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Elf on Tour: Richmond, KY part 2
Nov. 2nd, 2024 06:23 pmThursday was a long one.
The band was called at 8am to set up and do sound check. I snuck up to the MD podium to see the stage.
NO SHARING PLEASE.
It was Halloween, so at our seats we found little treat bags! I'm assuming they were from production.
There were a few decorations in the bags, so I set those up at my spot.
We played through misc numbers, to rehearse and also to get our mixes calibrated the way we like them (that Aviom console, which you can see in the second picture, allows us to control how much we each hear of each instrument. So for example I don't need to hear the trumpets because they are right next to me. I can turn them down while turning the keys and drums up in my ears.)
After a lunch break the cast joined us, and we did brush-up stuff on a bunch of numbers. Everyone was really nice, and after the overture we got special applause as this was our first time playing with the actual show. It was a long day but the band was excused from 3-6pm, a much longer break than we were expecting to enjoy. I used my time to type this up and basically just relax.
The evening rehearsal was a full run through. I couldn't really tell how it was going on stage, but we didn't have any holds which is SUPER rare ("hold" = stopping a show because it's unsafe to continue, or because something is going badly enough that it needs to be addressed before moving on.)
I will say that unfortunately, the band did not do so well, but I 100% believe it's because of Notion. We'd be playing along just fine, then all of a sudden it was like half the band had skipped two bars ahead. And in our show, "half the band" IS Notion. I don't know if it's the gent running the program, or the program itself, but it caused us to have several train wrecks. We still didn't have to stop, but it made it really difficult to continue with confidence and overall caused a lot of errors that we never made during previous rehearsals.
We were released at 10pm instead of 11, so only a 14 hour day instead of a 15 (any extra time that we get is a gift!)
I left rehearsal feeling pretty frustrated, with my own playing and with the whole Notion/tempo issue. And I'm sorry that our new players had to experience that situation tonight. But hopefully it'll resolve in the next 48 hours.
On Jameson's end, we got some trick-or-treaters! Since we live in a vacation rental area they're relatively rare, sadly. I was able to watch some of them via the Ring doorbell.
This family mostly did Disney characters...but can you tell what Dad is? It took me a minute to figure it out!
(he's a flamingo!)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Friday, I woke up to the wonderful news that the band would not be called until 6pm!!! It felt like a snow day!
Our music director, the drummer, and the Notion...performer(?) all had rehearsal for two hours in the morning. Honestly, I'm REALLY glad. This shows that the production team is aware of what the problem really is (and that it's NOT us wind instruments!) I feel bad that they've got to get up early again, but if it resolves the tempo issues it is well worth it for all of us to have a better run through tonight.
For the first time since getting here I enjoyed a nice leisurely morning, doing laundry and eating breakfast, chatting with my sisters as they shared photos of the kids' costumes this year. It was a cloudy and cool day. Before lunch I went for a walk in the burbs behind our hotel to get some fresh air, just two miles. As soon as I got back, dove back under the covers with a snack :) One of the luxuries that I give myself on tour is lying around! Something that I never do at home.
The evening run through went MUCH better. I guess that rhythm section/Notion rehearsal helped.
-------------------------------------------------------------
I had trouble sleeping on Friday night. A lot on my mind. Got up between 3-5am to read and putter on the computer and just feel anxious.
We had our morning free, with only a preview show scheduled for 2pm. I used the time to eat, rest, pack, and check in for my flight.
The preview show went well :) I made a few mistakes but nothing dire, and so did everyone else. It will only get better with time. The audience seemed to enjoy the show. I do very much enjoy doing comedies!
As an Elder Tour Musician I knew to start packing my mutes at the end of the final act, so when the last notes of the Exit Music faded out all I had to do was put my horn away, tie my mute bag shut, and throw everything in the band's hamper. I stuck around to make sure the newbies knew where the hamper was and what to do, then walked back to the hotel because it was a nice day. Picked up Chick-fil-a, made myself a nice cup of tea, and that's the end of Tech Week in Richmond, KY.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Tomorrow we'll fly to Detroit, that's a day earlier than usual for travel so I'll post a day early this time as well.
We're supposed to get in in the afternoon, and I'm hoping for time to get groceries, settle in, and receive a new transcription project.
Monday: A day off!! I'll probably do a lot of transcription, but hope to get out to explore and have a slice of Detroit pizza :)
Tuesday: I think we have a rehearsal or show run-through.
Wednesday: A 7:30pm show, our first actual show and also our opening night party!
The band was called at 8am to set up and do sound check. I snuck up to the MD podium to see the stage.
NO SHARING PLEASE.
It was Halloween, so at our seats we found little treat bags! I'm assuming they were from production.
There were a few decorations in the bags, so I set those up at my spot.
We played through misc numbers, to rehearse and also to get our mixes calibrated the way we like them (that Aviom console, which you can see in the second picture, allows us to control how much we each hear of each instrument. So for example I don't need to hear the trumpets because they are right next to me. I can turn them down while turning the keys and drums up in my ears.)
After a lunch break the cast joined us, and we did brush-up stuff on a bunch of numbers. Everyone was really nice, and after the overture we got special applause as this was our first time playing with the actual show. It was a long day but the band was excused from 3-6pm, a much longer break than we were expecting to enjoy. I used my time to type this up and basically just relax.
The evening rehearsal was a full run through. I couldn't really tell how it was going on stage, but we didn't have any holds which is SUPER rare ("hold" = stopping a show because it's unsafe to continue, or because something is going badly enough that it needs to be addressed before moving on.)
I will say that unfortunately, the band did not do so well, but I 100% believe it's because of Notion. We'd be playing along just fine, then all of a sudden it was like half the band had skipped two bars ahead. And in our show, "half the band" IS Notion. I don't know if it's the gent running the program, or the program itself, but it caused us to have several train wrecks. We still didn't have to stop, but it made it really difficult to continue with confidence and overall caused a lot of errors that we never made during previous rehearsals.
We were released at 10pm instead of 11, so only a 14 hour day instead of a 15 (any extra time that we get is a gift!)
I left rehearsal feeling pretty frustrated, with my own playing and with the whole Notion/tempo issue. And I'm sorry that our new players had to experience that situation tonight. But hopefully it'll resolve in the next 48 hours.
On Jameson's end, we got some trick-or-treaters! Since we live in a vacation rental area they're relatively rare, sadly. I was able to watch some of them via the Ring doorbell.
This family mostly did Disney characters...but can you tell what Dad is? It took me a minute to figure it out!
(he's a flamingo!)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Friday, I woke up to the wonderful news that the band would not be called until 6pm!!! It felt like a snow day!
Our music director, the drummer, and the Notion...performer(?) all had rehearsal for two hours in the morning. Honestly, I'm REALLY glad. This shows that the production team is aware of what the problem really is (and that it's NOT us wind instruments!) I feel bad that they've got to get up early again, but if it resolves the tempo issues it is well worth it for all of us to have a better run through tonight.
For the first time since getting here I enjoyed a nice leisurely morning, doing laundry and eating breakfast, chatting with my sisters as they shared photos of the kids' costumes this year. It was a cloudy and cool day. Before lunch I went for a walk in the burbs behind our hotel to get some fresh air, just two miles. As soon as I got back, dove back under the covers with a snack :) One of the luxuries that I give myself on tour is lying around! Something that I never do at home.
The evening run through went MUCH better. I guess that rhythm section/Notion rehearsal helped.
-------------------------------------------------------------
I had trouble sleeping on Friday night. A lot on my mind. Got up between 3-5am to read and putter on the computer and just feel anxious.
We had our morning free, with only a preview show scheduled for 2pm. I used the time to eat, rest, pack, and check in for my flight.
The preview show went well :) I made a few mistakes but nothing dire, and so did everyone else. It will only get better with time. The audience seemed to enjoy the show. I do very much enjoy doing comedies!
As an Elder Tour Musician I knew to start packing my mutes at the end of the final act, so when the last notes of the Exit Music faded out all I had to do was put my horn away, tie my mute bag shut, and throw everything in the band's hamper. I stuck around to make sure the newbies knew where the hamper was and what to do, then walked back to the hotel because it was a nice day. Picked up Chick-fil-a, made myself a nice cup of tea, and that's the end of Tech Week in Richmond, KY.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Tomorrow we'll fly to Detroit, that's a day earlier than usual for travel so I'll post a day early this time as well.
We're supposed to get in in the afternoon, and I'm hoping for time to get groceries, settle in, and receive a new transcription project.
Monday: A day off!! I'll probably do a lot of transcription, but hope to get out to explore and have a slice of Detroit pizza :)
Tuesday: I think we have a rehearsal or show run-through.
Wednesday: A 7:30pm show, our first actual show and also our opening night party!
