It’s rare that we have the opportunity to perform close to home. On Saturday night, we were the culmination of festivities for Family Weekend at Longwood University. We’ve performed in Jarman Auditorium several times over the years but haven’t been there since 2002. I really like this place and this would be a chance for us to perform some of the new illusions in our show for a more “hometown” kind of crowd. The show wasn’t necessarily open to the public so no one from Lynchburg would be driving over; but there would be some familiar faces to be seen.
Once we were loaded in by the guys from Lancer Productions, we were started getting things set up for the show. We had a couple of lighting challenges along the way – had to move a few instruments from the FOH position to the booms but Kate handled that with ease. Once everything was hung, patched, geled, and focused, Keith and I finished up the cues and the intelligent lighting. Cindy and Keith had already been working much of the day getting the sound EQ’d and ready to go. Only my microphone was left to be tested…and we’ve been having some issues with that. We dropped some cash on an amazing wireless mic for me to use during the show and a few more bucks for the new Lectrosonics transmitter to go with it. The transmitter has been giving us some problems – or part of it anyway. Half way through the show, it just stops working. But Keith has that backup mic ready to go…and Cindy’s always got it there in my hand! The show moves along as if it were planned… Keith will be working this week to make sure that problem is taken care of before the next show.
The show went very well – a couple of surprises but the audience was GREAT! They responded so well and, with a full house, the reactions really carried. Final Destination got a gasp…and the Wall just stunned them…while No Feet captured their imagination and they went on that childhood journey with me. They were just an incredible crowd.
Nolan has been doing a great job as well. He passed his written CDL exam this week so he can now drive the rig on the road. He’ll be getting his chance to do that this week as he and I head off to Louisville, KY for a series of meetings.