Carla Gypsygirl's Blurty

Who's a rock star?

It's Monday, but Saturday is still flirting with my mind. Saturday night was the night I had been looking forward to and planning for since August: "How Sweet the Sound", FEVA's music night slash fundraiser!

The day began with Mum and Dad driving me to my old church hall, our car packed with posters, clothes, make-up, star-shaped cushions, lamps, and of course, my Violet Crumble-coloured guitar. A bunch of us set up the hall in the heat of the day. Andrew was a total sound guru, and set up all of the equipment on his own- including a sound board that looked like it used to belong on a spaceship. Marinka and Meg decorated the hall with these curly stick things, fairy lights and a whole lot of beautiful white Chinese lanterns- it was gorgeous and warm, and I think of "The Great Gatsby" when I remember the way the hall looked.

By about 6pm, I was freaking out, and wandering around the hall looking dazed and scared. The gig was starting at 7:30pm, and I was playing at 8pm. And who should arrive to calm my nerves, but GRACE! She made me the sign that's displayed above, just like the signs they make for the singers on "Australian Idol"! What a total sweetie! Grace couldn't stay, because she's busy making her major project (which is going to be so awesome!), so I played her two songs, and then she was on her merry way, leaving me with a smile on my face.

But at 7:35pm, I found myself slumping forlornly on a beanbag. No-one had arrived yet. Ian sat next to me, and kept reassuring me that "everyone" and "heaps of people" were going be there. Our poor guest band, Mr Beat, had to play to the tealights and Jaffas. But then, sure enough, five minutes later, people started coming! Soon, the hall was full of people laughing and smiling and eating cake, and I felt so relieved and blessed by God.

Before I started playing, I was nervously warming up in the green room. "Hi Carla," said a voice behind me. It was Anthony, one of our other performers, fresh from the Central Coast! Straight away, he offered to lend me his guitar, and then tune my own guitar, and pray for me! What a sweetie! It seemed that all of FEVA was rallying around me...Meg found me and gave me a hug, Mel Deck gave me one of her gorgeous smiles, and Hannah told me that I was going to rock. For the past week, I'd been so nervous about singing in front of everyone. I'd tried everything to stop feeling so nervy- I watched the end of "School of Rock", I listened to Little Birdy's "This is a Love Song", I flicked through Drum Media, I listened to all of the CD's that had inspired me to write music. And, of course, I prayed really hard. Mostly, I wanted to bring God the glory He deserved, and share the joy that He had given me through His Son, Jesus.

Once I was on stage, Ian interviewed me, dropping in as many nice comments as he could. And then finally, Andrew was arranging the microphones, and I was about to play. Singing and playing the songs that I had written was one of the scariest and best things that I have ever done. I got off to a bit of a wobbly start (I was so nervous that the words of my first song came out at double-speed), but once I started to relax, all of the words and melodies came out properly, and I was having the best time! The audience was wonderful, and laughed at all of my jokes (especially my folky cover of "Wannabe", by the Spice Girls). It was the strangest thing- while I was singing, I noticed that the audience was completely silent. I expected people to talk over me, but no, they were so nice- they listened to me and clapped and whistled!

I had a really great time that night, which was a surprise, because I thought I would be too stressed. Anthony played beautifully, as he always does, and the Caecilius boys always rock. The girls and I had fun dancing to Caecilius' breakfast song. Mostly, I felt like I had learnt a really big lesson. I realised how much more I should have trusted God, and how I should have worried so much less. I had convinced myself that no-one would turn up, and yet so many of my friends had faithfully turned up and cheered me on. Rachel, Jungle Jane, Scott, Jo, Em, Matt, Bec, Sharon, Grace and Kara, you all so totally rock! God also gave me the strength and courage to perform in front of everyone. My friends and people I didn't even know were so supportive and encouraging about my music that I felt overwhelmed, dazed, humbled and happy. So many of my friends volunteered their time to help bake cakes and serve food and take photos and pack up the hall and drive me home- I was amazed and so inspired by the extraordinary generosity of my friends. Am I raving? Of course! What's a girl to do when God's put so many wonderful people in her life? I felt like all of the angst and stress had been worth it, if I could watch my friends have fun under the fairy lights, and if I could sing to them and make them laugh.

We managed to raise quite a lot of money for FEVA, which was so cool. And we're going to try to put the show on again next year. I got some really cool comparisons: Emily and Matt said that I reminded them of The Waifs, and Malcolm said that I sounded a bit like Sheryl Crow.

At the end of the night, Andrew and I were totally zonked. A lot of the gang headed off to have more fun, but I was so sleepy that Scott had to drive me home. I figured that the audience had enjoyed their night, because most of our posters were stolen. That made me feel really cool, because I only ever try to tear posters off telegraph poles if I really, really dig a particular band.

Once I got home, there was only one thing left to do. I opened the polka-dotted present that Judith had given me. Happily, my suspicions were correct. There's nothing like a good ol' Cadbury's Milk Tray to celebrate with at 1am. Maybe I'm a pushover, but looking at those little pictures of the chocolates on the top of the box reminded me again that it was all worth it.