I woke up to the sound of my alarm blaring at 6 AM, my heart pounding as the anticipation for the day settled in. Today was the first rehearsal, and everything needed to be perfect. I rolled out of bed, stretching out the tension in my muscles before getting ready. The concert grounds were already bustling by the time I arrived, the early morning sun casting a golden glow over the stage. My stomach churned with a mix of excitement and nerves as I made my way backstage.
Sliding back into my black cargos in the crew-changing trailer, I caught my reflection in the mirror. As I pulled my hair into a high ponytail, I whispered to myself, "You can do this." The quiet affirmation was more for my own ears than anyone else's. I needed the boost.
"This is your dream job," I murmured, securing the elastic one more time around my hair for extra hold. "Show them you belong here."
My eyes jumped to the door as it opened, Aurora being the one to enter.
"Morning, Anna. You ready?" she asked, her tone brisk but not unkind.
I nodded, swallowing hard. "Yeah, I'm ready."
"Good. You know your duties for today. Just stay focused, and if you need anything, let me know."
With that, I grabbed my earpiece and walkie-talkie and went on my way. I found my little corner of the stage on Richard's side, setting up the gear and checking everything twice. I could hear the crew testing the sound system, the deep thrum of the bass making my heart skip a beat. This was it—the real deal.
As the morning wore on, the band began to arrive, each of them going through their routines. Till was warming up his vocals, his deep, guttural sounds echoing through the empty venue. Schneider was behind his drum kit, meticulously adjusting the setup. I couldn't help but feel a rush of awe and pride. I was part of this, part of something incredible.
Richard arrived last, his presence commanding immediate attention. I felt a knot tighten in my stomach as our eyes met briefly. He gave me a curt nod, and I returned it with a small, nervous smile.
They were all still dressed in their day-to-day clothes for now as they got familiar with the stage once more. With the small adjustments that had happened since the last tour. The musicians worked closely with the audio team to fine-tune any last details
Klaus, one of the people in charge of the instruments and their connections, headed over to my side of the stage with Richard in tow.
"Anna, how's it going?" Klaus asked, his voice carrying over the din of activity around us.
"It's going well," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Everything's set up and ready for the first run-through."
"Good to hear," Klaus said, giving me an approving nod before turning to Richard. "Let's go over the guitar swaps. We need to make sure everything runs smoothly."
