By: Tony Pozdol (vocalist from the band St. Bagu)
Shanghai, China. World Expo. US Pavilion. These words still seem like far fetched fantasies to me. I’m not sure when the reality of St. Bagu merely 6 months from their first gig, performing at the World Expo in China will set in. I mean, we’re a tad over a month away and it still feels quite surreal. Will it set in on the plane? On the stage? When we get back? For me, the latter might even be most likely.
I’ve always been a big dreamer trapped in an ordinary routine mundane setting. Living the punch the clock lifestyle. The work because you have to, not because you want to lifestyle. Feeling like a superhero some times who spends 40 hours a week of his existence blending in and stuck in a creative sleep, only to bolt out of the doors at 5 30 PM, put on his cape and fly, or maybe just create, since I can’t really fly… yet. Nonetheless I find the life of a dreamer to be one of two extremes. There is the dreamer, who looks into the sky and fantasizes with their feet strapped to the ground. The ones who think “Oh that’d be nice but it’s not too likely.” Then there is the dreamer, who won’t allow failing to fly to be an option. Even though he keeps running and jumping off picnic tables spreading his wings and ultimately falling flat on his face. This guy is stubborn. But his diligence will never allow him to say he didn’t at least jump. The one who thinks, “I won’t settle for anything less than succeeding.” My prayer is I never stop being that guy, and one day the perception of that guy being an idiot gives way to that guy being a genius.
Taking it back to the Shanghai trip now. You can now get a feel as to how this could seem surreal to me. I’ve never been to Shanghai to perform. I’ve never performed even out of Illinois yet. I work a 9 to 5, I do robotic work, my Monday through Fridays look identical most of the time. I’ve been trying different things for years, always with the same dreamer mentality, and it’s hard to believe that soon I will be getting a running start, jumping off the picnic table, spreading my wings and actually flying instead of falling on my face and repeating. Now mind you just going to China and performing isn’t the ultimate fulfillment of my dream or destiny. But… I am mighty grateful for this as a grand deposit of what’s to come. I am also mighty grateful for the people who have given us this opportunity.
I’m not sure what to expect from China. I mean, no lie, I just barely visited China Town in Chicago this year for the first time. Whatever China will be like though, I am sure I will enjoy the experience to the utmost. I am sure I will be blessed by the journey and the community that develops between myself and my bandmates and the other talented artists we will be performing and traveling alongside. It is likely that September will be one of the highlight months of my entire life and I really have no grounds for complaint.
When you believe you’re called to do something, removing yourself from doing it is kind of like removing your SELF. I am glad to be a stubborn fool who won’t take no for an answer when it comes to fighting the odds. I know I am gifted by God, called by God, and I know perseverance develops character and character brings hope and my Hope will not disappoint. I believe I am living in a time in my life right now of Promises Fulfilled. It is the time we endure the falls on our face for. The pain, the doubts, and it’s more than worth it. Shanghai, China. World Expo. US Pavilion. I’ll see you in September. Till next time, LIVE BIG, LIVE CAPSLOCK!
