It's amazing how one tiny little moment in your life can change you forever.
I was in fourth grade.
It was bathroom break time.
Probably coming in from recess or whatever.
I walked into the bathroom.
On his way out was Todd McWilliams. One year younger. He was very short. He looked up at me and said two words with a smirk on his face.
“Big head...”
Ever since then, I have felt as if, yes, indeed, my head is too big for my body.
I am in good company. Oprah has a big head. A smattering of other famous people are known for their cranial enormity.
I carried “big head” with me for years and years.
I imagined myself a Macy's Day parade balloon being towed by several tiny clowns with ropes attached to my ears.
I cannot tell you how much I identified with Charlie Brown.
So someone like me, with inferiority complex-o-rama would somehow be hoisted out of self pity... yes? Indeed.
It was singing.
I auditioned for a production of “Guys and Dolls” and the director, mouth agape at my powerhouse Andrea McArdle impression, cast me on the spot as Nicely Nicely. I guess you could say, “it went to my head” in a good way. It made me stronger, confident, I felt I had a purpouse in life.
So as Mr. Musical Theatre tenor singer, I very confidently began taking vocal coaching from a very popular and very respected voice coach in Chicago. I felt just terrific that I was taken on as a student. This would look great on my resume too.
Very proudly I went to my first session with him.
After singing a song, I stood before him and he began giving me feedback.
He was very short.
Uh oh...
No, it wasn't Todd McWilliams...
however, this was how he praised me...
“Well Rob, let me start out by telling you your vocal assets... first of all, you have an enormous head cavity...”
I didn't hear anything else he had to say.