My Life with a Mic

Ever since I can remember, I have LOVED to sing! I wasn't really one of those annoying kids that is always in your face singing and entertaining, but if there was an opportunity, I was game. This picture is of one of my very favorite Christmases. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the restroom, and I just had to look out in the living room to see if Santa had come yet. Well he did, and he left me my first microphone and
microphone stand. I was so excited I couldn't sleep for the rest of the night. That was one of the all time best gifts!
As I got older things didn't change. I still loved to sing. I was in every singing group I could get into including show choir and even some musical theater. By college, I finally started to learn how to play the guitar. I was inspired by a really cute guy that played Garth Brooks and Edwin McCain. With the small number of chords I knew how to play, I started to write songs. I was never very good at that, but have written hundreds anyway. While in college I sang at a few "open mic nights" around campus. I would always get really nervous, but then I heard what some of the other people were singing or reading and I felt much better. I started out studying both vocal and instrument education. I loved to sing, but the department requirements mandated that I sing in foreign languages and there was no class for musical theatre. I was losing my interest, and eventually dropped my work load to only instrumental education. For my junior and senior recitals I sang and played the bassoon. There was no way I was going to get up on stage and not sing while I was there! My best friend Jessi followed my lead and also sang original songs at her recital. I was also blessed to sing and play with her on her big day.
After college, I started to REALLY get into karaoke. I sang a few times a week and really boosted my repertoire as well as my ego! I won a few contest totaling about $800 dollars in prize money. I was getting known in the local Baltimore karaoke bars, and I liked it!
I love going to a new bar and watching people's heads turn when I start to sing. But, things are very different here. Great singers are a dime a dozen, and no one is doing it just for the fun of it. Karaoke contest down here are like American Idol try outs. So needless to say, I haven't done much. My mother did talk me into singing at Tootsies one night when we were visiting in March. That was fun, though not my best performance. The guy playing guitar is Scott Collier. He and his band play at Tootsies ALL THE TIME!
I know I'm not down here to sing, and I know I don't want to ever be famous, but I need some kind of performance opportunity. Katie and I were talking about looking on campus for a group to join. Tim hosts an "open mic night" on Tuesdays and I think Tera and I will perform next week, but I just don't feel like it's enough. I miss the confidence I had when I was singing in front of an awesome crowd. I think meeting all these people down here that are making a living playing music makes me wonder sometimes why I'm not trying harder to at least sing SOMEWHERE!