From: Bob Kravitz
To: VOCALIST <vocalist>, bobkravitz-at-earthlink.net
Subject: A Lesson I Want To Share.......July 27th 1999
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

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>>