BBQ, Blues, Beale

Memphis, Tennessee

About nine hours, four stops, and one bus change later, we made it to Tennessee!  Arriving in the morning after traveling all night, we went straight back to bed.  Then started the day, or well afternoon off again waking up in a bed instead of a bus seat.  And just like that it was time to get busy. 

Beale Street was calling to everyone since it is such a renowned attraction for the area.  It has a feel like Bourbon Street in New Orleans, but not as crazy and much cleaner mixed with downtown Nashville, but geared more towards blues and jazz instead of country. 

B.B. Kings Restaurant was also located in the area as well as the famous Rendezvous BBQ and just around the corner was the Gibson Guitar Factory.

A little further away some stumbled upon the Mississippi River, the Bass Pro Shop in the pyramid where all of the live events used to be performed and even Graceland with the King himself.  

And even though this may have been our easiest week ever on this show, we were all still wore out from the previous two weeks leading up to it.  But, that didn’t stop us from having some fun and pushing through it. 

Especially since my parents came this week and not to mention bumping into a college friend by pure accident!  It just goes to show that you can never be too sure who you may run into when you are on the road and that seeing your family can do wonders!

And speaking of college and friends, I was feeling right at home sitting at the Memphis University vs. Cincinnati football game.  However, I will say that the Memphis stadium probably more than tripled the number of people that the SRU (Slippery Rock University) stadium could hold, you had to buy tickets to get in (SRU – we used our student I.D.’s), there were multiple stands for food (SRU – one concession stand), and both teams were DI (Division 1) unlike SRU which is DII (Division 2).  It still did not change the fact that it made me miss my college days though.  It really took me back. 

Ah the good ole days…

But, moving forward, the week was done before we could even realize it and we were on the road again heading back to where we just came from…OK!

The State Fair

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Deep fried chocolate chip cheesecake, kettle corn, chocolate covered bacon, a deep fried donut burger, and foot long corn dogs…yep, we were at the state fair in OKC at least for our second week of being in town.

While the first week was full of rehearsals and run-throughs, week two meant presentations, shows, and the FAIR!

And for not only the show itself, but for myself as well as a few others, it was our first time performing the show in a fair atmosphere instead of just another arena.  This being said, there were a few differences. 

The building was not only very open to the public, but it was also covered in a decent amount of dirt, smelt like goats every now and then, and had its own permanent visitors; one being a gray and white cat and a pigeon we liked to call Ralph, who at times wanted to be part of the show both in the set as well as on the ice. 

We also had a group of police officers stop by while we were rehearsing one day.  Of course they were on bikes and some of us had the bright idea to try to ride while we had our skates on.  Some were successful, while others did not dare to try.  To our surprise, they came back day after day, even to watch the show and each time they did, the numbers in their group increased as did the audience and fair.

It seemed like it just went on forever in every direction, there were always more food booths, game tents, rides, or contests.  There was a petting zoo, a western show, a RAM driving course, of course the stables for horses, cows, and sheep, but one of my favorite attractions were the Piggy Races!  Yes, little pigs would race around a track and one even went for a swim. 

It’s no wonder that it took us walking around on all of our breaks to be able to see the whole fair and I still think in the end that we didn’t.   However, it did make the days pass by a lot quicker and when we weren’t at the fair, we found other things to busy our time. 

One day was dedicated to laser tag where of course it was Girls vs. Guys for the first round followed up by Earl’s BBQ and Marble Slab ice cream in Bricktown along the river walk.  And then it was off to Midtown for some bowling and ping-pong at the Dust Bowl.  And of course you can’t forget the mall and soccer night at the hotel.  It’s always nice to have an outdoor area to be able to escape to even if it is a late night on the field. 

Calling everyone to play, we were off to where The King was laid to rest.

Here We Go…Again

Indianapolis, Indiana

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, No!  How about a 12-pack!  Yes, you heard right, its only the second week on the West Coast Tour and we are already doing a 12-pack! (4 days of 3 shows each day)

I guess there was no sense in getting back into the swing of things again in an easy way and the preparations for the weeks ahead have already begun.  Higher standards, expectations, and goals are all on the line.  Staying focused, we all chalked off one show at a time.  Of course though, by the end of the day you end up going a little crazy anyways, but that’s what keeps you on your toes and makes show business, show business. 

However, before the madness began we had one day to catch up on some much needed sleep from the long bus ride into the city and another to see what Indy had to offer. 

So, we were off to the races.  From the Arcade to the Indianapolis Indians baseball game, a Triple A Farm Team to the Pittsburgh Pirates, to of course shopping and milkshakes at Steak N’ Shake, to walking around Town Center and making post cards, to seeing some familiar family faces stroll through the hotel, to a nice dinner out at Rock Bottom Brewery, to finally some much needed girl time. 

It all may have been a blur, and we may all have been worn out, our toes were all about to fall off, but the laughs and memories that came from the experience will always be there to remind us. 

So it’s been great Indy, but it’s time for us to part.

See you in OKC!

First Stop

Kansas City, Missouri

And we were off.  Just like that it was time to get back at it again.  All of a sudden our week at home or for some the week sightseeing was a thing of the past and the only thing in the future was the beginning of the West Coast tour!

The first stop on the list of many was Kansas City, Missouri. 

Coming from different travel destinations some of us arrived a day before others.  For the majority that only left one day; our travel day, to really see anything before most of our time was spent at the arena. 

Of course everyone wanted to catch up and meet the new faces as usual and we were in the perfect place for that with numerous places to eat in the Kansas City Power and Light District.  Places like the Flying Saucer, Bar Louie, and the Pizza Bar just to name a few, were just down the street along with a space for outdoor concerts.  Luckily we were able to catch a few as we were leaving the building.  The first night featured the Eli Young Band and the next night was a classical rock band that played a variety of artists’ songs. 

When we weren’t enjoying the live music, it was time to celebrate a few birthdays that all seemed to occur within the week.  It was a nice way to mingle with everyone as well as enjoy the weather and catch up from the short break we just had. 

Its crazy to think that it hasn’t even been a year yet and we have already done over 500 shows!!

We can’t wait to see what the rest of this year brings! 

Here goes nothing!

Starting the first travel day of the season off with a nine-hour bus ride to Indiana! 

See you at the home of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway!

Show Buzz #6 and #1

 D34!

Leaving the sun and warm weather and headed back to the snow and cold.  Not exactly something that we wanted to do especially since we almost didn’t even ALL make the flight. 

It’s not exactly every travel day that you are told that not everyone is going to be getting on the plane and there isn’t another flight out until the next day.  Thoughts like “Are we going to miss the show?” or “Does that mean we have a day off?” started buzzing around the waiting area.  Then, just as soon as we were ready to face that facts that something strange was about to happen, we were reassured that we would all make the flight. 

Later we find out that maybe we all made the flight, but the same could not be said for most of our luggage.  Talk about a shock, walking outside and needing a winter jacket after the last time being outside in shorts and tank tops.  It definitely wasn’t a pleasant feeling.

However, with all of this behind us, we did have a few things going for us and that was, Minneapolis, Minnesota is home to the Mall of America so that gave us all something to look forward to and plenty of shopping to do for warm clothes so we could make due until the luggage arrived.    

And if shopping wasn’t enough, the indoor theme park, Lego World, or the miniature golf course, as well as the movie theater were also options at the mall; Furious 7 was a big hit for most.

Back to business though, it was time to make preparations for Judy Thomas.  It was that time of year again for contract talks…

And with a big sigh of relief, it was time to keep on going and we were back to south!  Warm weather and sunshine here we come!  Or at least we thought so… However, the weather was not on our side.  The thunderstorms came harder and harder each day.  It was to the point that the rumbles of thunder were even in sync with the show track as well as the entrances and exits of numbers and the pyrotechnics of the show. 

It was wet outside and inside.  We just could not get dry.  If it wasn’t raining outside, we were ringing out our costumes inside because the tank ice was literally melting in the heat and humidity of Houston, Texas. 

At least we were able to see some familiar faces during all of this.  Lisa Scuffell was in for a few days and she took over the role of Performance Director for a few days which brought us all back to the rehearsal days in Ellenton seeing her and Tashi Kuchiki as well as Cindy Stewart. 

Before we knew it though, we were on the road again and loading into Hildago, Texas.  The crew got the brunt of it going from load-out straight to the building and right into load-in so we would be able to open the show on time. 

And if that was not enough, they did all of this in crazy heat.  The temperatures were in the mid-90s every day and it felt like 100% humidity as well even when we had a 9 AM show!  That didn’t stop the fun though; it was time for a company BBQ!

Boosting some spirits we were onto New Orleans, Louisiana; a dream vacation spot to many and most of us couldn’t get there soon enough.  Being split up on two different flights, we all wanted the early flight, but some of us were not so lucky.  Making due though, we enjoyed the new city to its fullest.  The weather was beautiful, the hotel was like one you would see in Las Vegas, and there was so much to do!  Whether it was going to Bourbon Street, the French Quarter, the Garden District, or the University of New Orleans campus everyone was bound to find something to do.  The grass was green and everyone couldn’t get enough of it.  It meant open space where we weren’t literally on top of each like we were on the ice.  I have never been on ice that small…five headers!!

After that, we could not wait to get to bigger ice.  Some never thought we would say that, but it happens.   We took all the time we could to enjoy our few days off and sprawl out.  While some stayed in NOLA a few days longer, most of us enjoyed the short bus ride to Baton Rouge.

Coming from a place like NOLA, Baton Rouge was very low key.   Yes, there was a nice mall and movie theater that were easy to get to and a real gym that was in walking distance from the hotel, it just wasn’t the same atmosphere.  That was ok though, we all needed a break and a chance to slow down. 

So sights like the LSU (Louisiana State University campus) as well as the River walk along the Mississippi River and the USS KIDD were nice relaxing strolls that many took.

Then it was back to fame and bright lights, but not for us.  We were enjoying soaking up the sun, enjoying Clearwater beach and hoping for a week off, while the Tampa Bay Lightning were in the spotlight. 

We ended up having shows as schedule that week, but I must admit, it was pretty cool performing on Stanley Cup Playoff ice during the show.   All the decals and hashmarks were still on the ice, so it was more like ice that most of us grew up skating on as kids.  Topping it all off, the boys entered in a soccer tournament since its’ their thing to do this year for warm-up and we performed our 400^th show!! 

Needing a break from all the hype and excitement we headed to Birmingham, Alabama and for the first time this year, the seats in the stands were not completely full.  It was something new to us.  It was definitely an adjustment, but we kept pushing on and there were days off in the future!

Three days off and we were headed to the beach on a mini vacation while we were in Florence, South Carolina.  With ocean views from the hotel room and balcony along with the resort style living and our freedom along with go-carting, and the sea breeze, anyone could see why it was so hard to leave and go back to reality.  However, Florence, South Carolina was quite nice at least in the area we were in which made it quite nice since it was In-Show week!

And then there were more big things that we were gearing up for in Huntsville, Alabama like Viola Jackson’s annual Fashion Show and the final BBQ of the year!!

It is hard to believe that we are finally almost done. 

Greenville…the last city!   It was time for closing night party and boys and girls night parties and go-carting and bowling and then it was done!  443 shows done!

WE DID IT!

Places of Interest:

Minneapolis, Minnesota – Mall of America, Rock Bottom Brewery, Sky Walk

Houston – Buyou Trail, Hermann Park, lots of museums, Fiesta Grocery store – food from all over the country, Sonic, Five Guys, Panda Express, Olive Garden

Hidalgo – Mall, the Beach, BBQ, shopping in close distance from the hotel, 9:00 AM show (routine for this city) 

New Orleans – Bourbon Street, French Quarter, Café Du Monde, University of New Orleans, Mississippi River, Garden District, Open Air Market, ghost tours, Lake Ponchitrain

Baton Rouge - City Park, LSU (Louisiana State University), Spectrum (gym), Mississippi River, USS Kidd, River walk

Tampa – Tampa River Walk, Clearwater Beach, the mall, Frenchy’s, Crabby’s, St. Pete, Sarasota

Birmingham – The Summit, the Art Museum, the Tutwiler

Florence – Myrtle Beach, Charlsetown, Longhorn’s Steakhouse, Chili’s, Red Lobster, Mall

Huntsville – Steak ‘N Shake, Powerhouse Gym, Chiptole, there are lots of restaurants along the same road as well as a Target, Walmart Super Center, Texas Roadhouse, Taco Bell

Greenville – Closing Night at The Loft, Girls Night at the Copper River Grill, Guys Night go-carting and arcade, the mall, downtown Greensboro, Last City!!

THREE WEEKS OFF!! 

Well that was a nice little break that we all needed at home.  It was a short one, only three weeks, but definitely appreciated. 

Now we were headed back to where it all began only this year most of us already knew the show, our show track, and basically everyone that was going to be on the show.  We also knew the hangout spots like Gecko’s and Freddy’s Frozen Custard, the grocery stores and the beaches along with the hotel staff and their chocolate chip cookies. 

Some things never changed.  It was as if we never left.  Both the grills and picnic table were still in the same spot that we left them last year.  It’s amazing the memories that came pouring back stepping out of the vans upon arrival. 

Just like last year we were also sporting our numerous mini vans that we used to get back and forth to the rehearsal facility.  The typical daily thunderstorm was to be expected along with the Florida heat that just seemed to be even warmer inside the facility.  However, this year, the ice was smooth and dry!  There weren’t inches of water lying on the top.  It felt like real house ice, instead of man-made tank ice. 

But all the reminiscing was short lived because before we knew it, we were off to Mexico and the first stop was Mexico City!

Topping off at 7,000 feet above sea level, we were performing in our Opening City. 

So, if being in Mexico alone didn’t test your immune system, the elevation definitely would put your body to a test.  That along with the long, bumpy van rides to and from the arena each day where you prayed for your life hoping to make it home alive.  Not really sure how there weren’t more accidents because there were no lines on the roads, no stop signs at intersections, speed bumps in the middle of busy roads, and people just drove not really looking at what was coming in either direction.  Not to mention that every week for three weeks there was some sort of protest that also backed up the traffic. 

Some how though we managed to get around and even found some time to do a little sight seeing.  Some were able to the see the castle that was near by as well as going to the floating market and there was still more to see outside of the little shops and places to eat that were conveniently located close to the hotel.

A total of 53 of us were able to take a group trip to the Teotihuacan (Pyramids) with a huge thank you to MARIO CASTRO for arranging the whole trip.  The itinerary went as follows:

Zona Arqueologica – pyramids site

la plaza de la Piramide del Sol (Pyramid of the Sun)

la plaza de la Piramide de la Luna (Pyramid of the Moon)

Cueve de la Region – cave

Tepantila District

Taller Artesanias – art craft

Fabrica de licor – liquor factory

Lunch at the Gran Teocalli

It may have been a long day with lots of walking, but we were grateful that we had a tour guide to show us through the whole site.  Some of the steps that went up the side of the pyramid were at a 90-degree angle and other steps as large as you could take literally using hands to help you up. 

Then, there were the caves and they gave you chilling feeling just like the street of the dead.  We took part in a sacrifice ceremony and learned the rain dance; who would have ever thought. 

We were all very tired at the end of the day but so thankful that we are able to see such places as we travel for work.

Rounding out the week and excitement it was time for our first company BBQ to start the tour off.   

Closing Mexico City on a high note, we ventured to Guadalajara, Mexico. 

Slowly coming back down closer to sea level we dropped to 5,200 feet in elevation and also lowered the pollution levels so we were all able to breath a little easier in the second largest city in Mexico.

We were all looking forward to a few days off and the crew was even able to spare a few brief moments as well, which was well deserved heading into performing in a tiny theater.  That meant that there was a lot of work adding onto the stage that the tank ice would be laid on and even at that the ice was only seven headers long by five headers wide.  This is the first time that our show has been condensed to such a small area both building size as well as ice size.  However, we made it work and took full advantage of our down time. 

Whether we were hanging out by the pool, going to the casino, or shopping at the mall right across the street along with Chili’s there were always things to do.  Especially since the Cirque Du Soleil show Corteo was performing just up the road and staying at the same hotel that we were in. 

It was definitely a nice change of pace boding with another show business group of people while we were on the road. 

And then it was back to real life again and we were headed to Monterrey for our last stop in Mexico.

Making the most of it and soaking in all the sun that we could, the rooftop pool was the place to be on the day off and then it just kept getting better as the week went.  From a real Mexican BBQ to breaking piñata’s to Carl’s Jr and Chili’s to the river walk to a hike up the mountain, those were the places to be. 

It was the last week on this portion of the tour before we all headed home for a week in preparation of the West Coast. 

As we say goodbye to those that just joined us for Mexico, we know we will see you again somewhere along the line and to those that are leaving us for good; you will always be welcome back with your D34 family.  :)   

Places to see:

Ellenton – Freddy’s (Frozen Custard and Burgers), Gecko’s, numerous beaches around the area if you have a chance to go while you are there

Mexico City -  Karisma Cantina, Superama, Xochimilko (Spelling- floating market), the Pyramids (Teotihuacan), Zona Arqueologica – pyramids site = la plaza de la Piramide del Sol (Pyramid of the Sun), la plaza de la Piramide de la Luna (Pyramid of the Moon), Cueve de la Region – cave, Tepantila District, Taller Artesanias – art craft, Fabrica de licor – liquor factory, Lunch at the Gran Teocalli, BBQ!

Guadalajara -  Cirque Du Soleil – Corteo, Casino, Shopping Mall across the street, Chili’s

Monterrey – Chili’s, Carl’s Jr, hiking, river walk (Santa Lucia)