My prayers have been answered.
Now Seeking: New Talent- To perform weekly anywhere between 5PM and 12PM- Hour long sets- Come on in if you want to apply
I quickly walked into the restaurant. I looked around, seeing a bar in the back and a large, dimly lit dining area. At the front of the room was a small, raised stage with a piano and sound system. With lighting and a large screen like in concerts, the place was classy. Perhaps too classy for me…
"Can I help you?" a man asked me.
"Oh, no…no, thanks." I said, starting to walk out.
"Wait! Do you play and sing?" he asked, looking at my guitar case.
"Uhh.."
""Oh, c'mon, now. Nobody has auditioned for a job yet." He said.
"I don't know…" I replied.
"What have you got to lose?" he said, looking at my slightly tattered clothes.
I sighed. He was right. This could be the job to help me afford an apartment. I started taking my guitar out.
"Oh, no. Not here." The man said. He pointed to the stage. "Go up there, please."
I took a deep breath, weaved through the tables, and stepped up onto the stage.
Quickly flipping the 'OPEN' sign on the door around, the man made his way up to the stage. He helped me get set up and put a video camera on a tripod a few feet away from the stage.
"Okay, two songs, please. One upbeat, one ballad. Show me what you've got." He said, smiling, turning on the video camera.
Almost by instinct, I started finger picking the main riff of "Blackbird" by The Beatles. It really makes me think of my life. What I want to make of it, I guess.
"You were only waiting for this moment to arise." I sang, ending the song.
Some of the employees in the restaurant had joined the man at a table. They clapped as the man signaled me to proceed to my second song.
I broke into an acoustic version of "Brick by Boring Brick" by Paramore- a huge risk. I had just figured this song out a week ago, standing outside a music store. Perhaps it's a little juvenile for my age, but it's catchy.
Finishing the song with an improvised guitar solo, I said thank you into the microphone, voice shaking a bit.
The workers, including the man, were on their feet applauding. I smiled, flattered. The man walked up to the stage and held out his hand.
"My name is Chris Isaacson. Co-owner of the Upright Cabaret. I'd like to offer you a regular performing job. Would you be interested?"
I shook his hand, dumbfounded. Trying to keep my composure, I responded, "Yes, I am interested! Thank you so much."
"I'm sorry, I missed your name." Chris said.
"Oh, I'm sorry." I said, quickly. "My name is Shayne Ely. Pleasure to meet you."
"You, too, Shayne. Okay, business talk." Chris continued, grinning ear-to-ear. "Here at Upright Cabaret we like to provide live entertainment for our diners. We have had people from Broadway, like Eden Espinosa, Lea Michele…American Idol's Adam Lambert used to perform here, too. Usually the talent we bring in has theater experience, but, you…you are definitely an exception. I can tell that you really live the music. A new, genuine artist is exactly what we were looking for."
I can't believe this.
"What time would be best for you? Day?" he asked.
"Any day, any time. I'm there." I replied.
"Fantastic! Flexibility is wonderful!" Chris exclaimed. "How about Tuesdays and Fridays…Tuesdays from 5-6. Fridays from 8-9?"
"I'll be here!" I smiled.
"Oh! Before I forget. Do you need the piano, too?" He asked me.
"I play a little." I replied, thinking of all the times I have gone to the music store and played until I got kicked out.
"Perfect. See you tomorrow around 4:30." Chris said, shaking my hand one more time and walking into the kitchen. A waiter walked over and flipped the sign on the door as new customers patiently waited.
Picking up my guitar, I leave the restaurant. Did all of that really happen?! I have a solid, set in stone gig. This is huge. Sitting down a few blocks away, I leaned against the wall of a rundown coffee shop and fell asleep dreaming of what my life is quickly becoming.