![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Stage-300x225.jpg\")
<\/a>The stage is set<\/p><\/div>\n
My only choice about a blog this week was to write about what has consumed me for . . . I was going to say the last several weeks, but, honestly, it\u2019s been longer than that.<\/p>\n
I had an idea at the beginning of the year that our band, Monday Knights<\/strong> (Bandmembers: Dan Autovino,\u00a0<\/strong>Randy Davis, <\/strong>Larry Eiffert, Ron Vallandingham and me<\/strong>), could do a gig at our golf club by creating a version of America\u2019s Got Talent<\/em><\/strong>, without the competition.\u00a0 We would highlight and MC the show and call it Yorba Linda Country Club\u2019s Got Talent<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 Randy Davis and I pitched it to Rob Abbott<\/strong>, YLCC\u2019s food & beverage manager and sold him on the idea.\u00a0 I think the lack of any entertainment for the last year, due to the Coronavirus, had something to do with Rob agreeing to let our \u2018rookie\u2019 band have a Saturday night on the summer schedule.<\/p>\n So, we wrote a show with three phases, 1)<\/strong> us singing some songs, some comic banter and having \u2018Elvis\u2019 drop in, 2)<\/strong> showcasing those at YLCC who volunteered to show off their talent, and 3)<\/strong> morph into a \u2018dance band\u2019 and get the audience on the dance floor, dancing and singing along with us.<\/p>\n Elvis was in the building!<\/p><\/div>\n After a cocktail hour and a dinner, from our first song, we felt that the audience, which was about 120 strong, was with us.\u00a0 To be fair, the audience was a bit stacked in our favor \u2013 much of the audience was golf members who were our friends, other friends who were not members of the club and I was more than pleased to have 18 people from my immediate neighborhood (‘The \u2018Hood’<\/strong>) in attendance; so even if we weren\u2019t very good, they might not say it.\u00a0 Now that I think about it, they probably would! Also in attendance was our new General Manager, Tom Forburger<\/strong>, who, if we ever wanted to play there again, we needed to impress.<\/p>\n The first set went well, highlighted with an appearance by Elvis (Ron).\u00a0 For the talent portion we had seven performers, six singers (Mary Stolo, Mark Holte, Francine Forquer, Richard Shuldiner, Sa Cool and Joe Leonardi<\/strong>), whose acts were interspersed with comedy from YLCC\u2019s Member President, Bill Tragoes<\/strong>, in various costumes, Irish, Doctor and Pirate to match the joke he was telling.\u00a0 All acts were very well received.\u00a0 A special thanks to Shari Henkemeyer, <\/strong>who coordinated the whole event.<\/p>\n Given that my last 60 days had included knee-replacement surgery, a bout with Sepsis and the stress of preparing for this event, I now not only feel better, but much less stressed.\u00a0 I\u2019m looking forward to Hawaii<\/strong> in a couple of weeks, assuming that the Aloha State<\/strong> stays open.<\/p>\n I can almost taste that first Mai Tai now!<\/p>\n But first, a big thank you to all those who attended and made it such a great evening!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Bob Sparrow My only choice about a blog this week was to write about what has consumed me for . . . I was going to say the last several weeks, but, honestly, it\u2019s been longer than that. I … read more![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Elvis-227x300.jpg\")
<\/a>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Randy-Bob-300x225.jpg\")
<\/a>The final set was some old-time rock and roll \u2013 things like Mustang Sally, <\/strong>a Buddy Holly<\/strong> mash up and Johnny B. Goode<\/strong>.<\/p>\n