first impressions

I was recently approached by a very nice man who commented that I could sing in tune and asked if I'd ever done a real concert.  I was gigging at the time, so I must admit to being a bit of a wide-o and saying "is that not what I'm doing now?". And I felt a bit patronised to be told I could sing in tune, like I'd never thought about it before.  However, it occurs to me that he wasn't to know what I can and can't do.  And he was very nice, BTW.

I find that if you are a singer around pubs and clubs people tend to think that's all you can do.  In fact, not to blow my own trumpet, I have a grade 8 in singing (singing 5 different songs in three different languages from memory),  performed with the Fife Youth Choir and Chamber Choir whilst at school, performing with orchestras and windbands, and on one occasion a solo in St Andrews with just a harp for accompaniment during the choir's performance of Benjamin Britten's "A Ceremony of Carols".  I did higher music, with my second instrument as clarinet.  I also learned trumpet at school, and was heavily involved in music at school and then at college at Napier in Edinburgh.
I was a choral singer, music student and mentor to other singers.  
I've also performed Backing vocals at Retrofest music festival in Glasgow.
So have I ever "done a concert"? yes.  

I'm not a big one for telling folk all my achievements, but maybe these days it pays to sell yourself.  Modesty leads to people underestimating you in this business.  

In my humble opinion, people are guilty of taking each other at face value all the time.  There are so many talented people out there working in jobs they have to to survive, and no one takes the time to find out anything about them. 
I've been a self employed singer for over 11 years now, and yet still I have people amazed that I do anything other than what they see me do.

Maybe those people who do something talented - I know of an actress, a singer and a dancer who have had to work in a local store to get by, and no one has been any the wiser - should shout from the rooftops about their abilities?  Well maybe not, as today's society views such as "showing off" and comments "Who does he/she think he/she is?"

So can we win? Can you have your cake and eat it?  

Modesty means I will now apologise for telling you how brilliant I am...


Sorry.

lol.