To: "VOCALIST" <vocalist>,
Subject: Re: A Lesson I Want To Share.......July 27th 1999
Date sent: Mon, 20 Dec 1999 07:50:42 -0700
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

Well, you did a GREAT deed! I needed to laugh this morning and I cannot
stop laughing. Merry, laughing Christmas to you, Bobby and to your wife.
Nora
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Kravitz
To: VOCALIST <vocalist>; bobkravitz-at-earthlink.net

Date: Sunday, December 19, 1999 12:12 PM
Subject: A Lesson I Want To Share.......July 27th 1999


>IN RESPONSE TO LEO MORGAN!!!!!!!!
>.........I consider myself an experienced singer who has sung in
Philadelphia,
>Pa and around the world for the last 20 years,ESPECIALLY SINGING THE
NATIONAL
>ANTHEM! Well I was asked by " The Welcome America " Staff to sing the Star
>Spangled Banner at the Phillies game,in Veterns Stadium....WOW WHAT AN
HONOR!
>YES,YES, YES........I called my Vocal Coach right away and he told me that
he
>had sung at the vet. He explained about the Echo problem and to sing
straight
>throughh it. I listened to what he said. I practiced for a couple of days,
Told
>everyone I could think of and went on with my business..........The Big Day
>Arrived. I took the day off, But instead of relaxing,I did other things
that one
>should do to catch up when you have a day free.........The time has come to
go
>to the vet...Do I concentrate and take it as seriously as I should?
NOOOOOOOOO,
>I performed the Anthem 50 MILLION TIMES.....What`s there to do?? So I
talked to
>everyone in the waiting room,Was even asked if I wanted a room to warm up
and
>rehearse...." NO THANKS, I SANG THIS A MILLION TIME BEFORE
>"!!!!!!!!............I Was introduced, Went up to the microphone....sang
the
>first three sentences of the Anthem...6 seconds later, in my ears the
HORROR OF
>THE ECHO HIT Like I never heard an echo before, and suddenly the words
dropped
>out of my brain and there I was in one milli second saying to myself...."
DON`T
>HESITATE,STAY IN VOICE AND SING ANYTHING IN MELODY THAT COMES INTO THAT
STUPID
>SKULL OF YOURS!!!! Well I sang words to which I still have no Idea what
they
>were....My wife Susanwas standing by the dugout and mouthed the final two
>phrases. I finished and the BOOS STARTED.....I actually got, " DON`T GIVE
UP THE
>DAY JOB." ( MY VOCATION FOR THE LAST 33 YRS IS A NEWS PHOTOGRAPHER FOR THE
ABC
>STATION IN PHILADELPHIA)..........I know that all performers go through
>something like this at least once in their Career,BUT THIS CAN BE
>AVOIDED.......NO MATTER HOW LONG YOU HAVE BEEN PERFORMING OR WHAT
EXPERIENCES
>YOU HAVE HAD,YOU MUST TAKE EVERY PERFORMENCE AS SERIOUSLY AS IF IT WAS YOUR
>FIRST EVER PERFORMENCE. IT IS NOT FAIR TO THE AUDIENCE WHEATHER OR NOT THEY
PAY
>OR GET IN FREE...................Bobby Kravitz, Philly
>
>> <<
>> the music had stopped, the accompanist had misplaced a page
>> of the score. the poor woman was mortified>>
>
>