Joanne Year's Eve • 100414
Joanne Year's Eve was my debut party gig last Oct 4, the night before I officially turned 18. It was my plan since a year ago that if ever I'd have my own debut celebration, it won't be a usual, traditional one where we get to see cotillion dances, 18 roses, 18 candles, etc. I thought, since it would be my birthday, it's best if I seize the chance to actually make a dream of mine come true. That is to have my own gig or show with my friends.
Few months before October, my mom was already telling me to finalize my plan because we need to start preparing while October was still far. I still wasn't sure if I can pull my plan off. Fine, I wanted to have a gig, but I can't just have a gig. There's a lot of things that go with that. I have to make my friends commit that they will perform with me, we have to find time to practice everything, etc. I was kinda scared because I know if I'm going to pursue it, I can't just have a half-ass show. I have to make sure it will go well. So I thought a lot, and I still couldn't decide if I was really gonna do it. Travelling sounded easier. No pressure, no one will be disappointed, nothing would fail on that.
I talked to my music duo Yeye and we thought about the idea. She said she was willing to commit. That we can do it. So that was a push for me. From that, we were able to make our friend David commit to us also (to play guitar/beat) and then through him we got our old friend CD to play beat for us. With that, I started. We started. Mom and I went to search for venues, etc. My band mates and I started practicing, and I was also able to request some of my best friends from HS Glee Club to perform with us. It was really hard to find time to be able to practice together, but everything was already set. The date, time, venue, food, drinks, everything. There was no turning back. So we all did our best to complete the 18 songs. We practiced when we could. Everything was really a pressure on me, but at the same time, I had so much fun. Plus, everyone who was gonna come are our friends too. I needed not to dwell on the pressure and just do my best to make everything work.
And indeed, I can proudly say everything worked!!! That is all thanks to my mom, who supported this plan of mine for my debut, and definitely to all my friends who helped me in this!! I cannot believe how so much people gladly involved themselves in this. My band mates (we have a band name btw, "Monday Breakers••••"), my glee friends who practiced and performed with us, my cousins who helped me with the preparation and orderliness at the gig itself, my friends who thought with me about the decorations and other miscellaneous plans, and all the people who came to the gig!!
About 70 of my friends came, and I'm still overwhelmed about that fact that they did come! Some are my college friends and they really came from Manila, 2 hours from Batangas. I'm really really thankful. It was definitely one of the best days of my life. I turned 18 when 12AM came, check. I got to sing with my band and friends, check. I got to see a lot of my friends who I haven't seen for such a long time, check. I received gifts, check. Bonding with friends, check. It was such a happy time!
I can't remember much details of what happened, but what I can remember clearly is how happy I was. And I still am. I think no matter how many years will pass and I will still be happy about it. I am so happy I decided to pursue this which was just a "plan" before. It was worth it!
Happy birthday to me, indeed!
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