How I Got Here

Alright, I have two blog followers! Doesn’t matter that the two followers are my husband and mother-in-law, it’s enough incentive for me to write another entry:) 

I thought I’d throw a little background in here, talk about some of my past endeavors and experiences with performances and auditions. We can call it: Performances and Bloopers-The Highlights. I’ve always loved performing in front of people, and have been doing it at every opportunity my whole life. Statistically, there are bound to be some notable moments.

First for some rather embarrassing confessions. In elementary school, I used to sing “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid at the top of my lungs on the school bus. I certainly had the attention of every kid on that bus. Positive or negative attention, it didn’t really matter to me at the time. I had no shame. Most youth strive to blend in. I went out of my way to get noticed, to stand out, any way I could. I wasn’t a very popular child…

I also used to sing on command. Yes, you read that correctly. Every now and then when my mom and I were out running errands together, she’d ask me to sing something. Not randomly, but if the subject came up or whatever. The embarrassing thing is, I would. I actually would. If it meant bursting out in showtunes in aisle 3 of the grocery store, I’d do it fearlessly. Maybe this is me being in denial of there having been something very wrong with me as a child, but I like to think I just loved singing so much that I didn’t really care about conforming to society. Yep. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

I never got around to taking voice lessons, but I was in chorus throughout all of middle school and high school. I was also involved in the school plays almost every year. Play rehearsal was the highlight of each school day. Then it was my senior year and time for me to decide on a college and major. Most people go to college to figure out what they want to do, and find themselves. But I came out of the womb knowing what I wanted to do with my life. However, it became clear to me that wanting and being able to were two painfully different things. I guess my timing was poor. As a kid I sang whenever and wherever, regardless of what other people thought about it. As a college freshman I listened to what society seemed to think about majoring in drama, or music. That it wasn’t practical. That the arts are supposed to be hobbies, not actual careers. So I majored in Psychology in order to have job security and a fulfilling career when I graduated. But that never happened. Ironically, I had majored in a field that I wasn’t passionate about in order to gain something I never gained. I am now 24 years old in no better shape than I was before. So I wish I had at least majored in what I really wanted to in the first place.

But all that is ancient history! I have since refocused my energies in my singing and performing experience. I admit it would be so much easier if what I wanted to do with my life was something I could just get a degree in and I’d be set. But performance art doesn’t work like that. There are no guarantees. It’s risky, and frustrating, and we all need money to survive. I’m extremely fortunate to have my husband, my support system, both emotionally and financially. But I don’t want to be dependent my whole life. I want to make a name for myself. I just want it to be in music, singing in particular. So you’re probably wondering what I’ve recently done to make this happen. Sitting on my butt feeling sorry for myself certainly won’t get me anywhere. I’ve made a resume of my performance experience. In the past year I’ve auditioned for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and this past November I was in NYC auditioning for America’s Got Talent. Yes, I’ve become one of THOSE people. But auditioning is auditioning, and I’d rather fail than live my life never knowing what I might have been capable of.

I don’t care about being famous. Or rich. My professional goal in life is to make a living doing what I love: singing. To sing professionally is my dream job. I would love to start my own wedding singing business. I’ve already sung at two weddings:) It’s a start. And I'm going to see where it ends.