Pink provides positive reinforcement and the show goes on
Popology Lessons by Kris Fisher
I crossed something off my bucket list recently. I saw Pink perform at Colonial Life Arena. It was the last show of her “Summer Carnival” tour. She’s notorious for her highly acrobatic and stunt-filled shows, and I decided years ago it was something I had to see.
The show itself did not disappoint. Pink strapped into her harness, zipped around the arena and performed her aerial acrobatics throughout the show, all while singing hit after hit after hit. My daughter and I sang along, and we sang loud.
I found myself, however, wondering about what went on backstage before the show. Google said that her shows usually start at 9 p.m. That night, Pink took the stage a little after 9:30. Did something go wrong? Was she not feeling well? Did she have trouble with her complicated acrobatics apparatus? Was she fighting with her husband? Her family did tour with her.
I thought about all these things and wondered what she would do if any of those things happened. Then an old showbiz phrase came to mind.
The show must go on.
For most of us, if we have an upset stomach, a headache, or if we are mentally drained, we can call out of work. For performers, it isn’t that easy. Perhaps you remember a time a performer cancelled at the last minute. It usually doesn’t go well.
But what if a migraine was coming on? Maybe the performer couldn’t peel themselves off the toilet. Maybe they received some horrible news and just couldn’t get their emotions together. Those things don’t matter when you have fans who have spent money on tickets, travel, lodging and more.
The show must go on.
My kids are my life and my youngest is a junior in high school, chasing his dream of playing college football and each milestone has been incredibly exciting.
He’s started to go to visit some of the teams he would like to play for. Last month, he landed a visit that we’ve both had our sights on since he started playing the game.
The University of Georgia Bulldogs. Woof-friggin’ -Woof!
To say we were excited would be the grandest of understatements.
He grew up cheering on the Dawgs with me every Saturday. And I grew up loving the Dawgs since I even knew what football was – probably longer, actually. So, when he got the word that we would be visiting when they take on the rival Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, we were elated. It was a Saturday I had off, which is rare, and we both dream of him wearing those famed silver britches one day. We had the date circled on the calendar.
The only problem was it was the wrong date.
Through some sort of savage miscommunication, the game he was invited to was the week before. He found this out two days before the visit, when he received his itinerary. He immediately called me.
“Dad, I don’t know what happened, but the visit isn’t next weekend,” he said. “It’s this weekend.”
My heart left my chest.
I was working that Saturday. My side-hustle is DJing weddings. It’s not exactly a gig I can call out of. Sure, sometimes emergencies happen, the backup DJ Bat-Signal goes up and the wedding gets handled. But these moments are sacred for a couple and we, as wedding professionals, do our best to ensure their wedding day is the best of their lives.
Now, I don’t have a vast catalogue of hits and I’m definitely not performing acrobatics high above thousands of screaming fans. But you can’t tell that bride that her wedding is any less important than Pink’s closing show that night in Columbia. I wouldn’t even try.
The show must go on.
My son will be going on more visits and, hopefully, another to UGA. Besides, the visit wasn’t about me. He went, shared the moment with his mom, had the absolute best time, and fell more in love with the team we’ve adored for so many years. Meanwhile, I got to help a couple celebrate one of the biggest days of their lives.
Woof-friggin’-Woof, indeed.