FINALLY...

After listening to the same questions and answers for several days, Super Bowl Sunday is almost here. For any of you that are long-time listeners to The Jason Fitz Show, you may remember that I performed with The Band Perry at the Tailgate Party last year, televised live during the painfully long Super Bowl pre-game show.

I find myself reflecting on that experience as we get closer to kickoff, and it reminds me again how easy it is for people to lose perspective.

Think about what you see when you watch a musician on stage: You see a performance and expect it to be just like the recording you're used to. You see musicians running around on stage and expect that every camera will be focused on the right guy at the right time. You see someone playing a fiddle while literally jumping up and down and expect a properly executed solo. That's what, by default, you expect.

What you don't see is everything that leads up to that three-minute performance.

You don't see the lawyers requiring the musicians to sign awkward legal forms that stipulate we will not have wardrobe malfunctions. It had never occurred to me I might have that problem until I had to sign something holding me legally responsible if my breast were to accidentally pop out during my performance.

You don't see the camera people, who literally met us hours before our performance, yelling at each other and us as they try to figure out where we are going and when.

You don't see the overwhelming sense of awe that took each of us by surprise when we walked in to the room to see ice statues, crystal everything, legends of business, sports, politics and life wandering the halls and looking at you with judgement thrown across their faces as you warm up.

You just see, and expect, a (hopefully) flawless performance.

I write this today because I want everyone to realize how big this moment is. It honestly caught me by surprise on Wednesday's show to hear former NFL referee Jim Daopoulos admit how big the game feels for the refs on the field. It hit me. It reminded me, frankly, that from the ballboy to Brady, from the concession stand workers to the musicians playing, this isn't just a day. It's the Super Bowl.

The ability to calm those nerves, grab that perspective and execute through all of that adrenaline shouldn't be expected, but instead, should be appreciated. When you watch this game on Sunday, think about the biggest day of your career and imagine having to do your job with an entire world watching, and a mob of faceless, loud, entitled morons critiquing on social media.

Grab a hold of a little perspective regarding the moment, and see if it changes your perspective on what you're watching.

- JF