Pushing With Passion

There's a popular open mic spot called the Village Underground located in Soho, downtown New York. Many well respect musicians come out nightly and basically jam. Cheryl Pepsii Riley is the host on Monday nights. Cheryl was hot in the early 90's but most people remember her from Tyler Perry stage play "Diary of A Mad Black Woman" and from Full Force Unsung.  Anyway, many independent artist come out and perform with the house band to gain exposure. Rumor has it that a lot of major record executives come out looking for the next hot thing. Of course this rumor is told practically everywhere there’s an open mic so you never know. Since its New York I feel like it could be some truth to it so I signed up this past Monday for the show. Being that its New York and the host isn't some random chick that can barely hold a note I was a little nervous. This was a new environment for me with people I have never seen in my entire life. At least in Dallas and Atlanta I would know at a few people in the audience. Especially in Dallas, my friend Lauren always has my back and shows support but she’s not here. Monica's my only true close friend here in the Big Apple and besides her there's not even so much as a distance cousin nearby.  It’s a scary thought but I am literally out her by myself. Since this was a new spot I didn't want to go alone. Monica has one of those real corporate jobs that actually require her to produce work, which means she works like a million hours a day (lol). To ask her to come out and play wouldn't be ideal so instead I begged my friend Daylon from Dallas who was in town for work to come and be my support team. Daylon's job is fun work that requires him to enjoy himself and entertain others (lol). I'm sure there’s more to his occupation but whatever that "more" is doesn't demand him to be up before 11am (God, I envy him, lol). Thankfully Daylon agreed to go with me. However I'm not sure if he agreed to go because he felt sorry for me or if it was because we would be right around the corner from his old friends Heathcliff and Clair Huxtable house from the Cosby Show. I'm guessing it was a little bit of both (lol).

The show started at 10:45 but I had to be there at 9:45.  We were warned at the door that due to the large crowds seating is limited and people are seated at the various tables for crowd control. My thoughts were great not only do I have to worry about if I'm singing the right song tonight but I might have to make small talk with a group of strangers seated at our table, OMG the pressure is on. As we sat there waiting for the show to begin I had knots in my stomach because I didn't know what to expect. All I knew was first impressions were lasting impressions and failure was not an option. The longer we waited the more anxious I became until finally the first artist of the night was called to the stage. He was an Asian guy singing Ribbon In The Sky. When I first saw him I thought hmmm, this might be interesting and sure enough it was. This guy was terrible, I mean Lord have mercy, Jesus keep me near the crosee this guy was a HOT Mess. If Steve Wonder was there he would have found a way to see this clown make a fool of himself.  Needless to say I relaxed a little because even if I didn't do a great job I definitely would do a much better job than him.

Relieved that the worse had already been done, I thought I'd do just fine. I was finally called to the stage and my song of choice was Crazy by Cee-Lo Green. The band and I started the song out mid tempo with a real sexy groove (it was hot) and I ended it with a bang. I hate to brag,... no I don't, but I killed it in a good way. I put Dallas on the map in the NYC. The Asian guy wasn't a hard act to follow but clearly I was (lol). I made such a good impression on the lead drummer that play for the house band stopped eating his chicken wings and got up from his table and joined in on our set. My first impression was not only a lasting impression but a very good lasting one (all smiles).

My friends and family are always telling how proud they are of me. I always say thanks but in the back of my mind I'm always thinking why are they so proud of me I mean I haven't done much since graduating from college but move from pillar to post as my grandmother would say. But in Hine sight I guess there is something for them to be proud of. Here I am living in a city with one friend and no family still pushing with passion. It takes a lot of guts to do a lot of things in life but it takes faith to have the guts to do your hearts desire.

To my friend still pushing with passion keep pushing and just to let you know I'm proud of you. We may not have changed the world by curing cancer but we are concurring our fears of failing through faith

Til Next,

Simply Lola