DAY FOUR: January 23, 2008

DAY FOUR: January 23, 2008

Dessert first. We got a standing ovation, then an encore. The audience put me at ease, and it was really fun! Comic improv became natural, and something about being in a brand new gown from Saks made my fingers fly. The head of the concert association came up to us at the end and said we could have charged double for what we did. I don’t quite know how to feel about that. This is the first out of 36 concerts and we’re just happy to be doing it at all! We’re just happy they were happy. This 85 year-old woman, our contact person, told us “ you know a lot of our artists are a pain in the ass but you guys wern’t.”

Contact people. Now that’s a subject in itself. As an artist on their series you want to make a good first impression. Their job is to insure that everything runs as smoothly as possible. They are often performers in some respect themselves, and they usually volunteer their time and are on the “board” for the community arts series. Their reward is to make their town happy with their entertainment choices, and they get to hang out with the artists and have a little vicarious experience. They have a lot to do with whether or not you ever come back. Many times they are aware of their power. They love to chat, and have stories of their own. ( during your precious 15 minutes of sound check.) The woman last night actually was quite nice, and we joked around a lot. She told a funny story about performing on her harpsichord and her “G string” breaking. She was shocked at me running around an hour before the performance with bare feet. I told her my toenails were still wet. (red polish.) She thought maybe I was having a “hot flash!” It’s an art to get everything organized before a concert, staying extremely focused, and not be “a pain in the ass!”
Concerts in high school auditoriums are interesting. During the day, when it is necessary to get backstage and meet with the piano tuner, the sound and lighting person, etc., there’s tons of kids walking around and classes in session, some right on the stage. Everything is locked, everywhere. It’s tricky. But I already miss my high school piano students so these kids are a welcome sight.
The performing part of all this I can see will be really thrilling. It’s just all the other stuff where we must practice getting our moves down. I wish I was like Samantha on “Bewitched” and just with a twitch my nose, we’d be safely at the next venue, performing; the sound, the lights, the piano, the audience, everything perfect. Aw, come on, Sally. It’s all about the adventure!
This morning I went down to meet Frank for breakfast, and he sat there hysterically laughing at something. Everyone in the restaurant was staring at him. His cell phone just cut off with the contact person for Friday’s venue. She was explaining that it might be difficult to reach the piano tuner by phone, because he is hard of hearing! What? A piano tuner that is hard of hearing? Frank called back to apologize for his reaction, and she by then had realized the folly and told her entire office staff.
Tomorrow we travel to Rheinlander, Wisconsin for our concert on Friday. A day off tomorrow so early in the tour is going easy on us. It’s good so we can make little adjustments in our logistical strategies. I’m looking forward to the drive.
Goodnight, all.