Want To Get Away? Far, Far From Cheyenne?

What a great show by Rodney Carrington. I introduced him to Cheyenne Civic Center's full 1500. I mean Carrington was who I was supposed to intro.

At venues larger and smaller, I’ve gone onstage for the quick minutes or just seconds to announce whatever, and introduce the act. But to me "quick" can seem an eternity, and it usually is more fun than horrifying.

Even after decades of doing this, sometimes I need to conjure more of a feeling of, “Just don’t screw this up.” Some fear is good; it can save me from screwing up. But this time I wasn’t thinking of a little on-air screw up earlier that day, so out the same announcement mistake came again, only on stage.

When a surgeon screws up, it really can be life or death. But when a local personality, such as myself, screws up it isn’t life or death. In fact, it wasn’t long after I started on air, I got over a fear of how many people are listening. I try to relate to just one person, honest to Godfrey. That changes, though, when in front of a crowd, and I see how big it is.

Friday night about an hour before Rodney’s show, while chatting with peeps coming in, I mentioned that I've heard Rodney Carrington is from Texas - and I asked if anyone knew what town? Someone said, “Long-something.” I asked, “Really? Hang on.” I grabbed Google. I'm also from Texas, I spent my first 18 years Longview,  so it was way cool to see, “Born: Longview, TX.” Still, I wondered if Rodney was just born there or grew up there. Maybe his family moved when he was age two.” Nope, behind the curtain talking to his manager, I asked if he knew if he really grew up there. He says, “Well he makes his home in Oklahoma now, but he did fully grow up in Longview, yes.” (I sure knew his accent.)

As I got my signal to hit the stage, all I could think was, "Was he a Longview Lobo, or Pine Tree High Pirate?" Then I walked to the front, I yelled out, “Hello Hello! I just heard somethin' real cool …” Right then I got myself thrown off my own quick schpeel. After mentioning Oklahoma, I put up my hand with the Texas “Hook ‘em Longhorns” sign. That got a little laugh. (Maybe it was a mercy laugh.) Feeling that urge to get off, myself, I got done with the rest of the business, and then that day's screw up had reared its ugly head, and again I didn't even hear myself. I said, “Thanks for coming. Stand by for Rodney Atkins.” I walked off thinking "Well, I've done worse." --Uh, no I haven't.

Maybe you can imagine, over years on-air, how many times I've said, "Here's Rodney Atkins." I didn't even know I’d done it again, until I was quickly informed backstage. Too late to correct, I'd have laughed it off, "I'm sorry. Atkins couldn't make it tonight, but CARRINGTON will be right out."

I felt like the biggest idiot in all of Wyoming. Want to get away? Far, Far From Cheyenne?