"FLOOR-ED"

(my experience that reignite my love in performing arts)

...that was the first thing I felt as I walked inside the building going to this event. At first, I wasn't sure if I was in the right location or if the organizers made a last-minute change of venue that I wasn't informed about, but nevertheless, I still pushed through.

It all started when I randomly saw an ad on Facebook from "The Corner Studio," wherein they will be having an event entitled "Sample Night." They're inviting people who want to showcase their talents in front of an audience within ten minutes. As a frustrated actor, it really did caught my attention. All of a sudden, my heart beat fast and a lot of thoughts came to mind. It was like my inner self was talking to me saying:

"Hey Neon! This is what you're waiting for, right? A chance to join a community with like-minded people who understand and appreciate art like you do. Maybe this is the right time for you to step out and join."

Excited as I am, I still did some background checking about the company to see if this was legit and not a scam at all. As I checked their page, I noticed that it hasn't gotten any posts yet, and it seems that they started posting just late last year. So doubt came in, and I told myself:

"What if this is a scam? Should I still pursue? Should I put the emergency hotline as a favorite on my phone just in case?"

I don't know why, but even though I have these apprehensions and doubts, a big part of me still wants to go ahead and proceed. After a few days of wrestling with my thoughts about whether to go or not, I just found myself signing their Google Form and submitting it to them.

I think one thing that convinces me to attend is the fact that there is an option for me that I can just come in and watch other performers do their thing while I sit back and relax. There's no pressure from being in the spotlight, no judgment from being in front of others to perform. If later on I find out that this is a scam, then there's no wasted effort on my part, but if this is the real deal, then paying 200 pesos to come as an audience is definitely worth it.

As I said in the beginning, I was really confused when I arrived at the location. The building is obviously worn out, and it also took me a while to find the entrance. Even though I did the research of checking the venue on Google Maps, I still walked towards the lady guard and asked for confirmation if this was the right place for the "Sample Night," and it was.

I walked out of the strange-looking elevator and stumbled upon a long corridor, as if I were in an abandoned hospital. The off-white walls, locked doors, big empty comfort rooms, and flickering lights look like they transported you to a Pinoy horror movie. As I looked around, far in the distance, I saw what looked like a reception area wherein two people were talking to one another, but even though it is safe to assume that it was indeed the room that I was going to, a part of me is still saying:

"Neon, you can still go back if you want to. There's still time for you to back out. Hurry! before they notice you coming!"

Before I knew it, I just realized I'd already written my signature on the audience list in front of me.

I turned the doorknob, and what I saw was a bunch of people mostly young ones sitting on the floor (hence the title) in front of a white wall. I went to my spot and observed the place. To tell you honestly, I noticed that the ambiance is intimate despite the number of people in the room. I also saw a few of them holding on to their instruments, ready to perform anytime.

Going into this, I really don't have any expectations. I don't expect to stand up and be wowed by the performers since this is not a talent competition, so I would think that these are just people who courageously took on the challenge of standing in front and perform their acts. But I was wrong.

I was not just amazed but also inspired, and had a rollercoaster of emotions as they shared not only their talents but their stories. More than what they are showing on stage, I saw the passion in each of their eyes. They are indeed proud of what they're doing, and I felt like I was their family member cheering for them at the back.

The place was full of talented, unique individuals. I was overwhelmed by their skills, crying internally as they narrated how the songs that they sang came from a place of hurt, laughing with them as they showed off their jokes in their presentation skills, and applauding them as I witnessed how they came out of their comfort zone and shine.

At the end of the event, I'm speechless. I don't know what to say. I wasn't expecting much, but what was shown was more than what I could ask for.

The day ended as we all shared some slices of pizza while singing songs from "Rent" and "Les Misérables".

As I went home, I was really grateful to watch the future artists of this country. The new generation of people with creative minds, and amazing talents are something to look forward to. After all that happened, I questioned myself about whether I'm in the right crowd since I don't think I deserve to be with these talented people, but nevertheless, I was there, and I was happy.

(Follow "The Corner Studio" on fb and @thecornerstudio432 on IG for events like these)

(Group picture courtesy of The Corner Studio)