beauty in a wicked world.

So listen, I just finished my first full week of work. Let's just say, this is going to be a crazy intense summer.

During the week, we just prepared for the show on Saturday, which included publicity, cleaning out the entire amphitheater, picking up artist and their crew from the Little Rock airport, etc. etc.

Meeting some of the people around town was very interesting. Almost everyone had a story to tell. Funny story: A woman from a gift shop yelled out to Charlsy (a girl I work with) and me, "HEY! You two look like you smart and still in school. Gotta question.....how do ya spell, congratulations??" I'm almost in shock thinking, is this really happening? I proceed to spell it out, and she keeps questioning it. "Wait...did ya say D-O-N??" No, I said C-O-N. I continue to spell as she is typing at her computer, and she interrupts again yelling, "that don't look right!" We have to convince her that it is correct, and then she finally agrees. Charlsy and I were going around town giving out free tickets for Magic Springs and hanging up posters. The woman was like, whatchu selling over there?? Obviously nothing. We told her we were passing out free tickets and hanging up posters. I don't even finish speaking when she interrupts us with, "HELL, GIVE EM' UP!" Just imagine saying that line in the most country/redneck of ways. Its like the new "Get Er Done," and I think it is our new saying for the summer. She starts freaking out about the tickets, and said that she feels comfortable at the water park because everyone is fat like her.

Then Saturday came. The big day. Our first show of the summer featuring The Guess Who. The fun began at 7:00 am at the park because the sound production company was moving in all of their equipment around 8:00 am. The venue is basically empty until they arrive with all of the sound equipment and lighting. All of this doesn't move itself off the 18-wheeler of course. Soon after, our first taste of drama surfaced. The man in charge of the the sound needed an electrician, and of course, we had no idea he was going to need one. After about an hour and half, we finally had the electrician. The electrician talked to someone from The Guess Who crew, and do you want to know what they inquired about? A fucking outlet for their fucking RV. NOTHING to do with backline or sound. The electrician leaves, only for me to find out that the main issue at hand was not taken care of at all. Finally, the situation gets taken care, but not without a few meltdowns. But hey, in the end, it wasn't our fault really.

The next meltdown involved the band's merchandise. Leonard, the tour manager/jazz flute player, shrieked with anger at us when he found out we didn't have all of his packages. We searched through the warehouse multiple times, only finding four small packages. He wouldn't have it, and just didn't want to believe us. Finally, he calls the casino the mailed the merchandise. They apparently didn't mail the packages out until Thursday, so they will be arriving on June 3rd. Again, not our fault.

All-in-all, the day wasn't horrible. Drama is inherent with any concert, where large or small. In the end, as long as the band goes on at the schedule time, its all good in the neighborhood. Once Aundrea (my boss) came out and introduced the band, I felt more than relieved. Seeing the audience truly enjoy themselves and hearing the band perform is the most rewarding the part of the whole business. You have to look at the big picture to stay motivated in this industry.

After a 17 hour work day in the Arkansas humidity and sleeping for 12+ hours, I still feel like I could go back to sleep again. Thank God I have Mondays off.

P.S. - my wireless network is named Pussy Control. Gotta love it.