Long before I acknowledged my calling to music ministry, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a professional singer. My days were filled with scouring the trades and showing up for auditions. One day I learned that Earth, Wind & Fire was looking for three female singers for their Boogie Wonderland tour. It was an open audition, which meant that literally hundreds of women would show up hoping for a chance to tour with the incomparable EWF – and I was determined to be one of them!
The audition process required folks to sign up in advance. I arrived very early because I knew that these kinds of auditions – known as cattle calls – always had long lines. And, if they ran out of time before they got to the end of the line, then the remaining people were just out of luck. Sometimes they even chose to typecast those left by calling in groups, looking at them and dismissing those who didn’t have the look they wanted.
During the long wait, one of the staffers working the auditions befriended me and told me that I had little chance of being selected because they were looking for three women who were already singing together, but that didn’t faze me. When I returned later for the audition, the staffer seemed quite surprised to see me, but I shrugged it off.
The auditions were at A&M Records on La Brea in Hollywood. Members of EWF were assembled in the gym on the lot. When I entered alone, they were horsing around and shooting hoops. They all turned and greeted me with friendly faces. A piano was in their midst. I couldn’t believe I was there. With them. Earth, Wind & Fire…and me!
“What are you going to sing?”
“Be Ever Wonderful”, I replied. “Can you play it?” I asked their keyboard player. Unfortunately I had made the stupid mistake of picking a popular arrangement of the song that was not the EWF version.
“Nope”, he said. Terror struck my heart, but I said confidently, “Then I’ll sing it acapella.” So I did, and they joined in with me. We had a lot of fun, but I wasn’t selected. There would be no EWF tour for me.
Nevertheless, I cherish that memory and I also learned some valuable lessons:
We all have times when we wish we had done better or been more prepared. Learn from those times. Know that God is faithful and He will use those moments to build on what He has already invested in you.
Today’s scripture: Philippians 1:6 (NKJ)
Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
The audition process required folks to sign up in advance. I arrived very early because I knew that these kinds of auditions – known as cattle calls – always had long lines. And, if they ran out of time before they got to the end of the line, then the remaining people were just out of luck. Sometimes they even chose to typecast those left by calling in groups, looking at them and dismissing those who didn’t have the look they wanted.
During the long wait, one of the staffers working the auditions befriended me and told me that I had little chance of being selected because they were looking for three women who were already singing together, but that didn’t faze me. When I returned later for the audition, the staffer seemed quite surprised to see me, but I shrugged it off.
The auditions were at A&M Records on La Brea in Hollywood. Members of EWF were assembled in the gym on the lot. When I entered alone, they were horsing around and shooting hoops. They all turned and greeted me with friendly faces. A piano was in their midst. I couldn’t believe I was there. With them. Earth, Wind & Fire…and me!
“What are you going to sing?”
“Be Ever Wonderful”, I replied. “Can you play it?” I asked their keyboard player. Unfortunately I had made the stupid mistake of picking a popular arrangement of the song that was not the EWF version.
“Nope”, he said. Terror struck my heart, but I said confidently, “Then I’ll sing it acapella.” So I did, and they joined in with me. We had a lot of fun, but I wasn’t selected. There would be no EWF tour for me.
Nevertheless, I cherish that memory and I also learned some valuable lessons:
- Go for it! Don’t let anyone discourage you from pursuing your dream.
- Be prepared! Make sure you know beforehand what is appropriate for the situation.
- Stay confident! When it doesn’t go like you expect, give it your best, no matter what.
- Enjoy the experience! Even if you don’t achieve what you go after this time, use it as a teachable moment for another time and a testimony to share with others.
We all have times when we wish we had done better or been more prepared. Learn from those times. Know that God is faithful and He will use those moments to build on what He has already invested in you.
Today’s scripture: Philippians 1:6 (NKJ)
Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
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