Post by Kaija on Jun 20, 2022 21:26:26 GMT
The annual Millenium City Amateur Musician Exhibition.
A venue for small-time and first time musicians to give the community a sample of their music and take a chance at gaining some fame. A festival that would run all through the week. It began at 10am each morning and would continue until 10pm each night.
Concession stands encircled the park as blankets dotted its grass. Wasn’t the largest crowd for a concern, unsurprisingly, but free music and nice, moderate weather were enough of a draw to bring a few hundred people together in front of a hastily assembled stage. All while participating bands and musicians waited behind-stage; fighting to calm their nerves and make the best of the opportunity that they’d signed up for.
On Wednesday at 6:35pm, while a group calling themselves ‘Smashcat’ filled the park with awkward sounds of amateur screamo, an announcer would make his way backstage to ensure that the next performer in que would be ready when their turn came around. He called out to a “Vaudeville”, and much to his dismay…
…the only voice he heard calling back to him was a lone woman sitting on a bench with nary an instrument in sight. With a furrowed brow, he checked his list once more.
He quickly surveyed the area once more to confirm that this woman was, indeed, alone. Just as his lips began to part, she chimed in with a-
…
She smiled as the announcer marched away. A few more minutes would pass as Smashcat finished their act before the stage fell silent. Velvet curtains would close in from both sides and hide away the musicians at the conclusion of their performance. The announcer began rehearsing his brief lines while the previous act quickly got their instruments together and shuffled off stage. Then, as the announcer broke through the velvet veil and flashed the audience a warm smile…
…Radeka made her way over to the stagehand working the curtains; tearing the chord out of her hands.
The sound of steel sliding against steel pulled the announcer’s attention away from the crowd. He looked back to find an empty stage. Then, he glanced over at the nervous stagehand hiding behind a withdrawn curtain and the silver-haired witch slowly waltzing up to him.
He brought the microphone away from his lips.
She snatched the microphone from his hands.
Her voice drowned his out instantly. For a brief moment, the announcer contemplated reaching out and stealing the microphone back; hand partially outstretched and everything. But, after a moment of contemplation, he sighed and decided to just let it go with a sigh and shuffle backstage to check on the other upcoming acts.
Had to be at least a few in the crowd in this city. She pointed out to one side of the crowd with her index finger, then swept that finger across the rest with a light smirk.
She slowly came to a stop center stage, let her light smile fade and let some of the commotion in the crowd fade before she continued.
Her expression held neutral as she spoke. Black irises searching the crowd for someone willing to give her poor, desperate soul an answer.
A venue for small-time and first time musicians to give the community a sample of their music and take a chance at gaining some fame. A festival that would run all through the week. It began at 10am each morning and would continue until 10pm each night.
Concession stands encircled the park as blankets dotted its grass. Wasn’t the largest crowd for a concern, unsurprisingly, but free music and nice, moderate weather were enough of a draw to bring a few hundred people together in front of a hastily assembled stage. All while participating bands and musicians waited behind-stage; fighting to calm their nerves and make the best of the opportunity that they’d signed up for.
On Wednesday at 6:35pm, while a group calling themselves ‘Smashcat’ filled the park with awkward sounds of amateur screamo, an announcer would make his way backstage to ensure that the next performer in que would be ready when their turn came around. He called out to a “Vaudeville”, and much to his dismay…
…the only voice he heard calling back to him was a lone woman sitting on a bench with nary an instrument in sight. With a furrowed brow, he checked his list once more.
"You’re supposed to be part of a band, not a solo act, right?”
"Correct.”
He quickly surveyed the area once more to confirm that this woman was, indeed, alone. Just as his lips began to part, she chimed in with a-
"When it’s our turn, we’ll be more than ready. And, I promise that our performance will blow anything else you’ve seen tonight out of the water.”
…
"You know what? Sure. I’ve done my job. If you tank out there, that’s on you.”
She smiled as the announcer marched away. A few more minutes would pass as Smashcat finished their act before the stage fell silent. Velvet curtains would close in from both sides and hide away the musicians at the conclusion of their performance. The announcer began rehearsing his brief lines while the previous act quickly got their instruments together and shuffled off stage. Then, as the announcer broke through the velvet veil and flashed the audience a warm smile…
…Radeka made her way over to the stagehand working the curtains; tearing the chord out of her hands.
"Smashcat, everybody! Energetic bunch, aren’t they?” a few murmurs and laughs rippled through the crowd, "Go ahead and grab some snacks. Take a restroom break or change a few diapers if you need to. We’ll be taking a brief intermission while our next band gets…”
The sound of steel sliding against steel pulled the announcer’s attention away from the crowd. He looked back to find an empty stage. Then, he glanced over at the nervous stagehand hiding behind a withdrawn curtain and the silver-haired witch slowly waltzing up to him.
"...ready.”
He brought the microphone away from his lips.
"Lady, what are you-”
She snatched the microphone from his hands.
"I’m ready.”
"You can’t-”
"Gooood afternoon, Millennium City! Are we all having a great day today?”
Her voice drowned his out instantly. For a brief moment, the announcer contemplated reaching out and stealing the microphone back; hand partially outstretched and everything. But, after a moment of contemplation, he sighed and decided to just let it go with a sigh and shuffle backstage to check on the other upcoming acts.
"I’ve got an unforgettable performance for you all today but, before I get this show on the road, I’d like to give a shoutout to our heroes. You know, our faithful protectors upon which this great city was built. You know who you are out there!”
Had to be at least a few in the crowd in this city. She pointed out to one side of the crowd with her index finger, then swept that finger across the rest with a light smirk.
"If you’re a hero and you’re having a great time today, put your hands up for me! And if you appreciate the service that our heroes provide for us, then show them some love, people! Come on now, don’t be shy.” A bit of cheering here or there; a crowd this size would never match a professional venue. Even so, Radeka nodded, walking back and forth at the front edge of the stage as she pointed back at every hand that went up, "Yeah, that’s right. Show them some love. Yes. Very good.”
She slowly came to a stop center stage, let her light smile fade and let some of the commotion in the crowd fade before she continued.
"Now, I’ve got a question for all you heroes out there-”
"WE CAME HERE FOR MUSIC, DAMNIT!”
"Patience. Have a little patience, Sir. The show will begin very soon. But I’ve got a question for you. For any super in the crowd who can answer me, really. You see, I’m such a… such a big fan of you guys running around just trouncing evil and doing photoshoots. I-It’s great, really. But I’m just dying to know. What exactly are you all fighting for?”
Her expression held neutral as she spoke. Black irises searching the crowd for someone willing to give her poor, desperate soul an answer.
"What drives you guys to get up every morning, put on your colorful skin-tight costumes and do the same exact thing? Hm?” she moved to the front edge of the stage and held the microphone out to the crowd for a second before quickly bringing it back to her own lips, "Speak up, now. Don’t be shy. Outside voices are allowed.”
"I just really want to make sure that everyone hears what you all have to say.”