School Talent Show

Last night was the elementary school talent show.  The kids had to try out a month ago.  Andreya wanted to be in it, and she wanted to sing, "God bless the USA".  So we searched iTunes and found a karaoke version that sounded nice, and we burned it to a disk and put it all together.  She practiced over and over, and then we went to try out.  At tryouts, she sang so nicely.  She is not one of these ultra talented kids that you see on TV, but for a 3rd grader, she did pretty well, and just her little girl sweetness, made it very touching.  After the tryouts, she was told that she could be in the talent show, but she could not sing that song, because someone else at the previous day's tryouts had that song and were already accepted into the talent show.  She could be in it if she came up with a different song.  Of course we were disappointed, but we had a long time to figure out what song we would do.  

I thought of every nice Disney and Barbie song I knew, as well as every kid, or fun song I could think of.  She could not decide, then she said she wanted to do a song about America.  We went through a whole bunch, and she picked "America the Beautiful".  We found several karaoke versions and instrumental versions of it.  The only problem was that they were too high, or too long.  So finally we found one that was a kid's karaoke version.  I learned a lot from this, for a kid, always look for the Children's Karaoke version first.  It will best match a kids voice, without being too high or too low.  So we downloaded it, but it was way too long, and she didn't think she could memorize all those words in the week (we took a while picking a song) she had to learn it.  I had downloaded this free program called Audacity that you can use to edit music you already have.  It is not like garage band, you can't make music, but you can slice it up and use parts, or extend it if you need it to last longer, etc.  It is really good for making videos if you need the music just the right length, and many other things.  I have used it for DVD's before.  Anyway, using this program, I took out two verses but made it sound like it was not choppy or unnatural.  Then she practiced and practiced.  In the car everywhere we went she was singing that song.  She actually learned it very fast, and when it came time for the talent show, she was prepared and not nervous at all.  

The talent show had a dress rehearsal for all the students on Friday morning.  There was almost no parents there, and it was really hot (outside).  I came to watch her, and I video taped her at that time.  It was quiet, and I could get upfront and get a good video.  So I will upload video, but it is from the performance for the students, not the one last night.  

The actual talent show is a big money maker for our PTG.  People can come and only spend $1 per person to get in if they want to bring their own chairs and blankets (that is what we did).  Also, people in the talent show get in free and so does one parent.  If you get there early enough, you can get a good spot for your blanket and chairs.  (it is kind of on a hill looking down at the "stage".  People who wanted upfront seats (parents video taping the performance etc.) Could pay $7.00 a ticket, and people who wanted chairs, but not right up front, could pay $5.oo per ticket.  We ended up only paying $3 total to get in.  Also, people could bring their own food if they wanted.  So for some families it was a very inexpensive evening.  There was lots of ways to spend money however.  We had pizza, nachos, ice cream, sodas, juices, water, glow bracelets, etc.  Then there was a raffle of donated items, and a silent auction of donated items as well.  We got a lot of nice things donated.  They also were selling the last of the yearbooks, too.  I was manning the food ticket table.  It was just too hot, and we made a ton of money just from selling food tickets.  At the beginning of the night, the food was $1 for each item, except pizza was $2.  Then about 10 minutes before it ended, pizza was $1 a slice.  About the time the talent show ended it was free.  Then the other items were 2 for $1.  Then about 15 minutes after it ended and everyone was cleaning up, the ice cream and nachos were free.  Some people had boxes of ice cream sandwiches and were just passing it out.  We ended up with about 5 on our way out the door.  We hurried home to put it in the freezer.  It was so funny.  So if you go to an event like this, its a gamble, but sometimes if you wait and they have left overs, you can save a lot on food.  Maybe even get it free.  Sit by the food area, or loiter there alot.  We paid about $23 dollars for our family for food.  Of course it was all junk, but it was fun, and it was for the PTG.  

As for the talent show itself, it was pretty good.  Because Andreya was singing, "America the Beautiful," They wanted to have her sing first, right after the pledge to the flag.  It was nice to have her first, because I could stop what I was doing and watch her sing.  She sang very nicely, even better than the morning.  I really think she did, not just because I am her mother either.  I am not that kind of mom,  I tend to be a realist when it comes to my children and their abilities.  I am not in parent la-la land.   Most of the kids did a good job as well.  There was singing, violin playing, piano playing, guitar playing, a comedy act, dancing, break dancing (that kid was amazing), the blues brothers act (funny!), and clarinet playing.  The blues brothers act, and the break dancing were really good, and not your typical talent show acts.  At the end, all the kids in the talent show did a song together.  There was one thing that drove me crazy.  All the people who sang did pretty well, and some were really good (a boy who used to be in my ward sang "Rockin' Robin" really well), but the brother and sister who sang "God Bless the USA" were horrible.  I mean people were covering their ears horrible.  They were way off key, and they were screaming into the microphone at some parts.  It reminded me of American Idol - the first few weeks.  I could not believe they were allowed into the talent show.  Lots of kids who tried out sang better then them but were not allowed to be in it.  I wonder if their mom was friends with the people organizing it.  It made me frustrated, because Andreya really wanted to do that song, and they did it, but totally butchered it.  She can do it next year.  I wonder if their mother realized how horrible they sounded.  It was just embarrassing.  I think if my child sounded like that, I would not even let them try out.  Just being honest with them.  And if they did try out, I would hope that the judges would be honest with them, and not let them in the talent show.  

We had a similar situation with Tae Kwon Do.  The teacher said only certain students could try for their yellow belt.  I asked her if Andreya and Christyne were ready and what they should know.  She said that only Andreya could try out, and that Christyne was being kind of lazy.  She was right.  Sometimes when it is time to do the push ups, sit ups, etc, Christyne does a few, and when the teacher isn't looking she stops, and when the teacher is looking, she starts again.  I like it when people are honest.  I was glad she told me that.  I told Christyne.  Now she knows that she can't get away with being lazy in Tae Kwon Do, and still advance.  I would rather someone tell me that my child isn't ready, or not good enough, then to have them lie, just to not hurt my feelings, or my child's feeling.   

Any way, the night was a lot of fun, Andreya did great, and we were very proud of her.  It was a lot of fun.  Christyne liked it too, maybe she will be in it next year as well.  It is all up to them.