Blog 18 – The Annual Party Circuit

This is uniquely Asia Pacific… And, China’s version is uniquely China.

Every year each office celebrates the lunar new year (i.e. Chinese New Year in February) with an annual party.  In some cases this is just a simple dinner to celebrate, but in most cases, it is a big time production.   

The big shows are a cross between the Gong Show, Charades, and America’s got Talent.  The show organizer will recruit 5-6 groups to perform some sort of act… signing, dancing, skits, you name it… people will do it, act like fools, and have a good time.

Everyone does it with the right attitude…  Do your best, don’t worry about it being good, and support everyone who has the courage to try.  Its just fun.

As the “big boss” (their name for me, not my name for me), I am expected to perform… I told them that I don’t have any talents and they insisted that I come up with something. I am great with kids and I can build a mean Excel Spreadsheet, but beyond that, I am shallow…  Still they pushed and so I agreed to pick up a 25yr old dusty trumpet and give it a try.

I practiced quite a bit for this…  It wasn’t easy to get the chops back, but I did it well enough… It wasn’t good, but it was courageous and unique enough to excite the crowd…  I performed three times; got better each time and had fun doing it.  I will admit that I had some nerves for the first performance, but they were gone by the last one.  It was fun to pick up the trumpet again. 

Karaoke normally follows each annual party… And, while I can’t sing a lick, I still played along.  I think the effort means much more that the quality. 

I attended 5 annual dinners and missed 3… 6 of the 8 required travel and I just couldn’t squeeze all of them in.  It is really was fun and the local teams really appreciated the extra effort to perform, let your guard down, and have fun for one evening. 

These are experiences that you will never forget… you may want to forget some of them… but, you won’t.

Picture 1 - Its a show:  We rent out big rooms in restaurants, dress up fancy, and spend hour, upon hours, upon hours preparing.

Picture 2 - Everybody loves it:  People really have a good time here.  They show off their talents and play games and dance and sing.

Picture 3 - You just gotta do it:  As a "big boss" (their words, not mine), you just have to go for it.  So if its Garth Brooks on Karaoke, or joining a hula hoop competition, you just have to go.

Picture 4 - Everyone's happy:  lots of picture and peace signs and smiles.

Picture 5 - You have to perform:  I was nominated to "do something" for a performance at the annual dinners... since i don't have any real hobbies or talents, I chose to relearn the trumpet from 20 years ago.  First performance wasn't great, but i think i killed the next 3.  And, my girls loved the jacket.

Picture 6 - Good friends:  Stephanie is a great friend of mine.  We went through the EDP together and she's been a big help since i arrived.  My team is at the top... Everyone from the Suzhou technical center. 

Picture 7 - Speeches... In this role you get pretty good at giving a short speech without any warning.  I think it's a pretty good skill to work on.  I'm not great at this, but I am getting better.

Picture 8 - Customers too:  Everyone does this... So when your customers call, you answer.  No trumpet performance, but still had to get in front of the group to hand out an award.

Picture 9 - I did my best:  It wasn't totally pretty, but i got through it... and in the end, it was cool to play the trumpet again.

Picture 10 - No fear:  Everyone just does it... some slither back and hide when the mic comes close, but most just give in and give it a try.

Video 1 - Exposed:  It isn't good, but it is the best I could do with a couple of weeks of practice.