Saturday July 20: Part 1-The Audition

Hello everyone, welcome back. Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read the first post for the 4th week of July. 

Hard to believe, but in about 5 1/2 months from now we will be looking at 2019 in the rear view mirror. For my wife and I this past Saturday will be one of the most memorable days of the year. It was both physically and mentally exhausting but extremely rewarding at the same time. 

In my pair of posts this week I want to share with you what made our day one we'll always remember. 

It started out early in the morning. I went to the Southern Kentucky Arts Center for my talent show audition. 

I had rehearsed all week. I added and cut jokes from the act quite a bit over that time. It wasn't until I went to bed Friday night that I finally decided the exactly banter Cecil and I would be doing before we sang our song. Paula helped me out by fixing up Cecil's costume late Friday night as well. 

The next morning we were dressed and ready to head to the venue about an hour ahead of when the audition was scheduled. 

I arrived at the Arts Center about 20 minutes before my audition. 

 There were several people already there waiting for their turn. The hallway outside the audition room was full of people waiting their turn. Some nervously practicing their talent right where they stood.

I checked in at the registration table and then took a seat on a couch in the center's lobby. I still had about 15 minutes before the scheduled audition time. But I didn't have to wait that long. After about 5 minutes I got called. I was rather nervous as I followed the young lady into the rehearsal hall. 

There was a stage area with a microphone on a stand and a video camera set up in the middle of the room. I quickly recognized the people who would be taping me were from Sublime Media Group. 

Let me take a few paragraphs to tell you about Sublime Media. I know them because they have been making local TV commercials for the last decade or so, using puppets.

In 2017, I went to an exhibit of their puppets in the SKYPAC art gallery. Here are a couple of my favorites.

The puppet commercials are the aspect of their business that I've enjoyed over the years. Here's a link to their You Tube Channel if you want to see some behind the scenes video of the commercials. 
Sublime Media Group You Tube Channel

But Sublime Media Group does a lot more than just puppets. They are one of the most creative and progressive production companies I've ever seen. Although they are headquartered in Bowling Green their work reaches way beyond the area.

Now back to my audition.
I handed the CD with the backing track for my song to a guy named Will, and gave him the vocal cue for when to start it. He took it back into the sound room. 

Austin, who was most recognizable of the 4 in the room because of his appearance in their commercials, immediately told me how much he liked Cecil's look. He directed me to the microphone. I got myself comfortable in front of the mic and my audition began. 

Although there were two videos shot as part of my audition; just one of was my performance. Once Cecil was finished singing, Austin asked me to stay and do an additional on-camera interview. This video will be edited and used as a pre-performance intro, should I make it into further into the competition. I called the "Here's Your Journey" video. Of course I agreed to do it.

I was a little distracted while being interviewed by Austin for a couple of reasons. First, I was trying to review and evaluate what Cecil and I had just done. 

Also, I was worried that the judges would be watching this video as part of their decision about me and I might not be saying "the right things." Among the questions, he asked me what I thought of SKYPAC offering this competition to the area. I struggled the most with that answer. 

But once the interview was done. I decided to tell Austin how much I appreciated and admired Sublime Media groups work and accomplishments. 

I walked out of the rehearsal hall and checked with the woman in charge of the competition. She told me that I could expect to find out if I moved on to the semi-finals by the middle of the week. 

Although I was not very sure I would do well in my audition, I am pleased with what I did. I gave it my best. I think I deserve to move on but that's up to the judges. 

So as I write this post I am very anxious to get the email with the news of my SOKY's Got Talent fate. But I will keep hoping that by the end of August...

...Cecil and I get to enjoy this view from the SKYPAC stage. I will be sure to let you know if I am going to the next round. 

Later on in the late afternoon of this memorable Saturday, Paula and I would venture out for her first time setting up at an event as a Color Street vendor. I will share our experience at the Duncan Heinz Festival in Friday's post. Thanks again for taking the time to stop by and read the Yankee Near Nashville blog.