Dean noticed David’s shaking hands and the uneasy shifts in stance. “David, are you nervous?”
“Yes, sir…um…I’m actually quite nervous…sorry.” David looked down at the floor.
“You know you’ll be performing in front of anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 people, right? If this makes you nervous, how will you handle that?” Jordan asked with an incredulous tone, and Dean gave him another stern look.
“Oh, that’s not a problem.” David lifted his head with a smile. “When I’m in front of an audience, I turn on and show out. My dance teacher used to call me Jekyll and Hyde because of how I change when I’m onstage. I feed off the energy of the crowd, knowing they are enjoying the show. But this…” David waved his hand toward the table. “Me standing here alone, with you sitting there judging my every move, this shatters my nerves.”
Jordan and Sean had doubtful looks on their faces, but Dean sat with a slight smile, as if he knew exactly what he was saying.
“It’s okay, David. I still get nervous before every show too. If you’re nervous, it shows you care about what you’re doing.” Dean said, with a slight twinkle in his eyes. “I have an idea. Jordan, go grab Jax. Bring him in.”
Then Dean stood and walked around the table toward David and Jax entered the studio with a confused look on his face a few moments later, walking to Dean when he waved him over.
“Alright, we’re gonna dance together.” Dean placed Jax on one side of himself and David on the other, with everyone facing the mirrors instead of the table.
Dean demonstrated a simple choreography sequence for David and motioned for Jordan to start the track. As soon as the music began, David’s eyes lit up and his body sharpened as he shifted into performance mode. The three of them moved in perfect unison. It was as if David had been dancing with them for years; he was seamless, effortless, and perfect.
Dean stopped the music. Not only was he impressed by David’s technical skills, but also by how quickly he picked up the choreography.
“Excellent work, David. Thank you, Jax.”
Dean placed his hand on David’s shoulder. “Now, do you think you can show us your prepared solo? I’d really love to see it.”
David smiled with an enthusiastic nod.
Chapter 11
Dean
Jordan: Dean, my best friend is a massive fan. He won’t shut the fuck up about meeting you. Would you mind if I brought him backstage so I can introduce you?
Dean: Hey J. Backstage at Bayside Grooves? Sure, that’s no problem. I’d be happy to meet him.
Bayside Grooves was legendary in San Francisco. The free outdoor concert series began in the sixties, and through the years featured artists like Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Fallout Boy, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Maroon 5, and 5 Seconds of Summer.
The event always featured a mix of local artists, up and coming new artists, and world-famous headliners.
A few months ago, the organizers of Bayside Grooves reached out to Dean, offering him a prime-time headline spot on a Saturday night at the end of their Summer Concert Series. The event had always featured more traditional bands; rock and pop. A DJ had never performed at Bayside Grooves, making the invite a huge fucking deal, and Dean was over the moon.
The moment everything was signed and official, Dean posted on his Instagram…
Hey Little Devils! Save the date…DJ DVLN performing at Bayside Grooves in San Fran. Come dance with me!
For weeks, Dean worked on a new set list for the show while Sven choreographed new moves and staging for the dancers. Everyone worked long and hard to prepare for this show.
Rehearsals were done, everyone was ready, and it was finally showtime.
Dean stepped out onto the massive stage of Bayside Grooves. It was about the size of an NFL endzone and looked over Golden Gate Park with a stunning view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Off to stage left, raised to the same height as the stage itself, was the VIP section, with comfy chairs, a bar, and even a small area for dancing. A small catwalk connected the main stage to the VIP area, where everyone invited by Dean and his team, would watch the show.
The concert area was a massive open grassy field —literally the size of an entire football field— with bars and restrooms in eachcorner and temporary fencing around the perimeter to separate the concert area from the rest of Golden Gate Park.
Dean prickled with excitement, still amazed by his good fortune. Soon, there would be a sea of people in this open field, but for the time being, he breathed deeply, enjoying the silence, the gentle breeze rustling through the trees, and the iconic bridge towering in the distance.
After a few calming breaths of fresh air, Dean stepped backstage, back into the chaos…
The production crew for the large video screens skittered around, checking connections and feeds, ensuring everything was ready and visually perfect. Bayside Grooves didn’t normally use video screens for their concerts, but Dean used video screens in all his performances. He requested them, and even offered to pay the extra expense himself, but the Bayside Grooves folks were completely amenable and accommodating, outfitting the stage with the screens Dean wanted.
The dancers were in the back corner, warming up and stretching, with their usual amount of catty, bitchy banter.
