Regional Qualifiers - a Supporters View

THE BUILD-UP:
Rehearsal, rehearsal, rehearsal, and ….. MORE rehearsal! Garden overgrown, decorating not done, mothers without kids, kids without mothers on Mothering Sunday, birthdays missed. MOOD SWINGS - from "brilliant tonight, piece was made for us!" to "crap rehearsal, couldn't hit a note with a rolled up newspaper, just as well forget Torquay" - we deal with it all.

PRE CONTEST:
Overnight stay in Fawlty Towers - dinner not bad, TWIN BEDS!, rubbery Full English ("Can't have fruit juice AND cereal, it's either or") and then? MORE REHEARSAL! Hang around to hear where we're drawn then mad scramble on to the coach and down to the Riviera Centre - no time to lose! Hasty "Bye - Good Luck" and then abandoned to ……hang around again. Listen to a couple of bands - nothing to write home about - and then they are on!

THE PERFORMANCE:
Mouth is dry, hands are shaking, heart thumping - it isn't easy sitting and listening! Fingers crossed so tight they are cramping - why do percussionists take so long fiddling around at the back? Baton is raised - they are off! Remember to breathe, the piece is twelve minutes long. Hang on - this is good - a great performance - relax and enjoy!

THE AFTERMATH:
Meet in the bar - we all need a drink. Besieged: "how did it sound?", "Were we in tune?", "Did you hear any other bands?". Opinion sought and even valued for a few minutes! Then? Hang around again to wait for the results - hit the bar.

THE RESULTS:
Pile into the hall - must all sit together - you must sit next to me cos we won last time you did - you said we played well didn't you? Hang around (again!) for speeches - get on with it pleeeeese. Mouth dry (again) heart thumping (again) fingers crossed (again) - at last the results! Not 6th, 5th or 4th - could qualify - not 3rd or 2nd - all or nothing now, shit or bust time!! Could be a long quiet drive back to Hampshire …………………………

"And in first place the band that played number 10 - MICHEL…."

The rest is lost in cheers, tears and screaming - Oggie Oggie Oggie - Oi Oi Oi - they've done it! Hugs and kisses all round. SCOTLAND HERE WE COME!!