As everyone in Canada recovers from Game 7, I’ll take you back to Game 1!
I am very thankful that the clocks turned back over the weekend – because I needed that illusion of extra sleep after that rollercoaster known as World Series Game 7. I am typically one of those sports fans that gets more interested as we get into the playoffs and championships, and when the “home team” is involved, it’s even more exciting! Not the outcome that we had hoped for though….
I had the opportunity to take part in the opening ceremony for Game One of the World Series in Toronto, and I am so grateful that I was able to say yes! (Thanks to having some job flexibility and supportive management – in my day job, as well as my side hustle here!). As a youth, I was a member of the Burlington Teen Tour Band, and the casting organization for the opening ceremonies reached out to the band to get participants. The catch was that participants had to be at least 18 years old, and since it’s the “Teen” Tour Band, many of the members were too young, so the invitation was sent to alumni of the band. My son and I both said yes, but in the end, he wasn’t able to participate due to a scheduling conflict. I was still able to participate, and met up with fellow alumni plus a whole bunch of other people with marching and performing experience for the event.
Porch selfie at 530am…. after our first rehearsal Wednesday evening, we had to be at the film studio (our home base) for 7am the next two days in a row. Thankfully I was able to carpool with a friend (thanks Brent!) who had a large vehicle and fit 7 of us in! Rehearsals were a lot of standing around while logistics and positioning were figured out, plus more waiting to get our costumes.
We practised and refined our positioning on Thursday, and then during the Friday dress rehearsal they decided to have us stand behind the Voices of Fire choir during their songs (and the player introductions!!). It was cool being up close, on the dirt in the infield and so close to where the players were going to be! It did require some extra rehearsal so that we could somewhat be in sync with the choir movements. We got to sing along (as much as we could) with the choir, but thankfully the mics were pointed at the choir members, not the wannabes!! I didn’t know much about Voices of Fire before the game, but I’ve become a fan – they’ve got incredible voices and energy.
Photo from dress rehearsal…because there was a LOT of waiting around
The jumbotron screen is a perfect backdrop! You can see the in ear monitors (not in my ears at the time….). They played the tracks through it plus they could give us instructions, like to hold our pose in the Canadian flag, and then when we could leave.
By the time we actually got to game time, we were all pretty tired, but there is nothing like hearing and seeing a capacity crowd to help the energy levels!!
photo of the field before our entrance (courtesy of one of my other on field castmates)
My brother got a screen grab – that’s me in the red gown behind the choir members! We got to sing and dance along – that was a lot of fun.
Photo from a friend in the stands (Thanks Mary Anne!) dorky arrows pointing out me and Pharrell Williams!
More photos from MaryAnn with me pointed out 🙂
Being on the field hearing the cheers and the crowd singing O Canada is something that I won’t soon forget! I’ve seen videos of the opening ceremony since then and am amazed at how great it looks (we couldn’t really get a good feel when we were on the field)!
Before you ask, NO, we didn’t get to stay and watch the game. Once we finished, we were bused back to the film studio where they had some food for us. We wrapped up, got into our regular clothes and headed home. On the plus side – we listened to the game on the way home and there was NO traffic!! Home in time to watch the end of the game (just barely, I dropped into bed and fell asleep!).
Admittedly – I am a fan of both of the teams that were in the World Series….but the home team will always have the edge when they’re in head to head competition, so game 7 was a tough one. I am truly grateful that I had the chance to be part of this unique presentation! Since I am a paper crafter, at some point in time, I WILL get around to doing some scrapbooking/photo journalling of this whole experience!!
(and now, back to our regular programming…..watch for paper crafting entries next!!)
