Go Ahead, Jump – Wayne 58

[For a quick guide go here: Quick guide.]

[Old back story is here: Story so far at 30 Nov 2020 and read more recent Wayne episodes especially this one.]

[Other back story through in-links.]

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"And then on the seven and eight we turn, jump and high five – got it?”

Wayne had got it. He’d got it no problem at all. But did he really want it was the question.

“We’re not Steps,” he said.

“I’m not trying to make us Steps,” protested Jezzy. “I’m just trying to see if there’s something more we can throw into the mix.”

The two were in a rehearsal studio surrounded by sound equipment and the familiar, reassuring buzz of the PA system in the background. Wayne was content that he was somewhere closer to home. The environment was at once comforting and charging him with nervous energy. Even if his current musical partner seemed to be heading in a somewhat different direction to him, in terms of what they would actually do on stage with the performance they were rehearsing.

“It’s just every now and then we should do something the crowd’s not expecting,” said Jezzy. “We suddenly do a bit of synchronised dancing or something. I sing your lyrics or you reference a BarnStromerz track…”

“I’d rather not…”

“OK. But that kind of thing. We play with them - give them something else after all this time shut up at home.”

“So you’re saying we’ll show them we’ve been practising our dance moves while we’ve been away?”

“Oh, come on man,” said Jezzy, “Give me some kind of a break here. Open your mind to the possibilities. We’re doing something different, let’s take it further.”

Sure Wayne wanted to deliver something different, but he wasn’t too certain this was the different he wanted to deliver. There had been many times in the past year when he’d taken a new turn, and he was still thinking there should be a point in the show - even in the biggest shows - when it would be just him and his guitar. But right now, at the point when they could get back in front of a paying, live, excited audience it would be nice just to do what he used to do. Belt out his best hits, jump around the stage and have fun. Spur of the moment kind of thing.

“I’m just thinking it might be enough that we’re there,” he said. “People are going to be excited, right?”

“Yeah, but this will blow them away.”

“What - you and me and a dance routine will suddenly make a difference?”

“It’ll be something more,” said Jezzy, “and it won’t take us much to get it together and make it look really cool.”

“Or really naff,” said Wayne. “Do you think we need to get in a choreographer or someone, I mean to make sure we look OK and everything?”

‘You’re going too far on this,” said Jezzy. “You’ll be wanting dancers next and everything and…”

Jezzy stopped because he saw a spark light up in Wayne’s eyes. “Wayne…” he began.

Keeping eye contact throughout, Wayne dialled Cath on his phone and within minutes he’d given her the task of finding him a suitable dance troop, maybe five or six dancers, who knew his material, knew his vibe and who would be ready and willing to work with them on stage. Obviously it didn’t need to be huge, but they needed to be effective and fun.

Cath didn’t ask questions, knowing Wayne was no connected to his artistic spirit and that this demand could be one of many that would eventually pay off or would just be dropped along the way. Whatever, it was good to have ManzDown back. “You’ll be wanting a full orchestra next,” she said, and then regretted it as she was now pretty sure that was exactly what he’d be phoning her up about next.

“So do we still get to do our turn, jump and high five?” asked Jezzy, and there was an edge to his voice. The outcome of those few moments of sudden enthusiasm were likely that he wouldn’t get to bust out any dance moves of his own.

“Yeah, OK,” said Wayne. “We can do the turn, jump and high five. But it’s got to be in an ironical way, right?”

“I’m not sure I can do it any other way,” said Jezzy with a grin. “Especially if we’ve got a bunch of real life dancers messing around with us.”

And so the two switched banks into rehearsal mode with the backtrack powering out, both of the on mics and soon the move was as slick as Jezzy had imagined.

During the next break he turned to Wayne.

“So anyway, Streets,” he said, “How do you know who Steps are?”

“Dave likes them,” replied Wayne. “What’s your excuse?”

Jezzy was evasive. "Just a name that sprang to mind," he said. "Don't think they dance particularly well, do they?"