Elf on Tour: Red Bank, NJ part 2
Up early for breakfast and transcription, then we had a mandatory HR meeting which no one wanted to attend.
But it was what it was, and we had to have our cameras on, so I made no concessions and showed up with bedhead and pajamas and a snack. It was a good, standard "Harassment in the Workplace" presentation, but again, as we have all been out here for half the tour and only have the other half left, I'm not sure how effective this was. But I guess that's not the point...it was probably just mandatory for someone, somewhere, to do.
Anyway, It cut significantly into my transcription time so I wasn't able to finish my second job though I did make good progress. It was cold and rainy all day so I did not go outside.
We had a show at 7pm, and it was stopped about 15 minutes in for a "technical difficulty" which I believe was the curtain stuck shut. So the show finished 15-20 minutes late, and we hustled to our rental cars several blocks away in the icy rain. A miserable night, but New Jersey needs any rain it can get.
Back at the hotel I did laundry at night just so I won't have to mess with it in the morning.
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Friday, Up at 7 for breakfast and blog time, then sitting at this damned desk for five hours straight to finish transcribing. Lunch and then the final review and submission of that court hearing. Phew! Since my round-trip Disney rehearsal is coming up followed by shows in Milwaukee and Thanksgiving with Jameson and his family, I've opted not to accept any more jobs until December. There's no way I'd be able to squeeze transcription in between all of that.
After being sedentary all week I needed a walk, so went to a Target which was 2 miles round trip. Only got a token beverage since I didn't actually need anything except to get some fresh air.
The evening show was fine, the audience was rather rowdy and packed with kids.
Here's a gaggle at the edge of the pit, pelting us with questions!
I was a bit hidden in the shadows so was spared a lot of the interrogation :p
Another funny moment happened when Santa's sleigh makes it's first attempt at flight (it doesn't fly because "not enough Christmas spirit.") Seeing the sleigh almost-fly drove the kids in the audience into a desperate frenzy, and they all started screaming, "I BELIEVE!!! I BELIEEEEEEVE!!! SANTA YOU CAN DO IT!!!" etc etc. It was adorable! The actors did a great job of redirecting so the show could move on. I bet we'll have more moments like this the closer we get to the actual holiday!
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Saturday, it was nice to wake up slightly later without a transcription deadline hanging over my head.
I still felt rushed and restless, though. Tried to force myself to chill for a while by watching old movies on YouTube. Did you know that lots of movies are FREE on YouTube? Very cool.
The shows were fine. We didn't have an explosion of kids screaming "I BELIEVE" today for either show haha.
Between shows I didn't want to spend 40 minutes round trip in the car to get to/from the hotel, so stayed at the theatre. This theatre is attached to a music school(?) or lesson studio area, and I was able to sneak over to that side via a connecting door. The school is MUCH nicer than the theatre, very new and spacious, so I figured it wouldn't hurt if I quietly rested in a practice room. Others had the same idea; I accidentally walked in on a member of crew napping in one room, and heard our assistant MD playing the piano in another room later on.
For dinner I walked to Elsie's Sub Shop, which has been open since 1959 here in Red Bank so you KNOW they must be good. I was not disappointed; they had a "Thanksgiving sub" with turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, mayo, and lettuce and tomato. Yum!
After the final show I carpooled back to the hotel and did a partial packing, because I realized a few days ago that my flight leaves at 6am, meaning either I have to get up at 3am for a 45-minute Uber to the airport on Monday, or I could swallow the cost of an airport hotel on Sunday night so I can get up a little later and ensure I'll be on time (it's about to be Thanksgiving travel week, remember.) I opted to value time over money and got the airport hotel, which means bringing all of my luggage to the theatre tomorrow and going to the airport hotel after the shows.
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Sunday, we had an 11am show so I was up very early to finish packing, eat breakfast, and check in for my 6am flight tomorrow. Urgh. Dragged my luggage out to the rental car, when we got to the theatre I picked up another sub from that nice little shop to have for dinner.
At the stage door, one of our truck drivers was getting festive with his truck!
And here it the theatre ceiling, since they're always so pretty. Count Basie Center.
I had to take this before crawling into my little dark hole under the stage.
Between shows we were provided catering from an Italian restaurant next door, I ate a little to tide me over but mostly leftovers I'd brought with me. Sneaking over to the school-side of the building again, I was dismayed that some sort of rehearsal or classes were going on and the rooms were full of kids. But I found a quiet corner with a lot of cushions where I could just sort of chill, with a nice view too.
Evening show went fine, all of us were rather low-energy despite the shows being earlier. I suspect it's because the shows were at 11 and 4:30, which is sort of right during meal times. But anyway we made it through and everything went smoothly.
Right after the show I packed quickly, throwing my mutes in the band box, grabbing my luggage, and bringing my trombone with me. Out to the street to catch a Lyft, and I was thrilled to see the decorated tour truck all lit up!! I wonder if he'll be able to drive with it lit like that? Looks COOL AF.
The Lyft was 45 minutes to an airport hotel (which is shockingly nice for a Holiday Inn Express) and will be able to get about five hours of sleep before getting up ungodly early for this flight to Orlando.
Thus ends our week in New Jersey. Thus begins my all-nighter for Disney :p
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Monday: Travel to Orlando, a few hours with Jameson, then he's got Jollywood and I've got Candlelight rehearsal until 2:30am!!!
Tuesday: WAY-TOO-EARLY flight to Milwaukee, hopefully unpacking and a nap, then sound check and an Elf show.
Wednesday: Resting. Packing an overnight bag for Jameson's parents' house over Thanksgiving. Show in the evening.
Thursday: Thanksgiving at Jameson's parents' house, and seeing Wicked!!
But it was what it was, and we had to have our cameras on, so I made no concessions and showed up with bedhead and pajamas and a snack. It was a good, standard "Harassment in the Workplace" presentation, but again, as we have all been out here for half the tour and only have the other half left, I'm not sure how effective this was. But I guess that's not the point...it was probably just mandatory for someone, somewhere, to do.
Anyway, It cut significantly into my transcription time so I wasn't able to finish my second job though I did make good progress. It was cold and rainy all day so I did not go outside.
We had a show at 7pm, and it was stopped about 15 minutes in for a "technical difficulty" which I believe was the curtain stuck shut. So the show finished 15-20 minutes late, and we hustled to our rental cars several blocks away in the icy rain. A miserable night, but New Jersey needs any rain it can get.
Back at the hotel I did laundry at night just so I won't have to mess with it in the morning.
---------------------------------------------------------
Friday, Up at 7 for breakfast and blog time, then sitting at this damned desk for five hours straight to finish transcribing. Lunch and then the final review and submission of that court hearing. Phew! Since my round-trip Disney rehearsal is coming up followed by shows in Milwaukee and Thanksgiving with Jameson and his family, I've opted not to accept any more jobs until December. There's no way I'd be able to squeeze transcription in between all of that.
After being sedentary all week I needed a walk, so went to a Target which was 2 miles round trip. Only got a token beverage since I didn't actually need anything except to get some fresh air.
The evening show was fine, the audience was rather rowdy and packed with kids.
Here's a gaggle at the edge of the pit, pelting us with questions!
I was a bit hidden in the shadows so was spared a lot of the interrogation :p
Another funny moment happened when Santa's sleigh makes it's first attempt at flight (it doesn't fly because "not enough Christmas spirit.") Seeing the sleigh almost-fly drove the kids in the audience into a desperate frenzy, and they all started screaming, "I BELIEVE!!! I BELIEEEEEEVE!!! SANTA YOU CAN DO IT!!!" etc etc. It was adorable! The actors did a great job of redirecting so the show could move on. I bet we'll have more moments like this the closer we get to the actual holiday!
-----------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, it was nice to wake up slightly later without a transcription deadline hanging over my head.
I still felt rushed and restless, though. Tried to force myself to chill for a while by watching old movies on YouTube. Did you know that lots of movies are FREE on YouTube? Very cool.
The shows were fine. We didn't have an explosion of kids screaming "I BELIEVE" today for either show haha.
Between shows I didn't want to spend 40 minutes round trip in the car to get to/from the hotel, so stayed at the theatre. This theatre is attached to a music school(?) or lesson studio area, and I was able to sneak over to that side via a connecting door. The school is MUCH nicer than the theatre, very new and spacious, so I figured it wouldn't hurt if I quietly rested in a practice room. Others had the same idea; I accidentally walked in on a member of crew napping in one room, and heard our assistant MD playing the piano in another room later on.
For dinner I walked to Elsie's Sub Shop, which has been open since 1959 here in Red Bank so you KNOW they must be good. I was not disappointed; they had a "Thanksgiving sub" with turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, mayo, and lettuce and tomato. Yum!
After the final show I carpooled back to the hotel and did a partial packing, because I realized a few days ago that my flight leaves at 6am, meaning either I have to get up at 3am for a 45-minute Uber to the airport on Monday, or I could swallow the cost of an airport hotel on Sunday night so I can get up a little later and ensure I'll be on time (it's about to be Thanksgiving travel week, remember.) I opted to value time over money and got the airport hotel, which means bringing all of my luggage to the theatre tomorrow and going to the airport hotel after the shows.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, we had an 11am show so I was up very early to finish packing, eat breakfast, and check in for my 6am flight tomorrow. Urgh. Dragged my luggage out to the rental car, when we got to the theatre I picked up another sub from that nice little shop to have for dinner.
At the stage door, one of our truck drivers was getting festive with his truck!
And here it the theatre ceiling, since they're always so pretty. Count Basie Center.
I had to take this before crawling into my little dark hole under the stage.
Between shows we were provided catering from an Italian restaurant next door, I ate a little to tide me over but mostly leftovers I'd brought with me. Sneaking over to the school-side of the building again, I was dismayed that some sort of rehearsal or classes were going on and the rooms were full of kids. But I found a quiet corner with a lot of cushions where I could just sort of chill, with a nice view too.
Evening show went fine, all of us were rather low-energy despite the shows being earlier. I suspect it's because the shows were at 11 and 4:30, which is sort of right during meal times. But anyway we made it through and everything went smoothly.
Right after the show I packed quickly, throwing my mutes in the band box, grabbing my luggage, and bringing my trombone with me. Out to the street to catch a Lyft, and I was thrilled to see the decorated tour truck all lit up!! I wonder if he'll be able to drive with it lit like that? Looks COOL AF.
The Lyft was 45 minutes to an airport hotel (which is shockingly nice for a Holiday Inn Express) and will be able to get about five hours of sleep before getting up ungodly early for this flight to Orlando.
Thus ends our week in New Jersey. Thus begins my all-nighter for Disney :p
-------------------------------------------------------------
Monday: Travel to Orlando, a few hours with Jameson, then he's got Jollywood and I've got Candlelight rehearsal until 2:30am!!!
Tuesday: WAY-TOO-EARLY flight to Milwaukee, hopefully unpacking and a nap, then sound check and an Elf show.
Wednesday: Resting. Packing an overnight bag for Jameson's parents' house over Thanksgiving. Show in the evening.
Thursday: Thanksgiving at Jameson's parents' house, and seeing Wicked!!