| mattwesselmusic.com |
| matt's journal march 19, 2006 |
| Well, it’s been just about a week since the 6th Annual Concert For Life. I typically write a journal the same night as my show, or at the very latest I write one the night after. But this year I had too much going on with work to find the time to sit and write. We had home games on Monday and Wednesday and I was in Toronto on Thursday and Friday with the team. Then we had another home game last night against Portland. But things are slowing down now, so let me say a few things about the show … For me personally, it was the most enjoyable CFL yet. Each one has been an amazing experience, but this one had a wonderful combination of many different things. The crowd was spectacular – I'd guess over 1,000 strong. There was a positive buzz almost an hour before the program began and throughout the duration of the show. It was easy to see that the word has spread about this concert and people knew the benefit of getting there early to claim seats, buy raffles and visit with friends. I approached this show a little differently than in the past. In previous shows. I was always concerned with doing something “bigger” and “better” than the year before. That approach nearly wiped me out last year. My job with the Bucks does not allow for much free time during the season, and writing string parts, jazz band parts and having to rehearse them all took its toll on my body and my mind. I was exhausted before the 2005 CFL even began. But this year was different. I kept the playlist and the participants simple. I did some old favorites and debuted many new songs from “Carry On”. I didn’t overwhelm myself with rehearsals. I didn’t worry too much about what I was going to say during the show (or how funny I would be). I just decided to play, sing, talk and have fun. And it worked. It had the innocence and pressure-free feel of the first CFL, with the organization and professionalism that would be expected for the 2006 CFL. It was great. We did “Father, Please” for the first time in a long time. That turned out great and gave me an opportunity to talk a little bit about my father (which is something I’ve done less and less at the Gurnee show as the years have gone by – mostly because I feel people already know the story … but I wanted to make a point to mention him on occasion because he is the primary reason as to why I am who I am and why I do what I do). “See Them” turned out wonderful. My older sister’s friend, Jen VanDerMolen, joined us on stage for the show and did sign language as we played. I wasn’t able to see it from where I was sitting, but people have told me it was beautiful and moving. I saw her sign the song a few nights before the CFL and I was moved. It’s a very powerful song by itself – with strong words. To put those words into physical signs is a neat effect. I hope we get to do that at some future shows. We had the people stand up again for “God’s Chosen One”. More and more people are standing each year. And I know there are still people who choose not to, which is understandable. It’s a powerful moment of recognition. And I love how it gives those of us that are there an opportunity to recognize the cancer fighters and survivors among us. As always, the “Baseball Song” was fun. The words were in the program this year (by the way, the program was phenomenal … Mike Semmerling once again donated them and the kids did a great job designing them … I was blown away at how professional and detailed they were). We encouraged everyone to sing along, and I think some people did. Molly and Kelly joined me on “Alive In You” with some parts they wrote for the flute and violin … Katie Burke came down from Minnesota and sang “Thank You” with me … and the St. Paul choir joined me on “Be With Me”, “Take, Lord”, “Happy Are We” and “Glory”. The entire band sounded as good as ever. Molly (flute), Kelly (violin), Chris (drums), Mike (bass, vibes) and Dan (guitar) were so much fun to work with. We all really enjoy this show every year. They donate their time and talents, and it’s a huge contribution to the show. My sister, Beth, sang on “Be With Me” and “See Them” and blew the audience away again. Her voice is getting better with each show – as is her confidence level. She’s turned into a great performer. And of course, Larry did his usual fantastic job. With Brian and Al helping him with set-up and teardown, he orchestrated a perfect sound set-up. It sounded great in the church and I can’t wait to hear some of the recordings. Another great element of the show this year was the presence of quite a few American Cancer Society representatives. Two of them, Karen and Katherine, came up on stage near the end of the first half, after “God’s Chosen One”, to present the 2005 Illinois Division Chairman’s Award that the show won to FBLA. It was a great moment of recognition for all of us, but especially for Warren High School. We had all of the past and present organizers of the event come on stage and it was a beautiful sight – to see all of the kids that have helped chair this show in the past in the same spot at the same time was powerful. The kids from 2001 are all grown up and out of college now. How time flies … It was also nice to see the ACS representatives there because it shows that this concert is gaining more recognition with each passing year. It’s always been a secret dream of mine to take the CFL on tour – to have the ACS pay me an annual salary to just go from state to state and raise money for their organization. But while that’s unlikely to ever happen, it is very conceivable for this show to catch on in other communities … for people to realize that there’s a perfect event out there to raise money for the ACS that’s not the Relay For Life. Don’t get me wrong … the Relay For Life is one of the greatest, most powerful fundraisers even conceived. But like many events, it happens just once per year in a community. That leaves 364 days to do other events. The Concert For Life is one of those events. So having the ACS on hand to see the show first hand – to see how the people have come to embrace it and yearn for it – was a very positive thing. And by now you’ve seen the total that we raised: just over $21,000 for the American Cancer Society. Pretty amazing. We edged out last year’s total of $20,000 and brought the total money raised in all CFLs since 2001 to just over $100,000. $100,000 for cancer research, advocacy, education and programs … it’s really a staggering statistic when you think about it. Most fundraisers that take ample planning and execution are designed to raise a couple thousand dollars for a certain cause – to the point that a $5,000 total is impressive (which it certainly is). Not many fundraisers that deal with one event raise much more than that. The ACS’s Relay For Life fundraiser series brings in millions of dollars annually, and as much as hundreds of thousands at one single event, but it’s also an event that has national brand recognition and the legs of the ACS behind it. The Concert For Life, while we have the support of the ACS, is something that is planned, promoted and implemented by Warren FBLA alone. It’s still new to a lot of people in the Gurnee community and a completely foreign idea to most everyone outside of Lake County. So to raise that much money in just six shows (the Gurnee CFL has actually raised just over $80,000 in their six shows, while CFLs done in other cities have raised just over $20,000) is amazing. It really is! I’m so proud to have been an integral part of this event the past several years. I mentioned at the show that people had been asking me if it was my last one. I hope not. I’ll come back as long as FBLA wants me too. It’s too important to me. I realize at every show – usually during the first three or four songs – that this is really my passion and my life goal. I’m not daring enough to just jump into it – and I currently have one of the coolest jobs in the entire world – so I won’t be performing full-time anytime soon. I don’t know if I ever will. But the thought of never performing is not an option. Sue Walker and the FBLA program at Warren Township High School have given me a gift. They’ve given me the greatest opportunity in the world to help my music grow and to give my music direction – a purpose, even. I’m eternally grateful to them. And I’m honored to be able to call them friends and I’m proud to be able to say that I was a part of their amazing achievements. The Concert For Life – not matter how much money it raises from here on out – has cemented itself as a truly great, successful fundraiser. It helps the ACS. It helps the students who plan it. It helps those of us who perform at it. But most importantly, it helps the people who attend. It helps them smile. It helps them cry. It helps them remember. Thanks again for all of your support. |