December 5, 2011

SoJam… So, Just, WOW

brought to you by Mark Hines

The acadust has settled. Thanksgiving’s tryptophan hangover has given way to Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Angry-Mob Tuesday, Sure What’s One More TV Wednesday, Buyer’s Remorse Thursday, and Next Year I’m Converting to Wicca Friday. Many of you are now in the throes of finals, too, so let’s keep this brief and let you get back to it.

Hi. TVC’s very own Mark Hines here. I wanted to step out from behind the curtain, so to speak, and tell you some things that have been on my mind since the incredible, incredulous whirlwind that took place in early November.

It’s complicated, and yet so simple: I need to say thank you.

To the incredible team of co-producers (Dave Sperandio, Kristin LoBiondo, Ben Stevens, Dave Longo, Steve Ryan, Virginia DeMoss, TeKay, Shane Ardell, Jenn Fiduccia, and Nicole Milano): It’s one thing to move mountains. It’s another to build them with your bare hands, then watch them grow to scratch the sky.

To Naturally 7, The Boxettes, Overboard and Musae: You drop us to our knees with your gift and make us believe we can soar with your inspiration.

To Pitch Slapped, the Cocktails, the Pitchforks, the AcaBelles, the Sapphires, Acappology, and every other group whose fierce competitive spirit pulverizes the notion of choosing one to stand above the rest: Your talent, drive and determination move us with every note. You win, every time.

To those who led Sojam 2011’s workshops, panels, and masterclasses: You are the exception to the “those who can’t…teach” adage. You CAN, and we’re all better at what we do for having learned from and with you.

To every single attendee: Your power, your enthusiasm, your utter joy at being a part of this amazing community…we live for it. We believe you when you say that somehow, some way, you’re going to do a cappella for a living, because after SoJam, you can’t imagine doing anything else and still feeling truly alive. We know.

And finally, to Nick, Lo, Angela and Jill, my fellow TVC crew and second family: I love you. That is all.

Deep breath.

OK. A few things to file under TVC’s #thathappened hashtag:

• The UN has nothing on the CASA ambassadors. International a cappella treaties may have been negoatiated.
• “I Am Woman,” roughly translated, means “Just Be Yourself and Do It.” You can fill in the “it,” but we recommend sunglasses, ‘cuz it’s FIERCE, yo.
• We heart the Sapphires. Meow.
• The Boxettes’ sound tech Trevor hearts crappy American food. Belch.
• Musae, featuring TVC’s very own Lo Barreiro and Angela Ugolini, hit the largest a cappella stage in the US for their phenomenal debut live performance. #nbd
• Sperandio + Longo + LoBiondo + Fiduccia = baked ziti till Spring Break.
• Muserboard. It’s a new supergroup. Google it.
• Lo can haz new boyfriends Christopher Diaz, Rob Dietz, Ben Bram, Alfredo Austin, and Tom Anderson?
• Naturally 7 and The Boxettes brought the house down – almost literally – during Saturday night’s encore. #sicknastyomfgamazeballs
• Bellatrix. Nuff said.
• Dave Sperandio did not get belligerent during staff party. #disappointed
• Joan Hare is recovering nicely from bumping her head on too much awesome.

There’s so much more, because SoJam 2011 is part of everyone’s story now. But this is why we here at TVC do what we do. You – each and every one of you talented, passionate acapeeps – are why I do what I do. Thank me?

No. Thank YOU.