I have a few things to tell you guys:
1) I got a letter from the Songwriting Contest people and they told me this:
On behalf of the Music BC Industry Association, I would like to thank you for your appliacation to Music BC's 2nd Annual, Songbird West Songwriting Contest. Our jury met last week and unfortunately your application was not approved.
What does that mean? At first I thought it was just that I was cut or whatever, but if it wasn't "approved" was it not even considered? I'm kinda confused. Anyway, too bad about that. At least it was only $10 to pay for.
2) I auditioned (again) for Canadian Idol yesterday! Oh god, I had to wait for almost 4 hours before we actually got to sing... in a trailer. Bekki, her brother, Lydia, and I were in Metrotown for a long time, sitting and doing random things. Kemuel also showed up for a few hours too, and bought Timbits for everyone (I told him he didn't have to, because they were all eating sushi already, but he said it was "dessert"... he's always thinking of other people)
So when our numbers were finally called, Bekki and I lined up with the other people, waited in line some more, and then they brought us up to the second floor, through this corridor and into this group of trailers outside (yes, trailers). There were five of us in our group, including Bekki and me. One kid apparently took the ferry from Victoria to get here, one chick had a flute, one guy wanted to go because he had to go to his friend's funeral at 7:00.
Then we got called again and we went into one of the tiny trailers with one room, met one of the audition producers, who was oddly cheerful, and sang our songs, one by one.
This might sound mean or whatever, but after hearing some of them sing, I felt better about my own singing abilities, hahaha. After we all sang, the producer told us that she wanted two people to stay behind and talk to: flute girl.... and me! Oh, btw, I sang Linkin Park's "My December". (I've been working on it all last year) So Bekki didn't make the cut unfortunately.
They told flute girl that they knew she wasn't good enough vocally to make it past the second round, but because she played the flute, she was kinda cool, so they let her pass. As for me, they liked my, "I don't really want to be here" demeanor, compared to the other kids in the group, and they thought I chose really good songs (I also sang "Addicted" by Kelly Clarkson too, just to prove my vocals) And when they asked me, "So we're going to put you through. You want to do more singing?" and I responded, "Sure..." they laughed and thought my character was great.
So me and flutey girl waited in a different trailer for a bit and they told us (people who got yellow tickets and thus, into the second round) that we could either stay until 9:00 to sing again, or come back the next day at 10:00. Because I was to teach at 12:00 the next day, I decided to stay, and was soon seen because out of everyone there, my number was one of the lowest.
In yet another trailer, it was just me and two other producers (I think). We talked a little, then I sang the Kelly Clarkson song. They told me that I needed to be more entertaining and "sell the song". Then they offered me to sing another song, and my brain instantly told me to sing a Jason Mraz song that I hadn't rehearsed as much as the others, but instead, I sang the Linkin Park song. Mid-way through my song, I realized that I was pretty much doing the same thing as I was before, so it wasn't really a surprise when they told me I wasn't getting through. They said I had a "nice, natural tone to my voice" (YAY!) and that "oh, you're only 19. You can always come back next year" kinda thing.
Then I left, almost 8:00 now, to go back home. At least I got to keep the yellow ticket as proof I passed the first round! That was my goal. I probably should've sang the damn Jason Mraz song ("The Remedy")... right Ann?
3) Okay, I also sent an e-mail to these people that book artists/musicians and they sent this back to me:
Thank you so much for responding to our call for artists/musicians to play our Tall Poppy Presents... showcases, starting up again in March. I need some information from you - but let us first explain how it all works:
· Each showcase runs for 3 hours and consists of 4-6 bands/artists.
· We encourage everyone to ask their friends, family and fans to come for the whole evening and support ALL the acts. This way everyone has an opportunity to gain new supporters as well as make new friends and contacts.
We also would like YOU to get paid and therefore have developed a quota system and your set time and placement are determined by the number of fans you have in attendance by 8:15pm. If you want a 15 minute slot you must be able to sell 5 tickets, 10 tickets for 20-25 minutes and 20 tickets if you want 30 minutes or longer.
If you don’t think you are quite ready to sell tickets, our showcases might be something that would work better for you in the future.
To help you promote each event we send out monthly newsletters to our own database (8,000 in the Vancouver area and 10,000 in the UK) and post the events on Music BC, the Georgia Straight and our websites www.tallpoppyrecords.com www.myspace.com/tallpoppypresents . We also provide you with e-flyers to post on-line, email to your mailing lists or print out and distribute.
It seems like a good opportunity to get some more shows, meet some people, and apparently get paid for it (which would be a first) but I don't know how many people would be willing to pay for tickets to see me perform, ya know? Would you guys? I think I can probably get down at least 5 people... but I kinda want to do more than that. Maybe it's a good place to start.
I think that's all I really wanted to say. How's everyone else doing? Swamped by school? How was staying in at the gym at school, Ann? I laughed for a bit when i found out... then felt pity for you.
Anyone do anything special for the Chinese New Year?
When's the next time you guys want to hang out? Sunday's are good for me... and Kem can come after 7:00, I believe.
~~Aaron
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