Last night was a good night. It's a small accomplishment, but I'm very satisfied with it. I went to the Open Mic thing a little late, around 8:45. When I got there, I asked the official-looking dudes if I could play and they told me that some guy named "Jotade" was the coordinator for it and he was playing. Umm...is there space for me? I walk into the back room and do my best to look as confused as I felt. Everyone was looking at me because I was carrying my guitar. I precariously sat down and was more confused. What do I friggin do? One of the official-looking guys came up to me and asked me my name and where I came from. He told me what he told me on the phone earlier when I called to make sure they were going to be open. This guy and his friends were playing, and then some kind of Pedro Infante would come next. He went up to "Jotade" after he finished, and next thing you know, he's introducing me as "mi amiga Ashley de los Estados Unidos" and next thing you know it, I'm sitting in the chair smiling nervously with a microphone in my face.
The atmosphere was so chill. There were five tables or so, and everyone was listening to the music. When he called my name, they all turned around and clapped and I just remember this table of two fat ladies who gave me the warmest, friendliest smiles. That put me at ease, and I wasn't nervous. My throat and mouth were dry, but my heart was normal pace.
They checked the levels for a bit while I introduced myself and said I was twenty, my birthday was last week, and I have a bunny who I really miss. I played "Lies" from the movie Once, "Poster Child", an original, and "Dream" by Priscilla Ahn. It was a pretty good set, and they were all surprised that I could sing that well, I think. It was special bc I was by myself, singing in English to a bunch of Mexicans, but I think I connected with the people in that room.
After I was done, I sat back down and the Pedro Infante introducers and imitator got on. It was funny bc they kept referencing me. The lady said, "Tell the American who Pedro Infante is" and I said "No, lo conozco". I sung a line to prove it: "Amorcito corazon..." and the fat ladies like swooned "Ahhhh!" Hahaha, everyone loves Pedro.
After the whole thing ended, "Jotade" came up to me and asked me if I wanted to come back next Thursday. OF COURSE!!! How exciting! I thanked him for letting me play. I discovered that it's actually "JD" (jota-de) and now it makes total sense lol!! He seemed super impressed. He started off asking for my email address "in case I can't come next Thursday". Then, a request for a band website, a phone number, "we could jam sometime" and "we could play Beatle's music together next time let's rehearse". Hehe, it just goes to show you that it works every time baby.
Every time.
-Ashley Trix Hamel
Lies
Dream
Amorcito Corazon
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