T.V debut

Posted in News on 05/21/2009 08:57 am by admin

If I said my T.V debut was “interesting” that would be an understatement; it was challenging, stressful, exciting and an experience I’ll never forget. Looking back it makes me smile.

I was in the studio recording on a Monday afternoon when I received an email from a woman whom I’d never met but knew about my background in musical performance. She identified herself as a producer for an Indonesian Pop Culture TV Program at the Voice of America (VOA) in Washington, DC. She kindly asked if I would be available to accompany various Indonesian artists as they performed songs from an assortment of musical styles i.e. jazz, pop, country, and Indonesian folk music.

The event was to be a live, pre-recorded talk show of high-profile Indonesian broadcasters and celebrities who were visiting Washington D.C. as part of the Indonesian Panasonic Award program. The Panasonic Award is an annual appreciation for Indonesia’s favorite TV programs and performances (the Indonesian version of the Emmy Awards).

After reading this email I thought this opportunity was definitely different from anything I’ve ever heard of or done so I accepted her unusual offer.

Over the next few days I asked my contact a lot of questions. I inquired what songs I had to play, but I never really got a straight answer until 10pm Wednesday night (the night before the performance). I was given a few song titles of prospective songs to be performed. I was familiar with all of the titles, but was still somewhat nervous with the lack of time to practice.

When Thursday afternoon rolled around Holly and I headed into D.C for our engagement. My T.V experience began as we were trying to get my keyboard through security to find our names weren’t on the list to get into the T.V studio. Finally we were escorted by the front stage producer down to the hallway into the studio. I really had no idea what to expect; however, even with my lack of expectations I was surprised as we walked into a 400 seat T.V studio with lights, cameras, action, clipboards, a crew with headsets, and hosts and hostesses.

I was led to the front of the stage and told where I was to set up my keyboard; so far so good. I sat down at my piano and the stage manager said, “Okay, let’s go ahead and get the levels on your keyboard and microphone.”

Whoa, did I hear that right!? Slow down, mate, I thought. Instead I said,

“Actually sir, I’m not singing; I’m just playing.”

“Well, Mr. Slater, it says right here on the program that you’re singing the opening number tonight,” he replied confidently.

My mind started racing; how could this be? I didn’t sign up for this! I haven’t prepared anything, and if I’d known that I was going to have to sing on TV then I would have prepared something. My mind flashed back to my lecturers in college saying something like, “Always, always be prepared; a day will come when….” you get the idea.

“If you have a problem with that you need to talk to the producer in the back” (another producer – neither of them the one who booked me).

Trying not to cause a scene, I sat down at the piano, adjusted my mic, flipped through the four chord sheets I had, and decided on “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You”. Without missing a beat I started singing; when my levels were set it appeared my prep was done.

Once I was used to the idea of singing, the hostess of the show dropped another bomb on me. She told me I was going to add “life and color” to the show; she told me to pay attention to the timbre of her voice (since I could not understand her lines in Indonesian). She said a higher pitch means she’s introducing the next guest, and I’m to play. What exactly? I wasn’t quite sure, but I figured I could play something that at least sounded impressive.

Surprise three came in the form of a lady who came up to me and started singing. I’m not sure if she was articulating or not because her lyrics were Indonesian. Her hand gestures implied that she wanted me to play along with the song she was singing that I’d never heard before. This only worked for a few moments before she realized, I assume, that most musicians usually have difficulty playing a song they’ve never heard before without a basic chord sheet. She leaned over and spoke in Indonesian to a producer who translated, “She thinks that a song in English would be better.” She started singing ‘Unchained Melody’ which, to my relief, I knew

When the sound check finished we were escorted to a dinner that had been organized for the celebrities and honored guests. After the meal we returned to the studio to find a long line of people waiting to get in; the realization that I would have a live audience did not help any nerves I was battling at the time.

I took my place on the darkened stage and listened as a video rolled, signifying the start of the show. The video finished, and the lights came up on me. I started playing and singing, “You’re just to good to be true, can’t take my eyes off of you…”. The crowd applauded, the craziness of the rehearsal dissipated, and I was able to enjoy performing for the cameras and the studio audience. I finished up the song and the hostess came and spoke in Indonesian followed by, “Joel Slater!”; every one applauded again, craziness!

The focus shifted from me to the hostess who called her first guest; when I heard the high pitch voice part, I started playing a jingle as the guest came up. One of the guests, a comedian, ran out on stage and started singing as I played my jingle. This was unrehearsed but fun as I thought, “What the heck is going on, and how do I finish this song?” I wrapped it up with a jazz ending as the comedian has his hand out shaking like the whole thing had been planned this way all week!

I sat up on the stage for the entire taping, not knowing what the time was or how many more acts there were. In addition, I had no understanding of what was being said. When people laughed, I laughed; when they clapped, I clapped; when the lady who rehearsed ‘Unchained Melody’ with me walked out and looked at me, I started playing.

When the lights went down I was relieved to be done! What an unbelievable experience! This is at the top of my list for crazy performances. In fact, I think this makes its own list!