"Velcro is your best friend," said Worley, master of ceremonies for the American Music Jubilee.

"Ain't got time for buttons," he added, throwing on a sequined shirt.

Putting on the two-hour, fast-paced variety show takes a lot of rushing about and preparation behind the scenes.

Director and lead guitarist Spook Joyner said he spends about 60 to 70 hours a week working on the show.

The cast and crew don't have to put in as much time, but the show is in rehearsal several times a week, and some performers also juggle day jobs.

Flashy wardrobes are central to the show, and changing clothes quickly between scenes and songs is key to maintaining the pace . Some cast members go through a dozen different outfits over the course of the show, and they lay out clothes in order and use Velcro to speed the process.

The most unusual get-ups are worn by Homer Hogwaller, the show's comedian. He has to transform himself from an astronaut to a diner waitress to a Blues Brother. His closet is jammed with colorful costumes, many of which were made by his wife.

With so much going on, one would expect backstage to be a stressful place. But the performers run back and forth with a smile, joking with other cast members, singing along to the show and helping each other get dressed.

Worley said the cast, crew and musicians are like a family, and during the busy Christmas shows, they tend to see each other more than they see their own families.

"To me, it's a wheel and we're all spokes," Worley said, noting that since he's been with the show longest, he serves as a father figure to the younger performers who come through. "I love the atmosphere here."

The show's material changes about three times a year to give returning audience members something new. Band members bring in songs they'd like to play, and cast members come up with ideas for comedy bits. Joyner decides what will work best and puts it all together in a cohesive package.

"We spend hours and hours of relentless rehearsals," Joyner said.

For the performers, all the work is worth it to make audience members leave happy.

"I love seeing the faces," said Hogwaller, who didn't want to give his real name. "I love seeing them laugh, their smiles."

Joyner started the show back in 1998, when he wanted to settle down after years as a touring musician. He had no idea the show would become so popular, but credits its success to "keeping it clean and down home."

"Who would have thought it would happen in a small town like Selma?" he said.