I just read an article that says that Failure can be a springboard to succeed. According to Jewish tradition, in order to succeed, you have to fail 7 times and then each time get up. I feel the key is the second part of the process.
I have an example of this in my own life. While I was at UCLA, they had American Idol TV show come to find new talent. Well, I had been a musician for years and year, I played clarinet in the Concert Band. But I also like to sing and play the guitar. So I signed up like everybody else.
I practiced my song, at work, while eating dinner I hummed and played air guitar on the bus.
I was happy, confident.
The day came. I was nervous, who wouldn't be? My time came to go on stage. I was calm.
They called me. I went on stage. My mind went blank. My fingers didn't work. I had to walk off. the stage. No one said anything and they called the next name.
I didn't cry, I just knew that I didn't have it in me to be the next American Idol.
But I continued to play in the Concert Band and perform with my group.
Years later I formed my own group, but I was always careful not to be solo.
Fast forward to 2017. I now perform with my husband, David Orbach. We have played lots of concerts, and have lots of videos on YouTube, Go ahead and find them. No problem.
We were contracted to play at an Beit Avot Beit Tovei HaIr. a nice place, We had to be there at 7:30 sharp, So David dropped me off at 6:45pm , I set up the stage, had the piano ready and plugged in all the amplifiers and microphones. Only one problem. David had to go get the piano player. So 7:15pm. No David, no piano player. 7:25pm not here yet. I set up the camera. 7:27pm, Oh well, I put together the clarinet. 7:29pm Oh, it looks like I will have to play solo. Can I do this? There are 200+ people here. Oh, one of my clarinet students just showed up. Ok, 7:30pm. I have to do this.
I opened my music folder of songs that I like to play that are not on our songlist for the night. I start with Jewish folk songs. I have to speak too??? Yes, ok, I can do this. Yes
7:31pm. one minute late I start. I play 3 songs, I'm not so nervous, interesting. I introduce more, I speak in Hebrew, someone from the crowd asks me to also speak in English. Ok, no problem. I play some Klezmer songs, a wedding song, an Ofra Hazza song, before I know it a half hour has passed, and at 8:00pm. just as I almost start with our songlist, David and the piano player show up!!
I jump up and down inside myself. I played a half hour solo! I did it!!
We then do the rest of the show and I am calm and confident.
What is the lesson to be learned? If you fail, you have to get up again. I hope that it won't take 25 years to get up again for you. but for me it doesn't matter how long it took, now I know that I can play solo!!
Rachael Alice Orbach
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