2018 has been a busy year for Scarlet Fever Band, from the hip Asman/Szynal wedding at the historic Bluestone in March; a packed-house rocker at Park Street Tavern in May; the Handel/Brennan wedding at the gorgeous Lake Club outside Youngstown; Rabbi Benjy Bar-Lev’s 10-year celebration at the picturesque Jefferson Country Club in Blacklick; the super-chill Dougherty/Sisson wedding at Jorgensen Farms; the Lahti/Schabo wedding amidst perfect weather at The Country Club near Pepper Pike; the wild, steamy night at Pickerington’s Fourth Of July celebration; to our most recent event, the awesome Craig/Costin outdoor wedding on a stunning property in Hilliard.
Each of these events was a blast, and, aside from July 4th, when it was too hot to even blink, we had dancers packing the floors each time. [But, a special thanks to the tons of folks who sat on the grass in Pickerington and grooved along with us all night, despite the heat and humidity.]
What really struck me about the wedding events this year was that they were made special by the people involved going “all out.” The parents of the brides and grooms did everything they could to make the special day even more special, and it always shows. Friends and family come to these events from dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of miles away; they go all out to join the celebration.
To the caterers, the cake decorators, the planners, and the photographers, these weddings aren’t just another job; they are the job. Time and time again I’ve witnessed these folks doing their part as if their company’s reputation rests solely on that one event, and I know they love doing what they do.
How do I know?
Because we do too. On the list of the hundreds of reasons I love being in this band, I have to place near the top the concept that the wedding we’re at that night is the one and only wedding we will ever play. No matter the venue, the weather, or any other factor, as soon as we start playing our first dance number, the joy of being a part of such a fun and talented band takes over, and we go all out. We want to feel that feedback loop I always write about, between us and the dancing crowd, and we give every ounce of energy in our bodies to the performance, so the bride, groom, their families, and their friends get every iota of fun they can from the experience.
I leave each show feeling high as a kite, and, despite what you’ve heard about “those musicians,” no, Scarlet Fever isn’t the illegal-drugs kind of band. We spend so much of our gig money on new instruments and gear that we wouldn’t have enough money to buy anything illicit anyway.
[I note, for the record, that Single-Malt Scotch is neither illegal nor illicit.]
The sky-high feeling that I have is from knowing I gave my all, no different than a runner’s high or an adrenaline-junky’s thrill from jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.
Better than those solo, athletic activities, though, is that in giving our all to these performances, we connect with the other human beings there on a deep, visceral level. Each time, we all leave happier for the experience. In turn, it occurs to me that whether in your job or in your personal life, going all out can yield wondrous results.
It never hurts to remind the people closest to us that we care about them, but every so often, when you can, go all out for them. You’ll be amazed at what it does for both of you.
Stephanie, Jeremy, Jen, Matt, Danielle, Jonathan, Erika, Ari, Libby, and Jon: thank you all so much for letting us be a part of your weddings.
Each of these events was a blast, and, aside from July 4th, when it was too hot to even blink, we had dancers packing the floors each time. [But, a special thanks to the tons of folks who sat on the grass in Pickerington and grooved along with us all night, despite the heat and humidity.]
What really struck me about the wedding events this year was that they were made special by the people involved going “all out.” The parents of the brides and grooms did everything they could to make the special day even more special, and it always shows. Friends and family come to these events from dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of miles away; they go all out to join the celebration.
To the caterers, the cake decorators, the planners, and the photographers, these weddings aren’t just another job; they are the job. Time and time again I’ve witnessed these folks doing their part as if their company’s reputation rests solely on that one event, and I know they love doing what they do.
How do I know?
Because we do too. On the list of the hundreds of reasons I love being in this band, I have to place near the top the concept that the wedding we’re at that night is the one and only wedding we will ever play. No matter the venue, the weather, or any other factor, as soon as we start playing our first dance number, the joy of being a part of such a fun and talented band takes over, and we go all out. We want to feel that feedback loop I always write about, between us and the dancing crowd, and we give every ounce of energy in our bodies to the performance, so the bride, groom, their families, and their friends get every iota of fun they can from the experience.
I leave each show feeling high as a kite, and, despite what you’ve heard about “those musicians,” no, Scarlet Fever isn’t the illegal-drugs kind of band. We spend so much of our gig money on new instruments and gear that we wouldn’t have enough money to buy anything illicit anyway.
[I note, for the record, that Single-Malt Scotch is neither illegal nor illicit.]
The sky-high feeling that I have is from knowing I gave my all, no different than a runner’s high or an adrenaline-junky’s thrill from jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.
Better than those solo, athletic activities, though, is that in giving our all to these performances, we connect with the other human beings there on a deep, visceral level. Each time, we all leave happier for the experience. In turn, it occurs to me that whether in your job or in your personal life, going all out can yield wondrous results.
It never hurts to remind the people closest to us that we care about them, but every so often, when you can, go all out for them. You’ll be amazed at what it does for both of you.
Stephanie, Jeremy, Jen, Matt, Danielle, Jonathan, Erika, Ari, Libby, and Jon: thank you all so much for letting us be a part of your weddings.