The Seven-City Stretch

Ames, IA:

A very large auditorium, made mostly of concrete.  This must have been a nightmare to mix sound in, especially since the house wasn't completely full of people.  The audience was very receptive AND the venue even threw us a party after the show (complete with wine).

We stayed at a Holiday Inn that was only about two miles away from the venue.  The company always provides transportation to and from the venue/hotel when we are far, but the trombonist and I didn't think two miles was far at all.  We walked back to the hotel after the show.  

It's always nice to be on your own schedule and not have to worry about bus call times. 

Whitewater, WI:

Even though we were performing in Whitewater, we actually stayed in a town twenty miles away because there were no hotels available in town - suffice it to say, the trombonist and I were stuck with the bus call this day.

Oh, I almost died here.  

So the band is actually onstage for this show, as opposed to being under the stage in the Orchestra Pit.  I love it because I get to see the show and audience reactions, BUT when a drop comes flying in too fast, I can't help but to remember how great 'pit life' was. 

There is a drop that comes down right behind me in a very quick transition in the show.  I still don't really know what happened - maybe the rope slipped through someone's hands - but this drop did a free-fall from above and crashed to the stage right as I was being cued to play.  I was pretty flustered.  Gotta love live theatre!

Peoria, IL:

We drove into a matinée performance and then played a night show.  When something like this happens, the company caters our meals to the theatre.  Our meals that day were actually pretty fantastic.  Lunch was fried rice, lo mien, beef and broccoli, and salad.  Dinner was beef brisket, BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, veggies, salad, and some various finger desserts.

The heat was actually not woking in this theatre, a bit of a problem in thirty-degree weather. Though, they did have personal heaters for us.

I do love a good pretentious coffee house and Peoria did not disappoint!  Me and a few other members of the band enjoyed some delicious coffee from Thirty-Thirty Coffee Co.  A must if you are in Peoria!

Peoria is also currently winning for best hotel; we stayed at the Marriott attached to the venue.  Beautiful!

Mason City, IA:  

Also known as River City, home of the late Meredith Willson!  We had to commute to a venue that was pretty far removed from civilization. 

Davenport, IA:

Home to the late great trumpeter, Bix Biederbeck.  There is a wonderful memorial right on the Mississippi for Bix.

Bix Memorial 

Bix Memorial

The venue

My kit

The view inside

I lost $30 at a casino and had a great time doing it!

Some of the cast and band playing Blackjack

Springfield, IL:
Home to former President Abraham Lincoln!

His Home

Original table and chairs

Original stove

The bathroom

Lincoln's House and my hotel in one shot

My view

Champaign, IL:
The end to the seven consecutive one-nighters and our first arena show!  That's right, we play arenas...

The venue

The band dressing room

The first time we've had a security guard outside our dressing room (we decided to have some fun)

    

Let The One-nighters Begin

We begin seven consecutive one-nighters starting tonight in Ames, IA.  

What are one-nighters?

We ride on the tour bus to the city, set up the show, do a sound check, do a show, 

break down the show, then do it all over again the next day.  Fun!

My view of today's ride

Update

Okay, so I got my laundry done.  I got back to the room around 2AM.  Not horrible.

My bus seat is also not horrible; it's towards the front and has just enough leg room.

I forgot to share the catering we had between shows in Appleton.  Delicious!

Complete, with brats and cheese curds

So, it is literally freezing cold here in Cedar Falls.  It actually SNOWED yesterday!

Floridian Problems

Hockadieu, Appleton!

This is my last day in Appleton. I write this enjoying a delicious Ehtiopian coffee and raspberry white chocolate scone from Acocoa Coffee! 

After tonight's show, I have got to do some laundry. I think there is a place down the street that is open till 1AM. Maybe I can make it...

We have a pretty painless travel day tomorrow (Appleton, WI ----> Cedar Falls, IA). We will be in the tour bus for the first time....here's hoping I picked a good seat...

Opening Night!

We opened the show last night to thunderous applause and a standing ovation.

I am so proud of this production!

 I guess I'll also announce what show I'm on with some reviews:

Click Here

Click Here Too

Opening Night Party

Friends from 'Beauty and the Beast' wish us the best

The Producer

The Choreographer

Head Electrician

Revisiting An Old Friend

We are in Appleton, WI, where there is a bar next to a bar next to a bar - oh, and the occasional coffee shop - living the dream!

So far, I’m definitely enjoying these few Golden Days[1].

Upon arrival from Boise, I took some of the guys in the band to a joint called The Bar for great local Wisconsin beer, cheese curds, and a pretty fantastic Oktoberfest menu!

I had the bratwurst sandwich on a pretzel bun with sweet potato fries – I’m sort of a sucker for sweet potato fries – it was pretty delicious.

Aside from the Oktoberfest menu, The Bar had a pretty standard Sports Bar menu.

The gang hanging out after a long travel day.

The coffee joints also do not disappoint. 

I’ve been going to a place called Copper Rock.

 They are friendly and pour a good cup, but the last time I was in Appleton

I went to a place called Acocoa Coffee.  They have about ten varieties of fair trade organic whole bean coffees that they grind and brew to order; possibly my most favorite coffee in the country.  

You can bet you’ll find me there a lot this trip.

One of the many cups of coffee I'll be consuming here.

   

---

[1] A day all to myself: no travel, no performance…..nothing.  I’m free!

What's Been Going On??

So, after a very long travel day, I finally arrived to my wonderful tech city[1] in Boise, ID!

Why was my travel day long?  

Well, I left Orlando, FL. to a layover in Chicago around 2PM (Eastern Time).  

There were some horrible storms in the Chicago area so we had to spend an extra hour in the air, turning my two and a half hour flight into

 a three and a half hour flight.

Delays became so bad that I spent an additional two hours in the terminal 

waiting for my connecting flight to Boise. 

This is how I spent my layover.

I finally arrived in Boise at 11:30PM (Mountain Time).

This is the FASTEST I have put up a production this professional.  We only had three rehearsals before our first preview[2]. 

We had three preview performances in Boise to three amazing audiences.
People are really loving this show!

My view in Boise.

This is unfortunate.

People in Boise really love their Library!

The Venue

Really pretty city actually.

Again, beautiful!

First casualty of the tour (this didn't take long).

---

[1] A city where the producers, directors, choreographers, actors, musicians, sets, sounds, and lights can meet and put together a production. 

[2] A show performed to a live audience before the official opening.