Casper, WY

Well today counts a step forward and a step backward in terms of "becoming successful."

I am currently playing in my first arena ever. Usually used for hockey, the Casper Civic Center is huge! Its a good experience... I have already learned a boat load.

However, the promoter failed 100% and we only sold 250 tickets in a 10,000 seat configuration. It is quite sad looking.

At least the heat is not on me for that one.

San Francisco, CA

Well i finally made it to san francisco and made it to a world famous landmark: the golden gate bridge. Where we got into a car v. bus accident. I believe this is the first car accident i have ever been in... Under very bizarre circumstances.

So right now the 24 of s are sitting on the tour bus with the bridge as our backdrop waiting for police reports to be completed.

And all we want is to get to our hotel which is about 40 minutes south.

Oh, and im sick.

Bye!

spokane update

Its now 2pm and the show was supposed to be at 4 and crew has finaLly just arrived at the theater. Needless to say, trying to condense our 8 hour preshow process into a 2 hour endeavour is a wee bit daunting. The show has officially been delayed 30 min to help us out a bit... Oh goodness this is going to be a rough day.

almost to Spokane, WA

The entire company is stopped in the miidle of Washington state about 3 hours away from our next performance venue. The highway we need to take is getting closed down as a result of a huge dust storm which is causing a brown out of the entire area. Our truck and crew (which left 3 hours before the company) is at a dead stop somewhere in the middle of the storm. The truck dricer, Brian (who is also our soung engineer) was afraid of the truck tipping over brcause the winds are so strong.

Workin' 9 to 5!

Well hello there!

I'm actually working more like 10-7, but whatever. The point is that I have started my touring job and everything is up and running. We are currently doing our first load-in of the fall leg of the tour in Edmonds, WA. The load-in is just for tech, we actually load out and into another venue for opening this Wednesday.

I really like the people here which is what I was most worried about. I haven't really found a rhythm with the work that I am doing, but it will come - I am still new to the process.

Last night I had dinner with my friend Ben from CMU. It was nice to see a familiar face and the food was great. He had to drive a half hour out of Seattle to meet me, and a half hour back - so I hope my company was worth it.

On a side note the wardrobe supervisor just asked:
Was Jesus alive before the dinosaurs or after the dinosaurs?
I thought it was good for a laugh.

A brand new day

I have safely arrived in Seattle, WA for the start of the tour!

Updates

Holla! So here is the schedule that I hope you all can access:

Date	City	Venue	Hotel
9/20	Edmonds, WA	Singers/tech arrive	Best Western Harbor Inn
9/21	Edmonds, WA	Rehearsal at Edmonds Ctr for PA	Best Western Harbor Inn
9/22	Edmonds, WA	Rehearsal at Edmonds Ctr for PA	Best Western Harbor Inn
9/23	Edmonds, WA	Rehearsal at Edmonds Ctr for PA	Best Western Harbor Inn
9/24	Edmonds, WA	Rehearsal at Edmonds Ctr for PA	Best Western Harbor Inn
9/25	Edmonds, WA	Rehearsal at Edmonds Ctr for PA	Best Western Harbor Inn
9/26	Edmonds, WA	Rehearsal at Edmonds Ctr for PA	Best Western Harbor Inn
9/27	Edmonds, WA	Rehearsal at Edmonds Ctr for PA	Best Western Harbor Inn
9/28	Edmonds, WA	Rehearsal at Edmonds Ctr for PA	Best Western Harbor Inn
9/ 29	Edmonds, WA	Dress Rehearsal	Best Western Harbor Inn
9/30	Wenatchee, WA	Wenatchee Performing Arts Center	Red Lion
10/1	Tacoma, WA	Landmark Theater	BW Tacoma Dome
10/2	Portland, OR	Schnitzer Auditorium	Benson Hotel
10/3	Edmonds, WA	Edmonds Center for Performing Arts	Best Western Harbor Inn
10/4	Spokane, WA	Woldson Theater at the Fox	Mirabeau Park Hotel
10/5	Travel or off	Tbd	Tbd
10/6	Travel or off	Tbd	Tbd
10/7	Florence, OR	Events Center	Tbd
10/8	Eureka, CA	Arkley Center	BW Humboldt Bay
10/9	Paradise, CA	Paradise Performing Arts Center	Tbd
10/10	Vacaville, CA	Vacaville Performing Arts Center	Tbd
10/11	San Rafael, CA	Marin Veteran Memorial Auditorium	Comfort Inn, San Bruno
10/12	Boulder, CO	Fly to Denver	Boulder MTN Lodge
10/13	Boulder, CO	Macky Auditorium (tentative)	“ “
10/14	Casper, WY	Casper Events Center	“ “
10/15	Cheyenne, WY	Cheyenne Civic Center	Comfort Inn
10/16	Colorado Springs, CO	US Air Force Academy	Quality Inn
10/17	Colorado Springs, CO	Day Off	Quality Inn
10/18	Greeley, CO	Union Colony Arts Center	Tbd
10/19	Hays, KS	Ft. Hays State University	Baymont
10/20	Hays, KS	Ft. Hays State University	Baymont
10/21	Topeka, KS	Topeka Performing Arts Center	Ramada
10/22	Davenport, IA	Travel/Off	Fairfield, Inn
10/23	Rockford, IL	Coronado Performing Arts Center	Holiday Inn
10/24	Effingham, Il	Rosebud Theater	Econo Lodge, MO
10/25	Jonesboro, AR	Arkansas State Univeristy	Days Inn
10/26	Chattanooga, TN	Travel/Off	Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel
10/27	Chattanooga, TN	Tivoli Theatre	Chattanooga Choo Choo
10/28	Bowling Green, KY	Capitol Arts Center	Quality Inn (Tent)
10/29	Performance tbd		Tbd
10/30	Jackson, MI	Jackson Community College	Tbd
10/31	Greenville, MI	Greenville Perf. Arts Center	Tbd
11/1	Clinton Township, MI	Macomb Center for Performing Arts	La Quinta
11/2	tbd	Travel Day	Tbd
11/3	Wisconsin Rapids, WI	Lincoln School Performing Arts Center	Tbd
11/4	Grand Rapids, MN	Reif Center	AmericInn
11/5	Rochester, MN	Travel/Off	Tbd
11/6	Rochester, MN	Mayo Civic Center	Brentwood
11/7	Detroit Lakes. MN	Holmes Theatre	Tbd
11/8	St. Paul, MN	Fitzgerald Theatre	Tbd
11/9	Fly Home

It gives you an idea of where I will be when this fall (though I already have conflicting information). I'll be sure to post changes as I get them.

I had a conference call for my job the other day, and I am now functioning with a new purpose in life - actually getting things done. And frankly already wow-ing people with my ability to use technology and output high-quality work quickly. It's not very difficult to appear that way when everyone you work for is old and confused (not that there is anything wrong with that, just perhaps not the most efficient type of person, eh?).

Number one goal for today is to talk to my student loan company and figure out what is going on. I wish I had been a little bit more responsible and attentive when I was signing up for all of those.

Fall 09 Tour Schedule

Here is the much awaited schedule. By the looks of things I won't really be headed out east until the Spring tour.

http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.1&thid=12385f476f1a0a64&mt=application%2Fpdf

The packing list

Okay, so what I pack is going to be very important for my touring job. I need to pack things that are office related, clothes related, hygiene related, fun related, pastime related, etc. So I figured I would start my packing list here, and get the feedback from all of you. I am much more likely to realize I am missing something with several sets of eyes looking over it. But I really have to be careful not to over pack, so if you see something I shouldn't pack, shout that out, too. Here we go:

THE LIST

To Do Before Trip

• Call PNC
• Call student loan companies
• Put gas in motorcycle
  

Clothes

• Sneakers
• Work Boots
• Dress Shoes (2 pair, you know, for variety)
• Blouses (3 or 4)
• Dress pants (2 or 3)
• Grungy shirts (3)
• Grungy pants (1)
• Dressy outfit (1)
• Tights (1 pair, I can always buy those on the road)
• Socks (7 pair)
• Underwear (7 pair)
• Bras (4)
• Sports bras (4)
• Earrings & Necklaces
• Swimsuit
• Flip flops
• Pajamas
• Sunglasses
• Winter coat
• Sweater
• Hat & Gloves
  

Pastimes

• Books (3 at least - I am going to be on a bus for DAYS at a time)
• Cell phone & charger
• Computer & charger
• iPod & charger & headphones
• DVDs? I should probably just stick with Netflix "Watch It Now"
• Deck of cards
• Digital camera & computer cord & batteries & battery charger
  

Necessities

• Purse
  
• License
• Checkbook
• Business cards
• Jump drive (must buy, old one is full)
• Backpack
• A watch
  

Toiletries

• Tooth brush
• Tooth paste
  
• Hair brush
• Shampoo & Conditioner (I will be staying in hotels a lot, but you never know)
  
• Tweezers
• Makeup
• Perfume or body spray
• Deodorant
• Hair ties
• Strap perfects (2)
• Daily pills (H & BC & Calcium)
• Aleve
• Curling iron
• Razor & 1 extra blade
• Sunscreen
• Band-aid kit with neosporin
• Q-tips
• Tampons
  

Office/Work Related

• Legal pads (2 or 3)
• Pens & pencils
• Clipboard
• Legal pad holder
• Sharpies (3 color options)
• Post-its
• Spike tape (2 colors)
• Postcard stamps
• Digimemo