BRIDGE VIEW CENTER – OTTUMWA, IA

My morning started very early with a 6am alarm!  After the big freeze up in Lincoln, NE last week, I’ve not been able to get truck generator to start.  This is an important part of the truck because it provides AC power to the “apartment” section of the rig (and that includes HEAT).  With our upcoming trip to Detroit Lakes, MN later this week, having heat will be a priority.  Expected high the day we arrive is 2 degrees with a low of minus 7! 

I drove over to Southern Diesel in Ottumwa where they said they could fix it.  Very friendly owner – Daryl – and his mechanic got right on it.  It was all fixed before 9am.  Turns out, it was something simple – a clogged fuel filter.

I got back to the hotel, jumped into the shower, and then we were on our way to the Bridge View Center for the Arts for a 10:30am arrival.  This is an impressive complex sitting on the river.  The loading dock was easily accessible and the crew was ready to go.

After scoping the stage and moving a few things around, we got the crew signed in and badged.  Load in had officially begun! 

This was a very good day for us in so many ways.  The marketing for the show had been strong – tv commercials, nice newspaper article in last weekend’s paper, and the marquee was impressive.

The crew was pleasant and eager to help with whatever needed to be done. Backdrops and lighting were in the air in record time and we were ready for the first break of the day – time for coffee! 

Once back, Keith took over the front of house focus with the crew and I started working on some of the smaller magic. Cindy was well into her day getting hazers, monitors, and backstage organized.  Ethan had most of the props unpacked and assembled, making them ready for onstage lighting focus.

Focus went quickly.  Things were going very well and we even commented that it had been a very smooth day.  And that’s when we set off the fire alarms with our hazer!  Not just once, but three times.  John (tech director) had that handled quickly.  We continued with setting up the show.  By the time we finished up, dinner had arrived and was waiting for us in the Green Room.  After dinner, we did a tech rehearsal and it was time to start getting ready to open the doors.

The audience was INCREDIBLE!  It was a great crowd – much larger than I had anticipated.  The Bridge View Center is only 2 years old and definitely in the stages of “audience development.”  And not only were there a lot of people, they were very vocal and rolled with me on everything (even with the bad jokes).  Their responses to each of the routines and to the request for “on stage volunteers” was enthusiastic.  We ended the first half with Windshear to applause and cheers from this amazing audience.  I knew the second half was going to be fun…and I wasn’t disappointed.

In the lobby afterwards, I met lots of people from the show.  I love hearing their comments and it can inspire new magic effects many times.  I also had the chance to meet some of the guys from the Des Moines International Brotherhood of Magicians Ring who drove down for the show.  I can’t tell you how much we appreciate the support of the local/area magicians.

A big thank you to Jon Elbaum (exec. director), his staff, John Carney (TD) and his crew for a very enjoyable day and experience in Ottumwa!