This has probably been the busiest December I’ve ever had. I’m not quite done with a stretch where I’ll have worked late for 9 of 11 consecutive days.
Starting with last Monday December 8th, I worked late due to Monday Night Football. Then I worked late on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday because we’re recording a variety of different school holiday concerts for a musical compilation special that will premiere on Christmas day. Actually, on Wednesday I set up for shooting a concert at one school and then drove to the other side of the county to see my own daughter’s holiday concert. I got to spend Friday night resting at home, but then I was working at ESPNU all day Saturday and another late Panthers game on Sunday. Now this week continued with more school holiday concerts on Monday and Tuesday. I’m home tonight for a rare dinner with the family before another concert tomorrow night – the final one before we edit all the footage together.
I’m not about to name any individual schools (I don’t want to insult the schools I don’t mention) but I’ve seen some really great performances over the past two weeks. One elementary school’s musical (dancing and everything) was absolutely incredible. It would have been impressive for high school students to pull that off. Hats off to those kids and that music teacher for such an elaborate production. Then there was a high school concert where all the students were in eerily perfect harmony, plus two great piano solos – one of which I swear could have been a top 40 hit. And after the traditional holiday concert at a different high school, we saw an amazing jazz band performance. It had nothing to do with Christmas but they totally kicked ass.
I don’t know how it will turm out but tomorrow night’s final concert will be at the only school in the discrict which is a special magnet for performing arts. My expectations are high.
