The Stage Showcase Showcall
Barry Young's Stardust, Leicester 2005

     

Despite what you might take for granted, not everyone on the planet has heard of Café Society, extraordinary I agree, but alas, true. So, in an effort to rectify this international tragedy, we elected to appear on The Stage Showcase Showcall event. This is an occasion for artistes like we, to appear in front of an audience entirely consisting of entertainment and theatrical agents -- a shop window if you like.



     

We were selected to appear on the second day of the event in the afternoon, this meant a very early start! At 07:00 we were off on our way to Leicester, a journey of about 140 miles, but with the weather and driving in rush hour, the journey took about two and a half hours. The check-in time was 10:00 so we were in plenty of time; all was well.

We signed in and had some coffee and awaited instructions. About an hour later we were told to wait for the sound man to give us a sound check. Well, we waited and waited and had to endure the other acts sound checking! Some of them were playing that ghastly modern music from the 1940s! And others played music from eras positively alien to the chaps!! George was visibly shaken and John, ever the boy scout, had affected some ear plugs made from the congealed goo at the bottom of his coffee cup. Even I at times displayed expressions of mild disdain.



     

Still, it gave us time to distribute photos and blurb around the tables. Willy did the left and side, George did the right and I the centre. John was unable to help as his body had solidified due to the violent and excessive inactivity he was experiencing!



     

Well at last we had our sound check then scuttled off to the pub as were 10th on so we had ages. The chaps enjoyed the landlord's offerings and even splashed out on a cob. Willy and I plumped for the beef and onion, John went for the cheese and tomato; George had brought his own sandwiches and ate them discreetly.

We trundled back and went up to the dressing room to change. The dressing rooms were shared. So many other acts were about getting changed and to my delight I observed that the chaps and the gals weren't separated! Distracting but rather jolly!

We went back behind the stage and waited to go on. You can see the stage being set for us -- the eerie blue light was highly evocative and did nothing for the nerves we were experiencing.



     

Tufty the compere introduced us and on we went and though we say so ourselves, we knocked 'em dead! They laughed in all the right places and applauded the songs, heartily. This is an excellent reaction from an audience of agents! View the spot here.

All that was left was the drive home, which proved as hard as the journey there. Though there were some amusing moments: there was one point when Willy, John and George were all snoozing, and the combined snoring was quite rhythmic!