Sunday, July 11, 2010

One of my MOST embarrassing moments EVER........!!

(repost)


Ok, maybe it's good I didn't continue my singing/dancing/entertaining career, because I have found myself running in shame from some of my horror moments.

My city, the city I love more than any other..Chicago! Yes, my city had me trying to escape..lol.

Remember that cousin I spoke of? Well, we decided to take our singing to the next level.

We started taking vocal lessons, well I took 3. 70.00 per week, I couldn't afford at that time. So I started practicing what I was taught from my vocal coach and my high school friend Tamyra Gray.

Anyhoo, my cousin and I sang everywhere! Did nigh clubs (another embarrassing story), radio jingles and even was approached by managers and other groups that were interested in us!



We were on our way!!



So I thought.



We got the opportunity to sing live on a cable access channel. Yeah you know em, every city has that crazy cable channel that is low budget and usually are some kind of dance or talent show.

We were one of the groups who were to be featured on this show.

My other cousin was our manager (since she had the degree in Advertising/Marketing). We had one family member as our stylist for our hair and wardrobe..we were doing big thangs!

Tease was our name...not in a sexual manner but because we were Tia and Tanesha and to spell it T's was lame.

We practice our song by Faith Evans for weeks and had it down packed.



We arrive at the studio and we are greeted by a man like Jerome from Martin.

Yes, he was looking at us like we were a juicy steak!

He showed us around the studio and told us where we would be singing.

We asked him if we could use the restroom so we could practice and freshen up. He showed us the restroom and told us we were next.



"We're first?" "You're the only." "what?!?" "No one else showed up, so you girls have the entire 1 hr show."



Total fear and panic at this point. An hour show! Are you kidding. We shoulda known this would happen, after all this man was also the 1 of the 2 camera men, the sound guy and probably the janitor too for all we knew.



We are ready to sing. We look for the "3..2..1.." countdown. And we are on! Only thing is the sound guy screwed up our tape and it started in the middle of our intro!!! As we stand there looking aimlessly into the camera, I desperately try to play catch up.



That song wasn't the worst, well it wasn't for me. My cousin has a different opinion. My screw up came on a later song.



Now we are told we would have an interview. Oh lord. We sit with the man who is the sound man, camera man and now the host/interviewer. It didn't go well. Every time I spoke I got a lecture like a child and everything my cousin said she could never elaborate when more was asked. This interview was such a bust we were determined to take the spotlight off of us by telling him our manger/cousin also had a great voice. He licks his lips (she was also a juicy steak) and calls her on to the stage. Of course she gestured she was going to beat us up after the show. She never came on the set. Mind you the audience was filled with 13 people...9 of whom were with us!

Time for our second song. "His Eye is on the Sparrow", which we hadn't sung in months! A song I was just learning months earlier. The song was going fine until I thought it was over and put the mic down, only to hear my cousin ad-libbing more to the song. So I play it off the best way possible..pick up the mic and keep going. Now we are finally done. So I thought, she is still singing the song that should have been over by now. So here I am looking silly again by putting my mic down as if we are done.



Once it was finally over..the audience was to come and shake our hand while the credits rolled. Our family was not prepared to be on tv..as my other cousin slides and scoots sheepishly past one camera..another one was getting her every move! So we were all embarrassed that day.



Months later co-workers noticed me from that show. The show that we hoped no one would see being that it was aired on a hot summer July evening at 7pm. Why was anyone home anyway??



My cousin has successfully lost the tape and it will never be shown again!! Lord knows I hope!



I just revealed my embarrassing moment, and my cousin's...what's yours?

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Who do you Credit??

Looking back over my life, I can honestly say I had a very happy childhood and upbringing. I've always credited my mom for me being who I am today (and Christ of course). She was the one who taught me how to be responsible and how to always be a lady. She was there for everyone and everyone could count on her to be that ear or shoulder when in need.


But, during some recent inventory, I've realized that more than "momma" is responsible for who I am today. It took a village to raise this child!! ;) And now I'm a flower that has blossomed oh so nicely. Not tooting my own horn but toot-toot..lol



One of my aunts (Junie) was the firm hand. She was the one that told us straight up how it is. Not sparing any feelings and occasionally hurting a few to get her point across, but it was always followed up with words of wisdom and a bible verse!



Auntie Sheila and Uncle Donald provided me with my social experience. When I found myself without my sisters, I always knew that my cousins were there for me to play with. My very first friends came from that block, and most of us still talk today!! It was thru this fam that I met my husband! Uncle Donald was affectionately named "uncle daddy" by me at 3yrs. He taught me about men/boys and always gave me that male perspective.



So looking back, I credit a lot of people for my current values, good or bad. ;) So even while your past holds the key to who you are, it doesn't say who you will become. Your past doesn't predict your future unless you are driving forward while staying focused in your rear view mirror.