This is often my stance at the back of a concert trying to take photos and making sure things are running smoothly. The other side of the traditional selfies.
Last night was the last The Night With concert of the year and the last of the ones I’d planned for 2020. It has been the programme I wanted it to be, lovely audiences and great music. But I am really, really glad that it is finished.
Putting on concerts is never easy but this season has been the hardest, most stressful and anxiety inducing I’ve ever done. It’s been hanging over my head for almost three years. Everything was confirmed in March 2020 and was going to be announced in April 2020. The most difficult two days in my career was calling round everyone involved in the season and telling them “sorry”. I never wanted to be in that position and never want to be in it again but turns out it’s possibly part of the job for reasons well out of my control. I know I wasn’t the only one doing that and I know the people on the other side of that call were having more of the same. It had its effect, still does. A group trauma.
I looked at doing online concerts but what I was seeing and what I could come up with just didn’t feel right for my vision for The Night With… so I stopped thinking about it and decided to wait. Thankfully the funders were supportive of my decision and my logic. But it meant that I planned and replanned the season at least three times maybe more.
While I love putting on concerts I am so relieved this season is over. It has been an utter marathon.
Funding applications are already in for next years programming so there will be more but now over next few months I need to concentrate on writing some music. Don’t worry I’ll still be posting about that.
Thank you for coming to the concerts, for your support and perseverance. Thank you to all the musicians and the composers in the season. And thank you for still being there to compose, perform and come to concerts.
This turned into more of a blog post than I’d expected but felt the need to comment on my relief and on some of what has happened.
See you at a concert soon!