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I know I haven’t written much. It seems we are busy all the time! Life
on the road has now become very predictable. Our days are filled with
a routine that is both thrilling and hectic. It’s usually early in the morning
when we arrive at a venue and our trucks roll into position for unloading.
Our intrepid tour leader immediately meets with the project officer to
check the place out and spends 10 minutes or so plotting how to get the
equipment into the theatre.
At the loading dock, the team is already opening the door to the rig and
waiting to be instructed as to where the equipment should be placed as
it is loaded off the truck. There are literally tons of lighting, rigging, amp
racks, stage gear, etc., unloaded and we quickly begin to reassemble a
large jigsaw puzzle.
Each person takes responsibility for different areas of the set, but also
works closely with the others to ensure everything is covered. We work
well together, falling comfortably into a chaotic pace. Although the venue
may change from inside to outdoors, the layout of the set stays relatively
constant, and we are prepared to alter it, if necessary. Once the rigging
and trusses are in place, we set out our gear and start putting it together.
Eventually the band starts assembling their gear; they string and tune
guitars, and drum kits and keyboards are set up on stage.
The sound crew sets up their monitors and the lighting crew puts their
focus on the lights as the rest of the team is cleaning the dance floor,
steaming the performers’ costumes or adding the final touches to the
front of the stage.
Before you know it, it’s getting late in the day and the band and vocalists
begin to start sound check. Some of us begin to create make-shift
dressing rooms in the small corners at the back of the stage to ensure
our costume changes are as intricately choreographed as the dancing.
We have to be quick and still manage to avoid the technicians in
pathways that are only a couple of feet wide. We meet a final time at the
back of the stage and begin our team cheer ritual, which tends to be
repeated at every performance. The backstage area is small and the
entire stage seems to be at an angle, which makes high heels
something of a challenge for the ladies. Somehow, everyone manages
to take their places behind the curtain.
The house lights drop, the crowd cheers and the stage lights come up
to reveal Tops In Blue. The show begins and the technical elements,
including rapid scene changes by the backstage technicians, is nothing
short of exceptional. Tops In Blue begins to showcase a whole slew of
music, new and old. Truly, the musical scope runs the gamut of genres,
composing a most addicting blend of swing, laced together with good old
American pop essentialism. The overall effect is something like: two parts
Broadway, one part barbershop quartet, and three parts Motown and Pop
with a dash of Country. To achieve the desired visual effect, the music
tempo has been quickened and dancers need to take four steps left for
every two they would normally take.
Two hours later, the show is over and the entire cast is drenched in sweat.
The fans reward us with applause and the stage fades into blackness and
is replaced by the house lights coming up.We have a brief “meet and greet”
with the audience and graciously thank the host and those volunteers that
made the show a success.We then quickly run to the dressing room and
change into our banquet clothes. The banquet usually consists of dinner
and a short formal thank you from the base commander.
Immediately following the banquet, we change again into our work clothing
and begin to load out the equipment, no small task considering the hour of
night and the hours we have just spent setting it up and performing.
Afterwards we head to a hotel, or maybe hit the road to the next city
depending on the schedule.
It’s all very exciting and we have truly become a well-honed team.We tend to
rely heavily on one another, largely due to the amount of work and
interdependence involved in touring, and the inability to form any contacts
outside of the show since we are always moving. I’m working hard, having fun
and eating well.
Love,
Cindi Dunning,
TIB Prior 1997
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