ChildAid is a charity children's concert organised by The Straits Times and The Business Times in aid of The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund and The Budding Artists Fund. It happened on 7 & 8 December. I was involved in the process of coming up with press releases for ChildAid and being a volunteer usher there. Being a first timer, my press release got a LOT of editing.
"EXCLUSIVE": Click here and here to see my first two published press releases. Dated quite a while ago. I forgot to advertise all of you to go to this concert. I don't know if it got into the papers though. Haha... Bleaggs. ME being a show off. credit goes to Mr PAul Tan for editing my, what i feel, badly done work.
Anways, first on
6 Dec, I went to the briefing of ChildAid. Most of the IN crowders volunteered to be ushers at the concert. Joanna, Sarah Ann and Krystal and I intended to meet at City Hall Interchange at 3.00 pm. The briefing was at 4.00 pm. I knew I was going to be late so I asked them to go first if I was not there by 3.00. Turns out, I met Krystal who just moved into her new Tampines home and she was late with me. So Joanna and Sarah had to wait for half an hour for us. Poor them and so unresponsible us :P.
It was a hard time trying to find the University Cultural Center(UCC) , the concert avenue. That's at NUS btw, at Clementi. So we were briefed. We were given passes that allowed us access to places where only AUTHORISED PERSONNEL could enter. WOOHOO! I was an authorised personnel for the first time in my life! haha.. and I got to go backpass and see the performers. Some were quite dishy actually, like Nathan Hartono, Ahmad Syarifullah and the 3 dash1 ppl.
Then, Shahrena ordered Canadian Pizza for all of us for dinner and I found out that Daniel couldnt take beef cos he's a Buddhist, and he can't eat prawns too cos he's allergic to them.That must be bad, to be allergic to something. I feel so lucky that I have no allergy to anything. Rajesh cant eat beef too cos he's Hindu and that he hates chilli (how can any Singaporean hate chilli?? oh wait Geraldine hates chilli too :P). Did I miss anyone out? A lot of us made friends with Clarence and his mother. He would be playing the piano at the pre-concert reception on the first night only. He is VERY GOOD. I watched his fingers just whizz over the black and white keys and the music enter him. It's like he's posessed with his music. THat's all that he thinks of when he plays. His mother is very proud of him I dare say.
Clarence at the piano
Clarence in motion. 
Smiles :)With our tummy well filled, we proceed to watch the full dress rehearsal. It was the only time I watched the concert fully. It was cool, seating near where the guest of honour were going to be seated the next day. And there was no one around except the crew, the IN crowders and other SPH management staff. So the performers were just looking at us. I felt like I was in a hot seat when Syariff sang, EYES ON YOU cos he had eye contact. Gosh does he have eye contact. Phew. And I cant stare at boys...i cant stare at anyone. But it felt kinda rude to avert your gaze when someone is performing so I had no choice.
7 Dec was the corporate sponsors and social workers night. President Nathan was also the Guest of Honour, along with Dr Tony Tan, who opened the place up, officially.
This time, all of us were wearing black with orchid corsages. On the way to the UCC, all of us felt like we were going to a funeral. :/ haha. On that day, I got terribly late. I got lost in NUS which is an easy thing to do as it is a HUMONGOUS place! Wearing black didn't help, I was sweating profusely. I asked all the students there and none was very sure of the directions. Haiz...
I was very fashionably late because I forgot to bring my tickets and had to go all the way back from Tanah Merah MRT station (IN THE MRT) to back home. Sheesh lah right. If not i would havve been early. HAizzzz.
Then I was stationed with Natalie at the VIP staircase giving out stickers for VIPs to put on their clothes. Clarence was playing the pre-concert segment and after that VJC choir came in singing their christmas carols. Now I know why they are the best in Singapore.. The people were eating their buffet dinner and I was in worry waiting for Dian. I gave her the wrong directions. She was lost. In the end, we were half an hour late. The security guard gave her directions while on my phone.
Victoria Junior College ChoirBut at least she enjoyed the concert. I got two free tix cos of being in IN. :P After that went to Macs because she didnt have any dinner, my fault. I think I saw the drummer of 3dash1, Nashir, who performed at the concert. Had to go home on the MRT after that, accompany Dian. Flash was not allowed in the concert hall so my pictures are not great.
3dash1, winner of School of Rock competiotion organised by Straits Times, comprising of Asyikk, on the left, he is the lead vocalist, Andika on the right, playing bass and Nashir at the back, drummer.8 Dec, concert open to public who bought tickets. My duty that night was to give out concert pamphlets to people. Very flustering. But luckily there were professional UCC ushers there. I want to be just like them if I school at NUS. But the disadvantage was , once the concert starts, they cant get to see the show. THey have to stand guard. haha but I still could see the show again, only I sont wish too.
A booth was set up to raise money for the ST School Pocket Money Fund selling these adorable teddy bears dor $3 each. The concert goers of the first night had one teddy bear free, including me. But I find that second day's teddy bear more cuter. At the end of the night there were extra so I took one. But I think the booth's teddy bears were much more cuter and that was hands off to every one who didn't pay. Oh well, the grass is always much more greener on the other side.
That blur is Rajesh and manning the stall are ,from left to right, NAtalie, Samantha and Pamela. Lucky her got to give a bouquet of flowers to President Nathan on the first day.
Teddy Bears for Sale!!!
See, aren't they cute!!! Awww...On that night, the IN crowders would give flowers at the end of the concert to ALL the performers. Can you believe that??
So we were waiting in the post-productions room for our turn to come on stage and Rajesh and Mervyn were cracking jokes up making all of us double up with laughter. Mark's face turned red and he was CRYING...at least i saw tears come out from his eyes. :P
The IN crowd ushers. Holding Gerberas to be given to performers.It was time, and all of us went onstage. I was instructed to give flowers to Ashton and Reynita, the dancers. So I wanted to give them but someone had already given them i.e. Rajesh. So I turned to the person in front of me who was Asyikk. He saw me fumbling with my bundle of gerberas and he said "Thank You" such a sweet voice. And suddenly this hand holding a yellow gerbera shot out and gave it to him i.e. Natalie.. I was so nervous I didn't even see his face. So paiseh...aaah. SO i went to give the VJC choir....haizzz.. Samantha got to give Nathan Hartono a flower alone in front of everyone. And after that , a group of girls from the audience went"Nathan, WE LOVE YOU!" Whoa...
Our last duty was to ask around if anyone wanted to take the shuttle service. Some of the performers were also there including Nathan Hartono, Abigail Sin and Yun Chai. Earlier when me and Sam got out from backstage, Joanna and Pamela were talking to Loh Jun Hong, the 15 yr old violinist frm the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music at NUS. When I passed by him I said " somebody's in love" and then I think Joanna gave him a flower or asked for his number. I dont know what it was that made him punch his fists in the air and go "YES!" haha. Cute. We wanted to take a picture with him before the concert but he was talking on the phone. But we managed to take a picture of Nathan. Someone asked him if he remembered Sam and he sais yes, the flower girl. Haha. Sam, the flower girl. Hey Sam, u look so fitting with him..Haha
Got a ride home from Mr Peter Khoo in his luxurious BMW...Learned so many things talking in the car with Mr Khoo, Elsie, Krystal and Asyikin.
I Want this again!!!
Next morning, got a message from Danial, Thanks hunks and babes for helping out. Gave me a laugh that one...haha
P.S. THere are more photos of my whole experience
here:::
;
2:56 pm
Clarence at the piano
Clarence in motion. 
Smiles :)
Victoria Junior College Choir
3dash1, winner of School of Rock competiotion organised by Straits Times, comprising of Asyikk, on the left, he is the lead vocalist, Andika on the right, playing bass and Nashir at the back, drummer.
That blur is Rajesh and manning the stall are ,from left to right, NAtalie, Samantha and Pamela. Lucky her got to give a bouquet of flowers to President Nathan on the first day.
Teddy Bears for Sale!!!
See, aren't they cute!!! Awww...
The IN crowd ushers. Holding Gerberas to be given to performers.