Laura Ray Simone
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 52
- OOC First Name
- Annie
- Wand
- Black Walnut Wand 12 3/4 Essence of Silver Thistle
Laura had been contemplating going to the cafe every sense she heard about it upon arriving to New Zealand. It was an okay sized restaurant/coffee place that happened to have open mic weekends. Laura had gone to places like this before in Paris, but she had always been with friends and hadn't been nearly as scary as when she walked in alone. She could see a lot of people through the hazy light and here some smooth jazz coming from the stage. Laura took a deep breathe and pushed through the crowd, guitar in tow. The air was sticky with the breathe of the crowd. It was oddly comforting for Laura to be surrounded by so many people, but she knew there would be one moment of shear terror before she took the stage. Most singers claimed to not get stage fright and she honestly didn't know, maybe you grew out of it. All Laura knew was it always vanished as soon as she started singing. Laura saw a list and signed up to sing. She would have to wait for two performers before she could go. Laura was surprised that the list wasn't longer with so many people her but the night was still young and she was sure some people were just scared. It reminded her of the first time she had come to a place similar to this, it had been Laura and her good friend Maya. They had both been so nervous but singing duet had made it easier. The crowd had loved them and they had both been shaking with delight when they came back off stage. It had helped strengthen their friendship and solidify a bond between the two of them.
Leaving Maya had been one of the hardest things that Laura had ever done. They had both cried when Laura had told her that she needed to move back to New Zealand, but she had supported her decision even though she hadn't understood it. Laura had promised to visit soon and found it ironic that sitting here in this dark little restaurant she had thought of her old friend. Coming back to her senses Laura realized that the jazz singer had finished and what looked to be a full blown cowboy, boots and all, had taken the stage and started a slow ballad about broken hearts and cowgirls. Laura smiled and adjusted her dress and tried to pay attention to the man on stage. her focus kept drifting, not many people were in to the song and the crowd was getting a little restless. The DJ came to the mic to announce the next singer. He called a few times but the next person on line up must have chickened out. The man simply shrugged and said they were going to move on with the program. Laura had never gotten used to people saying her name so when she heard the man call for her it sent a tingle up her spine.
Laura put on a determined smile and made her way to the stage. Laura made her way through the crowd and walked up the steps to the stage. There was a small house band which she told to follow her lead. Laura sat down on a stool and adjusted her guitar. The spotlight shined on her and she felt the welt of butterflies in her stomach, but she strummed a soft note and started to sing. The song started out slow and enchanting, Laura knew she had caught the attention of some of the people in the crowd, she started to pick up the tempo and the crowd seemed to wake up. Laura stood up leaving the stool and it was then that she heard the house band join her. Moving around the stage she sang about life and moving past the pain to the good things. It was uplifting and Laura could feel the crowd rise and fall with the twisting of her words. It made Laura feel alive and she forgot about everything except the song and became one with the people she was singing to. When the song finally came to an end Laura caught her breath and her heart skipped a beat when after a moment of silence the crowd roared and applauded. Laura knew she was blushing but smiled anyway and said a quick 'Thank You' into the mic before walking off stage and melting into the crowd to find somewhere to sit and listen. More people had signed up to sing and Laura was content to sit at a small two person table in a corner sipping water and taking in her performance over and over again in her mind, scrutinizing and appreciating what she had done.
Leaving Maya had been one of the hardest things that Laura had ever done. They had both cried when Laura had told her that she needed to move back to New Zealand, but she had supported her decision even though she hadn't understood it. Laura had promised to visit soon and found it ironic that sitting here in this dark little restaurant she had thought of her old friend. Coming back to her senses Laura realized that the jazz singer had finished and what looked to be a full blown cowboy, boots and all, had taken the stage and started a slow ballad about broken hearts and cowgirls. Laura smiled and adjusted her dress and tried to pay attention to the man on stage. her focus kept drifting, not many people were in to the song and the crowd was getting a little restless. The DJ came to the mic to announce the next singer. He called a few times but the next person on line up must have chickened out. The man simply shrugged and said they were going to move on with the program. Laura had never gotten used to people saying her name so when she heard the man call for her it sent a tingle up her spine.
Laura put on a determined smile and made her way to the stage. Laura made her way through the crowd and walked up the steps to the stage. There was a small house band which she told to follow her lead. Laura sat down on a stool and adjusted her guitar. The spotlight shined on her and she felt the welt of butterflies in her stomach, but she strummed a soft note and started to sing. The song started out slow and enchanting, Laura knew she had caught the attention of some of the people in the crowd, she started to pick up the tempo and the crowd seemed to wake up. Laura stood up leaving the stool and it was then that she heard the house band join her. Moving around the stage she sang about life and moving past the pain to the good things. It was uplifting and Laura could feel the crowd rise and fall with the twisting of her words. It made Laura feel alive and she forgot about everything except the song and became one with the people she was singing to. When the song finally came to an end Laura caught her breath and her heart skipped a beat when after a moment of silence the crowd roared and applauded. Laura knew she was blushing but smiled anyway and said a quick 'Thank You' into the mic before walking off stage and melting into the crowd to find somewhere to sit and listen. More people had signed up to sing and Laura was content to sit at a small two person table in a corner sipping water and taking in her performance over and over again in her mind, scrutinizing and appreciating what she had done.