The Clubdate Singer Speaks! Chapter 15: Performance anxiety
Performance anxiety: Chapter 15 Sept 2005, Philadelphia, Pa L enny (not his real name) and I prepared for the event in similar ways that day. I am sure of it. I know because of how he said the Word “Oh” . The band was doing a wedding in Philadelphia at a very expensive, gaudy, and dimly lit room. I was leading that night, and Lenny was the Maitre’D. We were both subbing; me for Johnson (because the band was split in 2, that day. Johnson had Rev. & the Queen, and I had Summer and another brotha with me) Lenny for the house’s main guy, who’s Mom had died that morning. Invariably, black people prepare longer for their interactions with white people than vice versa. ( I bet right now, that if you’re black, you’re nodding your head in assent, and if you’re white the thought never crossed your mind.) And today’s preparation was two-fold. Blacks in positions of leadership have to call on (and balance) the oft-opposing mind...