Gym Gym Bor-ee

Yes! I like children. I like music. I could play and sing with children. Why not?

I was invited to the group Gymboree interview and decided to do it with an open mind. While my vast knowledge of mélodie and lieder would be useless, perhaps all the Mary Poppins I watched as a kid would help me win this job!

There were about 30 of us waiting in our socks for our moment to shine. Some people had brought their guitars, others were vocalizing, preparing for their audition. The Gymboree staff welcomed us in cheerful, fashion and an announcement rang through the playroom:

Gymboree isn't for everyone and if anyone, at anytime, feels that they are no longer interested in the job, just give us a sign and you may leave.

The interview/audition began. They were dropping like flies. I told myself that I would stay until the end. After all, how many times in my life am I going to audition for Gymboree? Once.
I left Gymboree after nailing all aspects of the interview: my prepared song, the Gymboree song, the equipment set-up. I was sure I would get called back for a second interview. And I did.

During my second interview at Gymboree I got to observe a music class for 12-20 month old children. I kept thinking, "I can do this. Sure, why not? There are a bunch of kids yelling and running around, but at least their parents are there with them. I can sing and smile and talk about music." I put my shoes on and left the play center to meet the owner for a face to face interview.

I felt like she was trying to convince me that the job wasn't right for me. Maybe she saw right through me into my soul-filled with mélodie and lieder. She knew I wouldn't be able to fake it and she was right. While I sang the clean-up song, I would be thinking of Bohème and while children marched and bounced on knees, they would be doing it to Bizet's Toréador song. Still, I smiled and talked about how much I loved music & children.

I got my rejection letter a few weeks later.