Pan Ramajay Steel Drum Festival - day 5

The last day of the festival has arrived. Today has been a blur. It really is up to the individual how seriously one approaches the festival. There are some who have built their vacation around the festival. Others are very dedicated to improving themselves to the maximum extent, and there is the in-between. I suppose I'm one of the more extreme improvement types.

I would also venture to say that the majority of participants are repeaters. This is only the second year that the festival has been held in Denver. Before that, the festival took place in Morgantown, WV. The DU campus really is beautiful, with first rate facilities. I'm told that this is the first year that they have offered a residence hall option. I opted for this to have access to practice as long as I want.

The schedule for Friday consists of shorter rehearsals to leave time for moving gear to the stage and doing soundcheck. This was also the first time we rehearsed the mass band tune with all of the bands together. Wow, the last run through was blazing fast!


Here we are for the mass band tune in soundcheck

We finished soundcheck at about 3:45, so I took a power nap. Afterward, I had dinner and kept practicing my the melody for the first tune in my head. Not only does the band I'm in play the first piece of the concert, but I'm right out in front. I also happen to be the first one out as we enter the stage. I was worried about tripping or knocking over a pan.

Showtime

The first tune went pretty well. No train wrecks - credit Jim on trap set for cuing us with a fill into the outro. Whew! Alan's piece was next, with the tricky ending. It wasn't perfect, but decent. Don's piece, with the tricky part in the coda went ok. Personally, I nailed it through the most difficult passage, but missed a few notes right after it. No "red" notes though. In my mind it was like, "wow, I am nailing this... Crap! I'm screwing up now. Just keep playing and smile..." Next came Tom's piece, which went off with just a few mistakes.

I made up my mind before the show to accept the fact I am not perfect and will make some mistakes. You just need to recover and move on. There is no time to dwell on such things. Hmm... sounds like a life lesson. I probably put in 12 hours of individual practice this week, so I can say I gave my best effort.

After Don's arrangement, the composer was recognized in the audience. How cool is that? Ray's composition sounded hope very sweet. I tried to visualize Ray strumming the guitar and singing as I played.

Time goes by so fast when you are backstage and someone else is performing. Most folks quietly mingled. The final piece of the evening was a piece by Blue Boy called Rebecca. It super fast. As in, put your seatbelt on and keep your arms an legs in the vehicle at all times!


The pans are quiet now

The pans may have stopped ringing now for this year's festival, but they sure had some time in the sun!
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Location:S High St,Denver,United States