A Letter to Openers

You might see people walking around

Grabbing a drink or talking too loud

As you tell your story

Don’t count the seats

Don’t stare at the gaps

Don’t hate the people that are late

Or more likely intentionally so

So they miss you

Instead hold that fire in your belly

That one that whispers yeah you're ready

Cause one day if you make it, you’ll wish yourself right back here

To a smaller stage where you had to prove your name

Don’t go feeling bad for yourself, when they’re cheering for someone else

You’ve got a song

Even if they can’t sing along

You get lost in an anecdote trying to be a comedian

Your voice shakes - trying to find your confidence

You’re nobodies’ judgement

They’ll take it or they won’t

But don’t you let your worth live or die by the decibel they send back when you’re done

They might not know your name

I promise you that’s a story of pain

This is your reminder not every headliner, likes the view

You’ve got something sweet

This place in line it can’t be beat

So when you feel low, or your ego wants to know 

Just what it is you're doing

You’re opening the door

Laying the groundwork for what’s in store

And people might walk in on your last note

But I can promise you

There’s at least a hundred of me that can never be late

Who come for the unknown singer

Because we love the openers

Whether they are a hidden gem or next undiscovered whim or not

So when you go out there tonight

I’ll be sitting proud farther in the back

I don’t know you, you don’t know me

But I’ll listen to your song, I’ll find someone to pass it along to

Don’t feel small

You’ve got it all