Year Two Day 137 – August 27th 2010
The 10! Show
Come on...Like I could sleep last night.
Today would be culmination of a couple of years of work. The boys and I would play the 10! Show this morning.
For those of you who don't know, The 10! Show is a local lifestyle show that comes on NBC 10 (Philadelphia) after the Today Show Monday through Friday. It's one of very few locally produced programs in the city that has an audience that watched the show regularly. It may be the only show in town that features local music artists ever (as well as national/international acts) so to get on the show is a big deal. I've been trying to get on the show since the Superego days. It's one of the few chances you get locally to reach an audience that may have never seen you before so when I was finally able to get it I was over the moon.
This wasn't my first time on television, I had done VH1 Fanclub in 2001, Comcast's Broadcast of the Philadelphia Distance Run in 2008 and (of course) Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2009 with Bang Camaro. I had some idea as to what to expect but I was still nervous because this would be the first appearance on television for the Boy Wonder Project.
I “woke up” around 6 to shower get dressed and head to the studio. We pick up Jake on the way and Rob is already there when I arrive (as per usual) We load the gear in and then I see it...the Set of the 10! Show. There are always a few things that leave you taken aback no matter how many times you step onto a television set.
One is the size...they're always significantly smaller than they look on TV, chalk that up to wide angle lenses
Two is how different segments either happen in different rooms or set pieces are rolled onto the set for them...on TV it looks like a different piece of a vast set, I guess going back to size.
Three...this is the third time I've been on television, and no has ever put me in a make up chair.
Four...When Bands play they always have to do a rehearsal for the cameras
Five...It always goes by really fast
After the rehearsal was done we step into the green room and we met the other guests on the show True Blood's Tanya Wright, “Be Sleeveless and Sexy” Author JJ Virgin, WDAS DJ Patty Jackson and Phillies chef Katie Cavuto Boyle. Pretty much all of them were very nice and we got to talk to pretty much all of them.
About half an hour goes by and they tell us that they're ready for us. I was pretty tight initially because we had to do a new arrangement of the song that cut for time, I was concerned we'd forgetand by we I mean me.
I was nervous until I see the album cover swing into focus on screen and Bill Henley introduces me it sounded so pro like I was legit and I had to look around ot make sure it was me they were talking about. I get a little amped up because this is MY moment, I don't have to worry about the other groups that are sharing the bill, I don't have to take a backseat to someone else, I don't have to question whether or not I deserve to be there because they wouldn't have let me come on the show if they didn't feel I was good enough. It's not about the other 3 bands that I'm apart of (God Bless Them and I dig all of the things that I get to be a part of) it's about me, Jake and Rob and all I have to do is concentrate 100% on my performance and what I have to do pull this off. I hear the roar of the crowd and we're ready and we go into the song and I can't help but smile.
As I'm busy amping myself up I'm not noticing the battle I'm about to wage against a front stage light. I'm not standing in the right spot and It starts shining directly into my eyes and I can't see shit. I focus on the song and try to be as natural as possible hoping that muscle memory and a few well placed looks will hide the fact that I'm blind. 15 seconds or so go by and I step to the correct spot and I'm fine after that. Jake is enjoying himself and Rob is laying it down and I can't think of two people who I'd rather share this with. My band is sweet.
It all went by so fast. We did a post tape following the show of another song and then it was time to go. We went to Fridays after wards and then I went home.
All in all it was a positive experience I'm still getting texts and calls and emails from people who've seen the show and gave me nothing but positive reviews. Some were snarky but that's part of the territory, I'm learning people don't have good things to say no matter what you do.
WSTW Hometown Heroes is Sunday and I can't wait.
