Well, I'm now back home after about a one hour performance at my university. The Capitol Steps (don't know if you know of them: they are a political comedy troupe) are performing there tonight, and I had the opportunity to play some background music while the audience was arriving.

The piano was a Steinway "D" Concert Grand. I was basically facing the audience, with the top opening toward the back of the stage instead of the front. But that's the orientation that the group wanted, and besides, I was supposed to blend into the background.

I had 50 minutes worth of music, everything from the theme from Cats to some Joplin rags and Chopin Mazurkas. Notice I said 50 minutes worth. I ended up playing for an hour and 5 minutes. Lots of creative editing!

One unexpected thing happened: the air conditioning came on. It created a draft from left to right and kept blowing the pages of the book closed! It happened on three songs I think, so I kept having to fight with the music. Luckily it shut back off. I should have gotten bonus points for being able to deal with that.

So, I just wanted to share that. I've started realizing that the more people who are present at a performance, the less nervous I get. I wasn't nervous or apprehensive at all tonight, and there were about 1500 people there. Another performance under my belt! It's resume time!

it sounds that you did pretty well! last time when i saw Stephen Hugh recital, in the middle of his playing, the hall turned completed dark and he just kept playing without stopping until lights on a few minutes later. it was quite a scene.

Yikes! It was not have turned out that well for me, seeing as I was reading from the music!

that was probably planned.

ummm why would they plan something like that?

planed? i don't think so, because a guy outside of the door opened the door noticing it's completedly dark and then quickly got back out and a few minutes later.... lights on! everyone laughed afterwards...