Date created: 29th January 2012
Date happened: 27th January 2012
Date written: 29th January 2012
Hello all! Looks like I’m back again. And I noticed I’d already hit 15k tweets. But I’m still pondering over whether I should do “it” or not.
Hmm.
Anyway! This post isn’t about that! This is about something even more wonderful! Something even more spectacular!
So on the 27th of January 2012, it was the official day of the concert.
Okay wait, let me start from the beginning of the ordeal.
Okay, so first off, 1st day of rehearsal - 25th January 2012.
So on the 24th, I actually borrowed Miss Mok’s Mac to do the backstage videos after I realized that there is no free program on Windows that would make my work any easier.
And no, Windows Movie Maker ain’t gonna cut it anymore. This is more srs bzn.
So I got the lappy around 11; I went to her house at 10. So after that, I worked through the night, until about 6am before the Mac decided to GIVE ME A HEART ATTACK by SHUTTING DOWN BY ITSELF.
And something I didn’t know about Mac is that it doesn’t have a “save” function. So I was at that time, hoping and praying it would appear in my face when I booted it up.
And lo and behold, it did! I was seriously damn scared when it happened. So I decided to go to bed after that, seeing that the Mac was heating up quite remarkably.
Woke up around 12 to get ready to get to school for the first day of rehearsal at 1. Didn’t have school that day, thankfully.
So went in, and brought Toni and… someone else… Oh! Yan Wei to the back stage lift area to go down, since I dunno if the TFA front door was opened already or not.
Also, while going down, I overheard that the sound crew was here already, which kinda surprised me, because I thought we only had them at Day 2.
Well, when I was in-charge anyway.
So after that, brought them down, and they proceeded to help Kelvin to move the stuff. Chairs were already there, thanks to Kelvin and Yeow Teng, and then I set up my “workstation”, which consisted of a box and my stuff on top of it.
I wanted to finish Day 2 of the backstage during my time, but it looks like there was no progress made anyway. Haha!
So we rehearse abit abit, played around abit. Everyone was sluggish and stuff. Didn’t know what was happening. Yan Wei decided to play around abit during Day 1 with my camera after being “inspired” by my video. Somewhat. Hahaha!
So that was Day 1. Only 1 semi-full run? Like, half tech, half full run. So, I guess that works?
Haha, after that, it was like, 10+ when we left the TFA officially? And then reached home around 11.45pm. Tired max. Tried to do abit of project, and go through some of my small pieces songs.
Then next day, went to school. I think I finished part 2 by today, and then posted it up. When to school to post it in the GC Connections page, because I didn’t know whether I should anot.
[W.N. It was all about the Queenie batch and up, so there like no link. So was pondering. But did anyway.]
Then after that, project did in class, so I could run to the TFA soon after school ended. No Tim and Chua, which was AWESUM STUFF.
Upon reaching, I heard they just changed chairs. From pink to black colour.
OH, AND THE FREAKING CURTAIN COULDN’T CLOSE! It snapped the day before, and unfortunately, it couldn’t be fixed. IT WAS SO WORRYING.
But nevermind, THEY HAD SMOKE MACHINES to replace them. I applaud them [WN: The organizing team] for coming up with such an idea, and also the luck of having a smoke machine!
And all the shining lights! So amazing! So many extra lights this year! Like a REAL concert!
Then after that, we started around 3 ah? I can’t remember. Then later Ms. Lina came, then wah, the stress level went through the roof.
How do I know?
1) I was suddenly involved. And what that means is, I turn into my “NPCC” self. And no, you don’t want to see that side of me. Ever.
2) Chun Hui broke down. Which actually pained me also. I’ll elaborate later.
3) Queenie was running all over the place.
4) Lina “lectured” us. Which is bad already. Like, Stage 2 already. Stage 3 = scolding. Stage 1 = doing nothing lah.
5) Everyone suddenly went into “unfun” mode.
So yeah, stress level flew through the roof. Even I was going crazy helping Chun.
And why I had no. 2) as one of the biggest indication, is because she’s like, the pillar of backstage. And the pillar of anything, really. You could say because we share the same name, or something. But there’s like, something when she’s running the show.
To dispel any rumours, no, there’s no romantic feelings whatsoever.
But its maybe more of like, if suddenly I broke down. You know shit just got real.
So after that, I took over the backstage for awhile. But I didn’t know squat about backstage, so I had to rely on the backstage crew themselves to know what to do. Somemore Ms Lina wanted to change seating positions, at like, 8pm on the day before rehearsal. And we needed to scram by 10pm.
So crazy stuff. But Pei Yi, I think he’s the leader, lead pretty well. So did the rest of the crew, which kinda followed his lead.
So after the crazy rehearsal, Public Nuisance went off to practice on our own until about 11. With Javis, Toni, Kelvin as well.
Oh, and Thow and Daniel Lim came as special guests today. Because they couldn’t make it the next day. Haha. Miss our Mr. Daniel “Hohboh” Lim. Unfortunately, he isn’t teaching us anymore. He was fun to be with to say the least.
Then that’s day 2.
DAY 3. Final day. I returned home around 12am, then online and did everything and stuff. Then slept only at 3? Even then, still had abit of trouble doing so. The adrenaline too much ah. First time feeling like that.
Woke up at 6.30 to get ready for school. Yes, I only had ~3-4 hours of sleep only before concert day.
Then woke up, dragged my feet to school, had Phoa’s class. And he was being a pain, no argument there. But also my fault lah. I just wanted to get to the TFA ASAP. So I was in my unusual “more-hyper-than-usual” self.
Then heard there was no Timothy [SCORE!], and thus we released at 1. After that, run to the TFA only to get stuff done!
Reached there, so little people were there. Stagecrew also not there. Sugar Sugar also not there. But Mr. Michael came soon enough, and Queenie was worried about our standard. The first thing she said when she saw me was, “Eh, let’s try Dancing Queen run.”
I was also sincerely worried about our playing standard lah. But I’ll touch on that later.
So after that we practiced with whoever was there first. And it was very “luan” ah.
Then soon, we had semi-tech runs. The sound man also want to test the mic. So very messy.
But soon enough, everything was sorted out. Mr. Gaspar left at ~2.30? Then we started our tech runs after that. No stage crew, so the stage was in a mess.
After tech-run already, then we had some playing time. And Queenie after that was freaking out already. I think she was on the brink of crying, but still held herself together for us.
I mean, if the “tao” collapse, so would the rest right? Somemore Chun’s episode yesterday already was quite a blow to us liao.
So I had a brief chat with her, before our next item came up. I hope that lifted her up abit!
Man, I gotta get better at these. I went through it before, and it pains me to see another batch suffering the same.
She was worried about the current state of the Senior ensemble. Because at that moment, we were being OWNED – Yes, that’s right – by the Junior ensemble in terms of comparable standard. And that was VERY VERY worrying. But I assured her that we always like to perform when the stage gets bigger.
Means, concert that time, be assured that we will give 100%, no problem. But practice, we only show like 60%.
So after that it was close to 6 already. The Junior ensemble left at 545, and Sugar Sugar was instructed to come back at 615, whilst the rest at 630.
Sugar Sugar came only at 620 anyway. But we had some valuable practice, and in the end, WE WERE CLOSE TO FLAWLESS. Especially the last practice infront of the rest of the juniors. So awesome feeling.
Then after that, my turn to worry about those whom are coming. Tried to SMS everyone, but it looks like those whom I SMS were the only ones really coming. So, yeah.
So went to meet the rest. Meet with family first, then was trying to find Junwen and the rest, but no luck. Somemore my phone reception was working. DAaaaaaaaaaamn!
Then after that saw them. Talked to them abit. Then saw Ms Lina, talked to her abit also. It seemed that she prepared something “special” for all of us, but it went missing the next day.
I was very curious about what’s it, though. Haha! But knowing her character, she rather strangle me, then to say it out. xD! My wits can’t match hers, that I’ll admit.
Then after that, she introduced me to Zion, and Chee Kiong, the first batch that Ms Lina took when she took over, I think. 7th batch, if I recall.
So soon, we went in, and the concert started and everything.
Boomwhamwhoosh.
Intermission met with Miss Alisa Chuaaaaaaaaa. And her BF! Honestly, her BF the hair long like her, like Raphael like that. [Not close to Raphael, though. Haha!]
Then after that, went around with her, introduced her to Jarel and Chun Hui. So fun to introduce people to Chun Hui, and confusing them. Hahaha!
Then after that, it seemed like Pops went to complain that the “Tan” version of me was on the list, but mistaken that for my name. Then he went to hoo-hah over it.
Lucky they know me as someone not so serious, so nothing serious happened! So it was fineeeee.
Then after intermission, Public Nuisance crazy stuff, and Just The Way You Are, we decided to sing instead, because I brought the Fedora and Mr. Michael wore it instead.
OH! I FORGOT TO MENTION.
So before we went up the stage, we were at the dressing room. And Erjill started to play Bohemian Rhapsody with request by Yan Wei. And you know, when you damn excited anything can happen.
So I first sang the starting with Yan Wei, like, abit abit. Then Jun Seng joined it. Just to sing the “MAMAAAAAAAAAAA” part. And the “PAPAAAAAAAAAA” and “BROTHERRRRRRRRR” and “SISTERRRRRRRRR” part.
Choon sooned joined, then Wee Hoe, then the rest. Hahaha!
Then we jumped to the breakdown. The “SCARAMOUGE SCARAMOUGE WOULD YOU DO THE FANDANGO.”
It was damn epic. If there was a moment to take away from the concert for backstage. That was it. That was why I liked concerts so much.
Then during the inbetween sets, we kept having fun around with the props that we brought. Mainly Public Nuisance lah, but still, the other props also. My Fedora keep give other people play, and this is what we came up with when each individual had the Fedora on:
Kelvin: Farmer.
Me: Forget already. OH! Some old singer from the 70s.
Choon: Pervert [Audrey]/ Al Pacino gangsta’ [me]
Glen: Michael Jackson
Jarel: Businessman
Erjill: JUST ADD ON TO HIS AWESOMENESS.
Audrey: Audrey.
Note: Above was evaluated by me and Audrey. And by no means everyone’s opinion. Although that’s the majority. Hahaha!
Then so after intermission, I wanted to wear the Fedora up-stage, but Jarel ask me to play around with it on others. Then we gave Mr. Michael wear, then he “WHOA, how about I come in during the 2nd chorus, and asked everyone to sing along?!”
And during that song, PEOPLE DID SING ALONG! I agree I went out of rhythm because I try to sing along also, but then since the Audience singing, I faster got back on track, AND IT WAS EPIC MAXS.
Then after that… I dunno what already leh, I keep jumping! Hahaha! IT SO EXCITING! I’M BASICALLY WANTING TO JUMP BACK INTO THAT TIME AGAIN, AT 442AM IN THE MORNING!
That’s how excited I am, even though its 2 days already.
So after that, the set itself was fine. The whole concert was fine. Then during James Bond, Hafiz supposed to pull the gun, then he point in the sky, then cannot fire.
Then we all like, staring at him, then when he cannot fire for like, 3 secs, we started to laugh. ON STAGE. HAHAHA! LIKE DAMN FUNNY LIKE THAT.
Kelvin’s presidential speech was inspirational, but at the wrong timing. But still! It was something I felt it was totally from his heart.
Although he was a little draggy. Haha!
Then we “Fireworked” it off, and awesome! IT WAS OVER!
The after-party was awesome also. Chun got a flower bouquet from the boy. Awwwww. We wanted her to go on stage in the middle, but she told us the small boy couldn’t even come up, So she went there instead.
Haha, aw man, thinking back like that, isn’t doing good for me right now. Hahaha.
Sigh.
So we cut cake, thanked everyone, including the sound crew, Azlan and Ariff and gang.
Lolita: For being an excellent sound manager.
Also, I was really appreciative of Jun Seng’s contribution to backstage at the last minute. Even when he wasn’t involved, he got himself involved and helped everything run smoothly.
Then… somemore what ah.
Oh, let me post what I posted on FB:
Hey all! Excellent performance and concert just now!
Juniors, you guys were AWESOME with your pieces. Continue to keep up the good work! By far better than our batch when we were Juniors. (That means Skater's Waltz, if you know what I mean. Jarel Ye, Muhammad Norhafiz)
Sugar, Sugar! You all purposely one right. Purposely wait until want to perform then play until so nice. Make me and Toni Medrano freak out for nothing only. Hahaha! The final performance wasn't our best, but its VERY VERY CLOSE! :D!
Seniors! I've never had that much fun ever before during pre, during, and post concert! All I have to say is that we should form a band just for Bohemian Rhapsody.
'Nuff said. Oh, and cakes are deadly. Erjill Sison, Yan Wei, Loh Choon Hian
Backstage crew! I dunno how many of you are here, but thanks for being so efficient and adapting. Even to the extent of losing your dinner time during concert day just to make everything run smoothly! Loli Fong, Lee Jun Cheng, Pei Yi, Derrick(sp?), Jianxiang(issit?), Shizuan(sp?), Amii, Hui Ting and Chun Hui!
ICs! Queenie, Kelvin and gang! (Sorry, I ran out of tags!) It was tight, it was crazy, and it was a whirlwind of a time. But everything still came out nicely in the end! No one destroyed the stage while moving in, nor did anyone break anything. And everyone knew where to sit and the concert went without a hitch! So, mission success!
And your faith in us seniors were paid off! I hoped that at least you guys also had fun, admist all the crazy, tight schedule!
And finally, Public Nuisance! It has been an honor playing with you guys. And honestly, it has been the 3rd best thing that has happened in my GC life so far. (The first being joining GC in the first place, and 2nd is knowing you guys!) Hope one day, we would be able to go to places far beyond our wildest dreams! (No Hafiz, Lao Pa Sat doesn't count. xD!) Glen Ho.
It has been the greatest enjoyment playing with you guys, and I'm glad I got to have a piece, and share, of this awesome experience. I hope you guys continue to perform this well, and continue to bring up the name of NYPGC. One day, I believe, that I would see the day NYPGC performs at the Auditorium, and still have not enough seats for everyone.
All the best for future shows and concerts! Go out there and make our club proud!
Sorry if it's abit too long. Felt like it had to go somewhere, and so I chose here. NYPGC4LYFE.
P.S. If you tl;dr, just know that you're awesome.
K. NAO GO HAV FUN.
P.P.S. I hope I didn't forget anyone! D:!
This is word for word on what I posted. And how I really felt.
OH, AND BEFORE I FORGET. YANWEI LOOKED LIKE A GANGSTER BOSS WITH THE STICK AND HIS OUTFIT. It was epic.
Sigh.
It’s things like that, that I feel I would miss the most during my CCA life. I mean, Year 2 was harsh, but Year 3 was so much fun. So, so much fun.
I… don’t know. Words are not enough to express my gratefulness of joining, and having such an awesome company.
Even Hafiz started to tear up abit before he left with his GF.
I think I would too, if, I dunno. If I wanted to?
I don’t know, but it’s really an emotional moment, but I didn’t show it only.
I keeping saying to Jarel, “Sigh, this is our last year already…”
I think he hear until tired already. Haha!
But honestly, so fast. In a blink of an eye, its over. 3 years. In Polytechnic life. In my CCA life.
I never really imagined this time to come, but it is now. And I can even remember my Year 1 life, when Jarel dragged me to go and join Guitar Club. And I’m lucky he did. If not, I’d be missing out on stuff like that.
Even suddenly, while sitting around with Hafiz, he actually slightly remembered the tune that he played during the camp that I acted as a Caveman. And I still have that photo up till now.
Oh man, haaha. Moments I’m going to miss. For life.
I’m hoping there’s photos and videos of backstage and the concert and everything. I mean, I’m truly very grateful that this happened to me and my life.
Like, as the saying goes, you don’t know what you have, until it becomes a memory.
And I do understand it now. I’m never going to have a concert like that again. Where I know the Seniors; getting to know the juniors. Undergoing the same tough road as them. And being a helping hand, and helping out whenever I can.
Next year I’d be in army already, and like any other year 3 that goes in, concert becomes a thing of the past~
And if I come back after my NS, I won’t be able to recognize anyone already. Like how CF and the rest came back, they also know us only. The last remaining familiar faces.
Sadly I didn’t get to take a picture with them. Neither with my cousin. Or my family.
SIGH!
So much regrets that I’m having now.
Although I’m a big believer of the future, but this is one time where I really want a time machine, and hop back into the time when our first rehearsal start, and relive that whole 3 days again.
Its so… magical, to say the least. I mean, it meant even more that when our batch hosted it.
I don’t know. Its almost like a graduating ceremony for us Year 3s. Its like, a testament to how far we, or rather I, have advanced as a guitarist and musician. And I’m sure that I might not get the best GPA, if this was a diploma, but I’m sure as the how there’s always a sky, that I’m leaving with so much memories and history.
Oh man. I just want to hug every single member right now. Haha. I don’t know. ITS SUCH A OVERWHELMING FEELING.
ARGH.
There’s still so much I want to say, yet I can’t put it into words, because its all experience! I really hope I can extract this 3 days from my mind, and like, convert it into video.
Honestly.
Then I can keep watching it over and over and over again. Appreciating it even more.
Or maybe its because I can’t, that’s why its such a memorable thing?
I want a Pensive.
Sigh, I think I’d end my Guitare-hype here, and tell you what happened after that.
So when I got home, I went to eat some Sushi with my family at home.
Then okay, eat already, I started to doze off on 9gag at around 2, so I went to sleep.
Then at 3, I think. I can’t even see the time. No clocks in my room.
So I couldn’t take it, and I had to sit up.
And by saying this, I don’t even sit up in the middle of my sleep for anything. Not even if I’m having a fever or what. Thirsty or toilet, no leave bed.
But this time, I really buay tahan, I sat up, and my whole head was swaying. My vision also, cannot maintain one. My chest was imploding, and I couldn’t take it already.
I thought this is gastric, because before the concert I didn’t eat my dinner [shhh!] then I thought this was gastric.
So I went to the toilet, and sat down. Lucky I didn’t bang into anything, and I’m used to walk in the dark to the toilet.
Then sat there for awhile, then buay tahan, the feeling was incoming, and I vomited on my knees into the toilet bowl.
It was bad. Like, I vomit one time already, I couldn’t even get up. My head must rest on the toilet seat. Then 2nd round, I could feel it regurgitating from my stomach, to my chest, up through my throat and out from my mouth.
It’s a bad feeling. I don’t like.
Then I cannot tahan, I flush the toilet, and woke up mumz, and asked her the Sushi when expire, but it wasn’t the Sushi because my bro also eat, but nothing happened to him. So cannot be!
So I dunno what was it, but anyway, I lao sai-ed two times after that also. It was like shooting hot-water pee out from my ass. It was excruciating. But endure endure.
Then after eating some Po-Chai pills, and warm chocolate milk, then I okay liao, then go rest back on my bed for the 2nd time. The 1st time failed, as I went to the toilet again to shoom.
Then managed to sleep, then parents were very worried in the morning, I think. Because they woke me up when the sky was kinda bright already.
Then yeah, post-concert syndrome, I guess? Haha!
It didn’t help that I was dead-tired after the concert already, then this happened. I mean, I’m the type who could last 40 hours without sleep one during chalet. But when I mean dead battery, I really mean lie-on-bed-and-gg kind of tiredness already.
But if this is the price I have to pay for such an experience, I’m glad the cost wasn’t so high.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and I’m looking forward to the next time I’m gonna meet the rest of NYPGC again.
NYPGC4LYFE.
If I’m ever going to get tattoos in my life, I now have 1 more idea to my stash already.
And yes, I’m not kidding. If my musician career really takes off one day, I’m going to get tattoos. And I know what already, and it isn’t anything stupid, don’t worry. It’ll be words and names I’d take with me to the grave gladly.
So this is it, it’s the end of a long, long post. I’ve hit 4060 with this here.
That’s it!
=Kambodia.
P.S. Later cousins coming over at ~11. Now it’s 5. Oops! Hahaha!
NYPGC4LYFE.