Sometime in the 90's, '96 I think, I was at a music festival in Atlanta at the end of June. Needless to say, it was HOT; miserably so. But we were teenagers and didn't care. We were there on the first day of the four-day festival, excited to see our favorite bands play. It was Wednesday afternoon. We were in an amphitheater that was poured concrete with metal seats, kinda like bleachers, and it was uncovered. No shade. No trees. Blazing sun.

Of course the stage was covered, but if you play music, you know that playing outside is hot even if you're in the shade because you're basically doing an aerobic workout for at least a solid hour while you play your set.

So, Big Tent Revival was the first band to kick off the event. The crowd was sparse, because it always is at the beginning. The band was playing their hearts out though, because that's just what you do; you play every show like there are 20,000 people there.

The small crowd was less than responsive though, mostly due to the heat of the blazing sun, beating down on top of us, shining up into our eyes off the metal seats and the bright white concrete. But despite these rather unpleasant circumstances, Steve Wiggins, the lead singer/guitar player said something that I have never forgotten, and have lived my life by since. He said, "Hey guys, I know it's hot and you're all miserable, but we're hot too! We're giving everything we've got up here for you, and I just want you to know: It's only as fun as you make it."

It's so true; it's only as fun as you make it.

How fun are you making it?