Ok, good news, I'm feeling a little better! Not a ton better but at least I can feel it moving in the right direction! Yes!!! I'm so happy!
Yesterday was a great day, nothing too exciting but we finally all went and used the pool. It was really hot out, but after we were in the pool for a few minutes it started raining of course. So we all went over to the little restaurant by the pool and got some food. It was SO good! I'm going to have to eat there more often, even though they are closing it in a couple weeks for construction(I swear that's always my luck). I had this thing called a Mixed Satay, it was chicken, lamb and beef on skewers and you get 12 of them, yes 12. Then it comes with some cucumber and onion that you can add on your skewers and this peanut dipping sauce. Mmmmm....I'd say it's probably the best thing I've eaten since I've been here! Luckily I think it's on the room service menu too.
After we ate we all went back to our rooms and we had like three hours til our show since we don't start til 10:15 on Friday and Saturdays. I tried to take a nap but I couldn't sleep so I just relaxed and watched TV. Oh and I also found out that hulu doesn't work here so I can't watch my shows from home but I did find a website I can use to watch Glee at least cause that's the most important!
The shows were great, our band leader picks the easiest songs for me to sing since my voice is a little scary right now but for some reason during the last set he chose Billy Jean. Ahh! It was a mess, it's already a hard song when I have my full voice, but when I'm sick, lets just say it was a disaster. But I made it through it, or tried to and was so relieved when it was over.
Last night I also had my first run in with a pushy customer. This lady and her husband insisted on getting a few of us drinks so I tried to sneak away but she grabbed me and told me not to leave. So she poured us all some and then we did a cheers and I pretended to drink it, she looked right at me and said, "you are not leaving here til that's gone." So I put it in my mouth then when she turned away I spit it into my water bottle. I'm always going to make sure I have that water bottle with me when I'm out in the crowd now. Oh how fun that was. I think that's about all that happened yesterday, we'll see what today has in store.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Ladies Night....Oh Boy What A Night
This sickness is killing me! I mean, I've been way more sick than this before but never has it affected my voice like this. Tonight was Ladies Night and it was pretty packed so of course we were all hyped for the show. But no matter how hyped I was, my voice was not going to cooperate.
In the first set I sang Maria Maria, I'm Yours, and Masterblaster, I couldn't get through one song without my voice cracking and I couldn't even reach some of the notes. Even when I've been horrendously ill in the past I have still been able to use my voice, but not this time. I have never been more embarrassed. I could see the looks on people's faces as they watched me struggle. As the night went on I got more and more panicked with each set, just hoping that I could get through my songs. And that's all I did, got through them. Now here's the weird part, everyone was so nice last night! Not one rude comment after I sucked it up so bad! So at least that part was good!
All I did during the day yesterday was rest, trying to get better. I've taken Ibuprofen, Guaifenisen, sore throat lozenges, cough drops, and some weird tea stuff that one of the other singers gave me. Nothing has helped. I'm just praying it will start getting better soon, but who knows. Anyway that's enough for now.
In the first set I sang Maria Maria, I'm Yours, and Masterblaster, I couldn't get through one song without my voice cracking and I couldn't even reach some of the notes. Even when I've been horrendously ill in the past I have still been able to use my voice, but not this time. I have never been more embarrassed. I could see the looks on people's faces as they watched me struggle. As the night went on I got more and more panicked with each set, just hoping that I could get through my songs. And that's all I did, got through them. Now here's the weird part, everyone was so nice last night! Not one rude comment after I sucked it up so bad! So at least that part was good!
All I did during the day yesterday was rest, trying to get better. I've taken Ibuprofen, Guaifenisen, sore throat lozenges, cough drops, and some weird tea stuff that one of the other singers gave me. Nothing has helped. I'm just praying it will start getting better soon, but who knows. Anyway that's enough for now.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Pink Party
Last night was awesome! It was our official band launch and it was packed! You could feel the energy from everyone in the room the second we walked in. So cool. Usually we start out with some calmer songs because no one is drunk yet and it kinda just gets people ready for the louder stuff later. But last night we started right out with the high energy dancing music and it was great. People came just to see us, so they were really into it. There were newspaper people, magazines, people with video cameras, it was crazy. After our first set we all had to go meet out in front of the club for interviews and photos, I truly felt a little famous. Everyone wanted to talk to us and ask us questions. We even signed autographs!
The whole night was great, but then of course there's always a few people that are just a little too honest, or blunt I guess. I was talkin with this man from the UK and he was saying how much he liked the show and how great it was, but then out of no where he said, "No offense but there's really no reason for there to be another singer with a black girl up there, she's the only one to watch, she's really the most talented." I was quite shocked that he would say that to my face. And that wasn't the end of it either. I then talked with a local lady and she was being so nice then came the, "No offense you're really cute, my daughter would love you, but I thought you were really boring. But now talking to you, you are so nice." I know I'm in the business where I'm being judged all the time but seriously, who just says that to someone's face? And do people really think if they start with "No offense" that it's ok to say whatever?
Anyway enough with that business. All in all the night was great, and it's getting easier and easier to hear when my songs are coming up so I'm not really nervous anymore. Tonight is ladies night so we'll see how that goes!
The whole night was great, but then of course there's always a few people that are just a little too honest, or blunt I guess. I was talkin with this man from the UK and he was saying how much he liked the show and how great it was, but then out of no where he said, "No offense but there's really no reason for there to be another singer with a black girl up there, she's the only one to watch, she's really the most talented." I was quite shocked that he would say that to my face. And that wasn't the end of it either. I then talked with a local lady and she was being so nice then came the, "No offense you're really cute, my daughter would love you, but I thought you were really boring. But now talking to you, you are so nice." I know I'm in the business where I'm being judged all the time but seriously, who just says that to someone's face? And do people really think if they start with "No offense" that it's ok to say whatever?
Anyway enough with that business. All in all the night was great, and it's getting easier and easier to hear when my songs are coming up so I'm not really nervous anymore. Tonight is ladies night so we'll see how that goes!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Mall Excursion
Yesterday was a great day! It all started with the usual gym, room service, shower, then a little TV watchin. Then I was supposed to meet with the other two singers to go shopping because we all have to have something pink to wear for tonight, it's our official launch at the club. Supposedly there's going to be reporters, news channels, magazines and all sorts of people there to watch us, talk about pressure! But anyway, I missed their call so I ended up going to the mall myself, yeah yeah, I know that sounds all scary, but it really wasn't, it's only one stop down on the subway thing and it's just like being at home in the mall just with different people.
So I get to the mall, the one I talked about before, it's called the Midvalley Megamall, it's HUGE! I went through the whole mall then found a little passageway that lead to another mall called the Garden Mall, and that one was huge too! I ended up finding just a plain pink shirt, nothing special after all those stores, but it was still a blast.
Now for the bad part, somehow I'm already sick. One of the girl singers was sick when she got here and I caught it of course because I catch every illness around me. It's pretty much just a sore throat but it's definitely affecting my voice. In the show last night there were quite a few notes I had to strain to get through but I remembered all my words!!!! Yes!!!
Everyone I talked to after each set last night said how much they love our band already, way more than the band that was here before us. So that is great news. I talked to one man last night who told me that I need to get back to the U.S. to try out for X-Factor. He told me that he knows things about Simon Cowell and if I use it in my interviews I would get on the show for sure....hmmm...I might have to think about that.
I've discovered one of the biggest challenges with this job is going to be avoiding all the drinks. Everyone wants to buy us drinks because we are the band, and it's very impolite to say no, so I just have to take them and pretend to drink. I don't know how all the others do it, even if I liked to drink I wouldn't be able to do it and then go up and sing, it totally effects your voice. But to each their own!
One last thing, I felt my first little touch of homesickness today. I woke up at 6ish this morning(courtesy of jetlag) and just felt sad, but I got up, drank some water and went back to bed, then when I woke up at 1 I felt better! So hopefully that stays away, of course I'm going to miss things about home but that sad feeling is no fun. That's about it for now.
So I get to the mall, the one I talked about before, it's called the Midvalley Megamall, it's HUGE! I went through the whole mall then found a little passageway that lead to another mall called the Garden Mall, and that one was huge too! I ended up finding just a plain pink shirt, nothing special after all those stores, but it was still a blast.
Now for the bad part, somehow I'm already sick. One of the girl singers was sick when she got here and I caught it of course because I catch every illness around me. It's pretty much just a sore throat but it's definitely affecting my voice. In the show last night there were quite a few notes I had to strain to get through but I remembered all my words!!!! Yes!!!
Everyone I talked to after each set last night said how much they love our band already, way more than the band that was here before us. So that is great news. I talked to one man last night who told me that I need to get back to the U.S. to try out for X-Factor. He told me that he knows things about Simon Cowell and if I use it in my interviews I would get on the show for sure....hmmm...I might have to think about that.
I've discovered one of the biggest challenges with this job is going to be avoiding all the drinks. Everyone wants to buy us drinks because we are the band, and it's very impolite to say no, so I just have to take them and pretend to drink. I don't know how all the others do it, even if I liked to drink I wouldn't be able to do it and then go up and sing, it totally effects your voice. But to each their own!
One last thing, I felt my first little touch of homesickness today. I woke up at 6ish this morning(courtesy of jetlag) and just felt sad, but I got up, drank some water and went back to bed, then when I woke up at 1 I felt better! So hopefully that stays away, of course I'm going to miss things about home but that sad feeling is no fun. That's about it for now.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Whew!!
So opening night is finally behind me! Ah what a relief! I wasn't really stressed about it but it just feels good to have started and have that first part over with.
Let me back track a little bit now. Yesterday we went and saw that other band at another hotel downtown, they were pretty good, they had one singer, a little phillipino girl and she was Amazing! She pretty much stole the show. Once she sang that's all I wanted to listen to the rest of the time. The other guy and girl were good too, but nowhere near the amazingness of this girl. Then on the way back to the hotel we took a taxi and it had these nasty little cockroach-like things crawling along the back seat! It was so sick! I had to lean forward the whole ride and still ended up with one in my hair!!!
Now forward to today, did just the usual, went to the gym, came back and showered, and talked to my mom and dad on Skype. Then I had a quick lunch and we all met for rehearsal. We rehearsed from 2 ish til about 6. I felt really ready after that. Then a few of us went to dinner. I had this weird steak dish, not my favorite thing I've had here. It was too red! Woof. After that I went back to my room to relax for a couple hours before opening.
At 9:15 we all met outside the club and got ready for our first set. It went great, I mean I messed up quite a bit, forgot words in almost every song, but all in all I'd say for my first day it was good! It's so different not knowing what song is coming next and a couple times I didn't realize it was my song, but they all helped me out and got me through it! Every night it will get better and better I'm sure of it! Well tomorrow's another day, I'll write again soon.
Let me back track a little bit now. Yesterday we went and saw that other band at another hotel downtown, they were pretty good, they had one singer, a little phillipino girl and she was Amazing! She pretty much stole the show. Once she sang that's all I wanted to listen to the rest of the time. The other guy and girl were good too, but nowhere near the amazingness of this girl. Then on the way back to the hotel we took a taxi and it had these nasty little cockroach-like things crawling along the back seat! It was so sick! I had to lean forward the whole ride and still ended up with one in my hair!!!
Now forward to today, did just the usual, went to the gym, came back and showered, and talked to my mom and dad on Skype. Then I had a quick lunch and we all met for rehearsal. We rehearsed from 2 ish til about 6. I felt really ready after that. Then a few of us went to dinner. I had this weird steak dish, not my favorite thing I've had here. It was too red! Woof. After that I went back to my room to relax for a couple hours before opening.
At 9:15 we all met outside the club and got ready for our first set. It went great, I mean I messed up quite a bit, forgot words in almost every song, but all in all I'd say for my first day it was good! It's so different not knowing what song is coming next and a couple times I didn't realize it was my song, but they all helped me out and got me through it! Every night it will get better and better I'm sure of it! Well tomorrow's another day, I'll write again soon.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Good Times
Wow, I just reread that last post, it was long! But I had a lot to tell, so I guess it's ok. Today there wasn't quite as much excitement, but still a great day. I slept til noon, then got up and decided to find the gym. Of course they are remodeling it right now til October 18th but they have a little miniature gym set up right now until it's done. So I went and ran on the treadmill, but they measure things in Kilometers here so I wasn't really sure how far to go so I did a nice little 10k, I think thats around 6 miles....hmmm.
Anyway then I went back to my room and ordered room service, I had a caesar salad with salmon, and it was SOOO good! I could get used to this business. Then I took a shower and got ready for the day.
We were supposed to do a sound check around 5, and it was 3 so I decided to take a look around the hotel and pool. It was a nice little excursion, I checked out some of the restaurants, then walked around the whole pool and took a few pictures, I'll post some soon! When I got back to my room it was 4, so I decided to lay down to watch some TV and fell back asleep. I woke up to the sound of my doorbell ringing(did I mention our hotel rooms have doorbells?) and it was our drummer telling me that we were gonna meet down there around 7:30. So I went back to watching TV, but I couldn't fall back asleep. It's weird feeling exhausted because my body is still on Utah time, but it already got it's fill of sleep so I couldn't take anymore!
At 7:30 we met down at the club, and watched the instrumentalists all sound check, then all left for dinner really quick. After that we went back to the club and ran through all of my songs for opening day, it went GREAT! Much better than I was expecting. And now we're all heading out to see another band at another club downtown.
So that's it for now, still loving it here so far, and can't wait for opening night!
Anyway then I went back to my room and ordered room service, I had a caesar salad with salmon, and it was SOOO good! I could get used to this business. Then I took a shower and got ready for the day.
We were supposed to do a sound check around 5, and it was 3 so I decided to take a look around the hotel and pool. It was a nice little excursion, I checked out some of the restaurants, then walked around the whole pool and took a few pictures, I'll post some soon! When I got back to my room it was 4, so I decided to lay down to watch some TV and fell back asleep. I woke up to the sound of my doorbell ringing(did I mention our hotel rooms have doorbells?) and it was our drummer telling me that we were gonna meet down there around 7:30. So I went back to watching TV, but I couldn't fall back asleep. It's weird feeling exhausted because my body is still on Utah time, but it already got it's fill of sleep so I couldn't take anymore!
At 7:30 we met down at the club, and watched the instrumentalists all sound check, then all left for dinner really quick. After that we went back to the club and ran through all of my songs for opening day, it went GREAT! Much better than I was expecting. And now we're all heading out to see another band at another club downtown.
So that's it for now, still loving it here so far, and can't wait for opening night!
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