help dispel some of the notions that amateur original songs are supposed to be inferior to commercial songs aired on the radio.

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Impresario

impresario: 1. one who sponsors and produces public entertainment or artistic events

Many view impresarios as simply an organiser, or a producer of an event. I see impresarios as people who not only dare to dream, but also do what it takes to turn dreams into reality. They are the real-life magicians that make our dreams come true…dreams for the performer, for the viewer, for everyone.

Huileng mentioned that the mini-concert was “like a dream come true” for her to be able to perform her compositions, and that it was “really an unforgettable experience”.

That really moved me.

That made all the effort and money spent in planning for the mini-concert with Jerron all worth it.

By deciding to organise the mini-concert, I unwittingly put myself in the position of impresario for the first time in my life. It was definitely one massive roller-coaster ride, but thinking back, it was definitely all worth it in the end.

The many positive memories that I had of last Saturday night will stay with me for a long time to come.

These are some of the best memories I’ve ever had. It’s the whole works – from the serious practice sessions with fellow performers many days before the concert, to the arrangement of logistics with Jerron, to our frequent brainstorming sessions, to the dealings with the people at the YMS Arts Centre, to being involved in the production of the programme booklet, to the setting up of equipment and stuff on the actual concert day, to seeing all the fellow Songcraft friends coming in early to lend their moral support, to the final moment of realisation as I stood in front of a roomful of eagerly-anticipating music lovers awaiting the start of the Songcraft mini-concert, to the actual delivery of our very own original songs to the audience.

The entire process was such an unforgettable experience.

To think it all began just eight months ago, back in April, in a small little classroom at the Substation.

And the way things have come along thus far, it’s all very encouraging.

I guess it just goes to show that dreams are what you make of it.

You are the impresario of your life.