I can only imagine what the audience must have seen, the heavy red velvet stage curtains billowing toward them as a little bulge rolled along the bottom.
It was half an hour before curtain up and concert time at the Lerner Theater. As I wheeled my harp off the freight elevator, I realized there was no way for me to maneuver my large instrument to where I was supposed to be on the other side of the stage. Every square foot between the back wall and the heavy folds of curtain was packed with percussion instruments, seats, music stands and the conductor’s podium.
I was standing in the wings looking lost when the few band members who were on stage warming up recognized my dilemma. “Here,” they cried, “We can push the curtain. Just wheel around this way.” Coming to my rescue, the lady percussionist and male trombonists leaned back against the inside of the curtain, holding open an avenue just wide enough for my harp on its dolly. They looked like those paper chains of people holding hands or policemen holding back the fuzzy folds of the still lowered curtain.
It reminded me that long before I was ever on stage as a performing harpist, there were many people who pushed on lowered curtains to put me there. I am thankful for everyone of my mentors who opened avenues to get to the right side of the stage.
With the curtain down the stage is dark and it is hard to see your way around. We all want the brilliance of the stage lights but before the curtain is raised, remember to look in the shadows and thank the people who are pushing it back and opening a way for you.