Show Buzz #5

D34

Well, it’s February and everyone who is familiar with tour life and how it goes, knows that it can be pretty brutal this month.  However, this year we are still going pretty strong and managed to celebrate Valentine’s Day pretty smoothly with some fruit and vanilla and chocolate fondue and pizza of course.  The girls even had a Bachelor viewing night and we all came away with our very own red roses. 

With everyone in high spirits we all seemed to be spending more time together this week from playing basketball or volleyball every night in the makeshift court to starting our very own Run Club to the Elevator Formal.  Yes, that is a thing for us.  Two of our very own crew guys have put it together where you just go an hang out in the elevator lobby area in formal attire and eat fancy cheeses and enjoy some drinks and each other’s company. 

As if we aren’t busy enough, we just keep finding things to fill our time more and more.  One day we may slow down, but that doesn’t seem very likely at this point. 

Another travel day in the books; hello San Jose.

Even though it has become such a routine we were all very happy that to hear that this week is our last Monday hold over of the year!  Where last year may have been three-show day after three-show day, this year, it has been Monday-holdover after Monday-holdover. 

So the time off is always put to use the best it can be.  This week most of our time was spent lounging by the pool or in the hot tub or even playing miniature golf at the hotel!  Some were even daring to go for run with the Run Club while others got really rambunctious and played Bubble Soccer. 

Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel we were off to our last city in California, Oakland. 

And when in Oakland, be safe and be mindful of all of your surroundings.  The one morning our bus never showed and a new one had to come and pick us up for the show because the highway was shut down.  We all thought there must have been an accident of some sort, but we later learned it was because there was a shooting taking place in the middle of the road. 

So, we all made sure that we all kept our guard up and headed into San Francisco for ideal sightseeing on our day off. 

Most of us found that you are able to see so much more if you rent a bike and ride through Pier 39 and all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge and through Sausalito.  You’re able to cover more ground that way and still able to stop and take in all the sights at the same time. 

And who can forget Lombard Street, the Full House house, and Mrs. Doubtfire’s house! 

There was so much to see and so little time to see it all because the plane was leaving, off to Salt Lake City, Utah!

Where of course it was time to hit the slopes for some skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. 

Up in Park City, surrounded by three ski resorts, allowed access to two of them with the purchase of only one lift ticket for the season.  So, not only were we able to shred down the mountains in the Park City Resort, but also within the Canyon Mountain Resort as well.  And being home to the 2002 Winter Olympics made the deal even sweeter. 

Speaking of sweeter, it was time for the guys and girls nights and for some that meant for some pretty “sweet” attire.  Yes, you know what that means; it was time for the girls’ three-item festivity.  As for the boys’ well they were off doing their thing too just not in handmade, creative attire. 

Dressing a little classier though, it was also time for another tradition this week as well; the elevator formal before packing up for the second out of three weeks in a row of flying. 

Off to Black and Gold country we went in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

And that’s what we got.  From the hockey fans to the football fans to the baseball fans, it was black and gold everywhere with some green mixed in.  Yes, green.  And even though we were not able to take part in any part of the Second-Best Place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, we were still there wearing our green proudly when we were able to.  Pittsburgh may have had some pretty crazy weather from rain all day to 70 degrees the next, but that’s March in the city for ya and it wasn’t going to put a damper on the holiday. 

And if you think there is a lot to keep you busy now, come back in the summer and you will be in awe to see how the city transform itself.  One thing though, that never changes…the people and their support for one another and their pride for being part of the community.  It makes saying goodbye so hard. 

We were off to the next place though and welcoming the sunshine and warm temperatures with open arms. 

Fort Myers, Florida definitely brought on the sunshine and beaches and our winter-white skin was not ready for all that heat and attention.  Lathering on all the sunscreen and sunburn lotion, we did, but it was so worth it if it meant days on the beach!

But soon enough, we had a reality check and headed back to work with our red and pinkish skin.  However, we were not ready for almost a full ice surface of paint by the last day and even though its always scary for any skater to hear that there is paint, it did liven up the ice show to say the least.  Just in time for us to be on our merry way a few hours down the road. 

Hello Sunrise and otherwise known as Ft. Lauderdale. 

And what a better way to start the week out than at the beach!  We were braving the clouds and wind for part of the day, but the weather did brighten up and we were able to soak in some sun for quite a while. 

As usual the days off passed by without the blink of an eye, as did the fact that we just completed our 800^th show!  I mean really?!  Who would have ever thought?!  Just as we all know that nothing is for sure and the inevitable concept of change is always prevalent, so is the saying that our Company Manager has us live by, “Be thankful for what you have and who you have around you,” and 800 shows later, this couldn’t be more perfect. 

Soaking it all in, we headed to MIAMI!

What a better way to start off the week, than with Closing Night Party Festivities on the Miami Lady!  Its times like these that are a true reality check.  I mean, how many people can say that they had a company party on a boat in Miami? It all just goes to show lucky we truly are not only to actually have a job right now, but one that also allows us to travel and see parts of the world that some will only dream about. 

I feel like Miami is the epitome of this with South Beach, Miami Beach and exotic vacation locations such as those.  It really makes you realize how much you do have to be thankful for and even though one can easily get caught up in this city, it is one that forces you to reflect on what you have and allows you to set your sights on what you would like to come. 

However, hoping for a little less humidity and more room in the hotel, we were off to Jacksonville.

Aside from the police station, courthouse, and jail all being on the walk to the arena; Jacksonville was a pretty quiet town; even the beach was calm.  Very rarely did we even pass anyone that was not part of our group in town, but it just so happened that we were going to be adding some excitement.  We gained four new break workers! 

We are very thankful for those that were with us for basically our entire tour and we miss you already.  You were part of our family.  Hope to see you all down the road!  Until then, we wish you the best of luck with your show!  For now, we are opening our family and expanding once again and are excited to do so!  The more the merrier over here on D34!  Still trucking along…

Places to See:

Sacramento – Old Sacramento, the capital building, If you stay at the same hotel we did make sure to use the tennis/basketball court – we even made it into a make-shift volleyball court

San Jose – Bubble soccer, Pool and hot tub area at the hotel with miniature golf!

Oakland – Travel into San Francisco and be safe in Oakland, Pier 39 and the sea lions, Golden Gate Bridge, Saucalito, Lombard Street, Full House house, Mrs. Doubtfire’s House, Bay Bridge

Salt Lake City – Park City Mountain Resort, Canyon City Mountain Resort – Go skiing, snowboarding or tubing! It’s a must! 

Pittsburgh – The Point (Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers meet to form the Ohio river) , Fort Pitt, The Inclines, Mount Washington, Primanti Brother’s, Southside, the Strip District, the Market District, Ducky Tours, the Gateway Clipper Fleet, Pittsburgh Mills, Waterworks, University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, Chatham College, Point Park University, Sports Teams: Penguins (hockey), Steelers (NFL), Pirates (baseball), Riverhounds (soccer), Passion (women’s football)

Fort Myers – Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island – Just soaking up the sun and enjoying the warm weather

Sunrise – Fort Lauderdale Beach, 800 shows!

Miami – Closing Night Party on the Miami Lady, South Beach, Miami Beach, Bayside, Port of Miami, Star Island

Jacksonville – Jacksonville Beach

Special Thank You to:

Morgan Bell

Ryan Coombs

Gary Lester

Lev Shiryaev

Leo Sorokin

Welcome:

Taylor Steele

Jacob March

Colleen Clancy

Jared  Moss

Congratulations to:

Rusty Pfaff

Even though we will all miss you, we are wishing you well on your new journey and new job at the Feld Entertainment Corporate Office! 

Adriene and Will Ott

Newly Married!