Malvyn would a give a smile, nod and possibly give a small wave to those in the audience that he recognizes.

"Oh, it was our pleasure I'm sure. If I only found the time for it I would definitely consider trying my hands at painting too, not that I expect to have anything exhibited at a gala but it could help me express myself." He says, smiling at Mei and Cadoras. "And yes, Rubina is quite capable isn't she?" He adds, then turning and waving to Guardok, but also ready to catch the dreamer as she will undoubtedly fall.

"Thanks, Larine", Guardok replies. "Oh look, I see them", he adds, waving back to Mei and Mal. "Are you going to join us, or do you have stay at the ticket booth? I guess you probably have a seat reserved at the front, thinking about it".

He waits for Larine to answer, and then gets moving towards his floor-mates. As usual, what would seemingly be a difficult path to traverse due to the number of folk in the way does not seem to impact the earth genasi at all. He seemingly just strides past everyone quite normally.

"Hey folks, what did I miss?", he says as he gets close and finds an unoccupied seat.

"Mei and Cadoras was just telling me about what a wonderful time they had last night." The purple-skinned tiefling says with a bit of a teasing smile. "The music has yet to start though. Did the last show go well?" 

Mei watches as Guardok does his Crowd Cakewalk, ever in awe of his ability to cut through crowds like a hot knife through butter, before dropping back down into the chair. 

With a hopeful smile, she leans forward for a better view of the genasi past Cadoras and waits to hear how the last show went. Surely it was the best one yet. 

Before Guardok makes his way to the seat, Larine says quietly, "I have a seat off to the side over there. Definitely didn't want to miss the show."  The genasi doesn't take long to make it over to his floormates. Cadoras readily agrees with Malvyn's comment. "It was a great night last night. But yes, Guardok, tell us how the show went."  

When Rubina arrives backstage, Aurora greets her. "Good to see you made it." Getting her flute from her friend, Rubina starts to warm up a little bit, as a few others are doing.  Aurora then asks, "I'm surprised you're here and I haven't seen Mae yet. There wasn't anything wrong with her was there?" Lesviel overhears the conversation and comes over to the group. "Did I hear something was wrong with Maeleve? I thought I'd seen her leave to come over here quite a while ago and she seemed fine then." There's a hint of worry in her tone. 

Guardok shrugs, "I think you were right to go to the first performance. I was expecting today's to be the best of the lot, because we were all so comfortable performing it now, but if anything it felt a little flat. My performance, that is".

"The audience seemed to like it though, which is the main thing, but I did feel they deserved a little more", he adds looking a little disappointed in himself. "My family are always so clear that it doesn't matter if it's the first performance or the hundredth, the audience should always feel it is fresh and new".

"Always room for improvement", he concludes with a smile.

"And now I get to watch others perform, which is just as exciting. Do we know if there will be songs or just instrumentals?".

"Not sure, I didn't see any programs or such and Aurora hasn't said much about what will be performed, it will be a nice surprise I guess." Malvyn says, seeming pleased and excited to be in for yet another treat.

(Sorry, I figured Maeleve was already there since she talked to Larine on her way in)

Maeleve hurried to the backstage area and made quick apologies. "Sorry, I just lost track of time." She changed quickly and picked up her flute before looking at the others again. "Am I the only one a touch nervous? I've done plenty of solo performing but not in a large group like this."

(OOC - Sorry Mae if I didn't understand. In my head I was thinking Larine would have told you she was taking tickets sometime like the day before. But we'll just move along!) 

Aurora nods, as does Lesviel. The former admits, "It is a bit odd playing in a group rather solo. Or even just a pair, for me at least."  Lesviel says, "Any show always gives me a bit of jitters." Rubina on the other hand seems calmly focused. "I guess I've not had much time to think about it!"  

One of the assistants for the group comes by to urge musicians to make their way to the stage and find their seats. The show will be starting in just a few more minutes.  You can see most the others are making their way to the stage. You can hear the cacophony of instruments as everyone seems to be playing little bits of music to warm up - or to just pass the time as the performance approaches.  

Those in the audience can hear the gradual crescendo of sound as behind the curtain the Show Band members must be taking their places. Finally, there is a bell to signal the show is about to start.  Just as the lights start to dim, you notice Piero making his way into the back of the auditorium. It seems there is someone accompanying him as well.  

The noise of the instruments soon quiets from behind the curtain, as it then rises up to reveal the uniformed musicians all seated on the stage. It is a fairly large group, nearly filling the whole stage. In just a moment a young dwarvish man comes out, decked in a special version of the band uniform. He nods to one of the woodwind players, who stands and plays a steady tone to allow the others to tune.  After repeating this a few times, she sits back down. Turning to the audience now, the dwarf begins to speak, his voice booming out into the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor to present to you tonight the Strixhaven Show Band Association! We welcome you all to the show." He pauses a moment as most of the audience applauds, before continuing. "We will get started right away with an instrumental rendition of our Ode to Strixhaven!"  Again, there is applause as he steps to the podium facing the band, raises his hand, and starts to conduct the first piece. 

Guardok joins in the applause as proceedings get underway.

"There sure are a lot of them. I don't think I have heard this many musicians play together before. This is going to be good", he says excitedly. He had been considered joining the Show Band himself at the start of term, and only decided against it because he figured he would get more out of the gymnastics and the play actors guild that he could take back to the circus. After all, they didn't have a large group of musicians at the circus to do what the Show Band does.

He searches for the people he knows amongst the group, trying to spot Rubina, Mae and Aurora. He also looks at all the different instruments involved.

Once things are starting to happen on stage Malvyn's attention is drawn there. "I think I've read that they tune by the oboe, a double-reed woodwind instrument if I'm not mistaken." He says quietly, and as the curtain rises his fiery red eyes immediately looks for Aurora while applauding with the rest of the audience.

Mae followed the others on stage and took her place, looking out briefly at the audience once the curtain opened but then did her best to focus on the music. She was used to being on stage performing, but it was still a new experience keeping in time with everyone else and it flustered her a little bit. (Performance: 8)

Mei, too, rises to join in the applause, her "I'm with the Flutist" shirt on proud display. As she'd done at both the gymnastics meet and play, she sits at the edge of her seat, leaning nearly into the lower row to get a good look and watch with bated breath. Though also dancing a little in her seat to the music.

Guardok indeed spots quite a wide variety of instruments on stage. There are many playing flutes and various sorts of woodwinds - some double-reeds and some single-reed.  A good number of musicians are playing brass instruments as well, from the trumpets and smaller horns up to much larger instruments. Towards the back are a number of percussionists, including drums, cymbals, and xylophones.  A few of the instrument you don't readily have a name for, but there a just a handful of those.  

On stage, Mae prepares to play, joining in as the dwarvish director starts the music.  Perhaps it is a bit of nervousness or maybe just unfamiliarity with playing with such a large group, but it takes her a bit to get completely on track with the others.  Any with a keen eye might notice Aurora struggles a little bit at first as well.  But Rubina is right on the mark with everything.  Lesviel too does quite a good job with the music, perhaps just a bit more experienced with playing in the Show Band.  Overall, the band does a decent job for the first piece. And the second as well.  

After the two works, the dwarf conductor turns to the audience again. "Our next piece is a bit more of our traditional fare, a marching piece that we would usually play, well, when marching! Expect to hear more of that later in the year for the Strixhaven Parade." He then turns back to signal the band to start another piece.  This one, quite a bit more upbeat with many flourishes from both flute sections and trumpet sections. 

(OOC - Mae can make another roll if desired to see how she does as the concert moves on from the beginning. If I didn't say before - you can use Advantage since you've been practicing all these pieces.)  

(Performance w/Adv: 15)

Mae continues to try her best, but it is clearly getting overwhelming for her, and perhaps even seems uncomfortable at moments, but she holds it together for an agreeable performance through the rest it seems. 

Malvyn would not notice anyhing about any less than perfect performance from anyone in the orchestra, simply taking in and enjoying the music performed together.

Mei, too, would only be able to tell something was amiss by how Mae's demeanor shifts. It otherwise sounds wonderful to her. 

As the conductor mentions a parade, she looks to the others and excitedly mouths, "Parade" before settling back in to listen. 

Mae does a much better job during this latter part of the concert.  The march is a very upbeat piece and they in fact play two different marches. For the finale the group does a concerto, featuring one of the french horn players in a long solo part.  They do an amazing job in playing the thrilling section.  And the rest of the band finishes the concert very strongly. 

With the end of the final piece, the audience applauds loudly. The horn player especially receives loud acclaim when they are singled out.  The conductor gives a final word of thanks to the audience and the evening is soon concluded.  Cadoras seems to be very vocal in his appreciation for the group, having especially liked the marches.  Rubina seems very content with her performance, while Aurora and Lesviel both seem more relieved to be done.  

Malvyn too is quite appreciative of the performance, standing and applauding along with the others, very impressed with the french horn. He does notice that Aurora is not quite as confident and relaxed as he is used to seeing her at the Bow's End so he decides to make sure she will feel better if he can, hoping the flowers will help with that.

Maeleve breathed a big sigh of relief as they finished the concert, taking her bow as directed and then went backstage with the others, and starting to pack up to leave.