Sometimes You Just Gotta Wing It

SL Library

When I arrived at the San Leandro Library I wasn't sure what to expect. I prepared for this show like I do all my shows. I thought about who would be in my audience. I thought about what songs to put on the song list. I thought about what instrument activities I would like for all the kids to do. I had all my ducks in a row, this show was going to be a bonafide success. Also, thinking since the show was the day before Thanksgiving and most people would be traveling or getting prepared for Thursday, I assumed that this particular Mister Q show would be relatively small and intimate...boy was I wrong.

At about 10:15am families started coming into the auditorium. At first the flow was slow and it looked as though my predication of a small and intimate show was going to be correct. Nope! The flow started to pick up speed and before I knew it, the auditorium was filled with two hundred plus parents and children. 

When I first realized how many people were sitting before me I thought awesome, however, that feeling of elation quickly vanished because I didn't prepare a forty-five minute show for two hundred plus people. I had to quickly rethink my program for the day.

After about two minutes of panic and a speedy rewrite I decided on this particular day I would wing it. Usually, I'm not a wing it type of performer, but today would be different.

I started the show with my usual opening of the Hello Tune and Hi, My Name Is Mister Q, but after that I went on feeling. I just closed my eyes and let my instincts and performer skills take me over. The whole show became a big blur. Itsy Bitsy Spider here, Wheels On the Bus there. Spin and Stop next and then Jack-in-the-Box. I wasn't entirely sure of how the show was going, but I knew I had everyone's utmost attention and interest. 

After the show was over the audience erupted into applause and it was then I realized I didn't just hit the ball off the wall, I hit it clear over the fence. The show was fantastic! The parents loved it. The kids loved. The librarians loved it too! I soaked in the applause with a huge smile and an even bigger sigh of relief. I winged it, and succeeded. Booya!

The moral that I will be taking away from this experience is that...being prepared is important, but sometimes you just gotta wing it.