![\"dreaming_by_juli_snowwhite-d2oz20v\"](\"https:\/\/bloodinyoursaltwater.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/dreaming_by_juli_snowwhite-d2oz20v.jpg\")
<\/a>We were concerned about the whole Sing with the \u2018Cats thing this cruise, this has been a dead crowd \u2013 and I nearly mean that literally as it\u2019s been something like trying to play a show to zombies. We just hadn\u2019t been able to get a rise out of them \u2013 not even for bingo, just\u2026nothing. It\u2019s not exactly easy to establish the energy loop with a crowd that is determinedly giving you nothing back.<\/p>\nSo, when I was putting together the new song selection books for the event all that was going through my head was the story my Dad used to tell me, about working a New Year\u2019s Eve when only 10 people showed up to the gig \u2013 but they\u2019d paid several hundred dollars a ticket. Dad always told me he\u2019d never worked so hard as he did that night, because playing to a small crowd is 100% harder than playing to a big one. Since with the whole live karaoke thing I\u2019m already the link between the audience and the band (\u201cyou\u2019re not sure you know the words? No worries hun, this band totally has your back and \u2018Gale will be right there in your ear if you get lost, you\u2019ve totally got this\u201d) \u2013 when no one is \u201cplaying\u201d \u2026it\u2019s all of our jobs to get people up.<\/p>\n
But\u2026as it turns out, we were wrong.<\/p>\n
They ran a music trivia session before the live event, so there was already a crowd up there, all we had to do was catch them \u2013 which was brilliant. And, since a couple of hours working over a hot word program ( \ud83d\ude09 ) had allowed me to hand over the new \u2013 properly formatted, much more durable, and in colour \u2013 song selection books (hey, no band of mine<\/em> is going to go out there with anything that\u2019s not professional looking!) we were actually able to have something decent looking to hand around. Four soft cover lists that could float around the room and one hardcover master folder that stayed next to me\u2026<\/p>\n Yes, I am a nerd, this is utterly part of my charm. That\u2019s my story and I\u2019m sticking to it.<\/p>\n They swamped us in the first five minutes. Almost to the point where Amras couldn\u2019t read my handwriting because I had to write so quickly to get the names down. Thing is, I have to take a 15 minute break every week because I have to come down to the library and do the weekly general cleaning \u2013 so when we hit 9:55 (the event goes till 11:00), I caught Amras\u2019 eye from the corner of the bandstand and gestured to an invisible watch<\/p>\n I gotta go luv, I\u2019ll be back in ten\u2026keep an eye on the master book, do not let it leave this spot<\/em><\/p>\n Yes, we talk from bandstand to sidelines. We always have. Thing is, we tend to do it mostly without actually saying<\/em> anything, which is handy. It\u2019s a skill I think I\u2019ve inherited from Mum, because I used to watch her have similar \u201cconversations\u201d with my Father when he was on stage.<\/p>\n Anyway, when I came back up from general cleaning, the rush had slowed down, which meant they needed filler, which meant I got my reward for being the good little roadie.<\/p>\n Hey \u2018Gale, pull up 178 for Shaughnessy\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n You got it\u2026hey ladies and gentleman, we\u2019re out of sign-ups\u2026everyone give me an \u201cawwwwwww\u201d <\/em>(pause, reaction, pick-up), but in the meantime, I have the perfect idea \u2013 who wants to hear our librarian sing? You know she sits behind that desk all day but\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n And so my reputation as the quiet little librarian is blown for another cruise.<\/p>\n Not that I\u2019m, y\u2019know, terribly unhappy about that\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We were concerned about the whole Sing with the \u2018Cats thing this cruise, this has been a dead crowd \u2013 and I nearly mean that literally as it\u2019s been something like trying to play a show to zombies. We … Continue reading