Sometimes when people clap, they are just happy it's over

Sometimes I am envious of Alexander. He has been practicing his whole life. He has studied 1000's of hours with a tutor, taught 1000 of hours as a tutor, designed programs, organized the ticket sales, marketed the concert, rehearsed with the orchestra and on and on without really any pay at all relative... However, at the end of all that, for a few brief minutes an entire room applauds you. If you're lucky they even stand up and clap or stamp their feet. Some even whistle and shout. It's during this time that I think, Lucky Duck! No one claps for me when I hand my work in. That has just got to be a great feeling.



However, I went to a concert on Saturday night. It was lots of fun, small and entertaining. It was a trio performing Romanian folk songs. They kind of all sounded the same, but it was fun nonetheless and they had brought a number of strange things that I guess pass as instruments in Romania. One was a half of a violin with a horn sticking out of it. It was as if a violin and trumpet had a kid and the child got all the bad features from both parents. The other was a gigantic long, round flute that you put your lips around and blow. Yes. Also, the penis is called the skin flute in German. So no joke necessary there. Anyway, the concert was good, but it was also really long. There were at least 15 songs. We hadn't eaten and were planning on going to the beer pub haus thing on the corner for a schnitzel and fries when it was over. How funny is the word, Schnitzel? Shall we get a Schnitzel after this? I think tonight is Schnitzel night at the Thorbräu.

When they were done we all clapped wildly. I was about to ponder again how no one claps for me boo hoo hooo when it sort of occured to me. I think the audience is only half clapping for the Romanian music and half clapping for the anticipated arrival of their schnitzel. Schnit-zel! Schnit-zel! Schnit-zel!! My suspicions were confirmed when the trio picked up their various flutes and mutated voilin/horn hybrid for an encore and the collective face of the audience fell. After the encore the clapping was much more careful, sending the message loud and clear. We really liked your music, but it's over now ok? APPLAUSE.