Oldies But Goodies - Gentlemen's Rule and Under the Streetlamp

Recently I've been singing more often than I have in the past because I finally play an instrument where you can sing and play at the same time (The Bouzouki). While I definitely don't have a voice of an angel, I feel like I have improved a lot and my voice has become a little more  bearable. The show last night showed me that I still have a long way to go. Gentlemen's rule is an 8-man a cappella group out of the University of Indiana who sing a variety of songs from the 60's to the present. They are now based out of Chicago and recently released their first album. While I'm not a huge fan of a cappella groups in general, I have the upmost respect for them musically and I'm always impressed when I hear a good group. These guys were great and really sang something for everybody. Under the Streetlamp is a 4-man vocal group comprised of actor/singers who were in the show Jersey Boys. They sing pieces from what they call the "Great Radio Songbook". This includes songs from the 50's through the 70's and ranges from doo-wop to straight rock. While I surprisingly didn't know every song they played (I'm a huge fan of older music), I was very impressed with their different styles and the way they made the songs their own. Overall it was a great show and though it probably won't be my favorite, I definitely enjoyed myself.

After two straight shows of sold out crowds, it was good to have a much quieter show. There were only about 2100 people in the theater for this show and less than 500 people on the lawn. This made for lots of down time and a pretty relaxed mood. It also allowed me to sing along more which may or may not be a good thing. I've now become pretty comfortable with talking with patrons and dealing with issues and it does help when the crowd are smaller and less rowdy. Once again, I have a few days off until the next show so I'm taking a break for a little. Looking forward to more shows!

My favorite part of this show was the last number done by Under the Streetlamp. They did a fantastic rendition of "Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher" that started off quiet but really climaxed in the end when Gentlemen's rule also came on the stage. Great ending.

DC

That setting looks oddly familiar...

TBT when I watched Glee 

Strike Up The Band - US Marine Band and Fireworks Show

Nothing says American better than the President's Own Marine Band and a patriotic fireworks display. Both of these were present at the Trap last night. The United States Marine Band was founded by Congress in 1798 and is the oldest professional musical organization in the United States. They perform at many government and civilian events throughout the year and began touring the country in 1890 due to their most well known conductor, John Phillip Sousa. They're known as the President's own due to their connection with many US Presidents and they have played at every inauguration since Thomas Jefferson. They sound absolutely amazing and their repertoire had a lot of variety last night. Along with the well known marches, they also played songs from the Music Man as well as the 1812 Overture, one of my favorite pieces. The fireworks display was one of the best I've ever seen and even the ushers were allowed to stay and watch the action (we still couldn't sit down though!) All In all it was a great performance.

This show is perennially one of the craziest of the year because it's free and people can enter without having a ticket. The final count was around 7200 patrons, which is amazing since the theater only holds 7100. The lawn was completely full and I quickly found out how hard it is to weave between peoples blankets without unfortunately stepping on something. We did keep order and get the job done, however, and our staff received praise from a number of patrons. I also had my first wheelchair duty, which was a highlight a of mine just because I get to engage with the patrons in a more personal way than on the lawn. While it was a very busy show and did get overwhelming at times, I thought our whole staff did a great job and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. I'm off until Friday so I'm signing off for a little while. Looking forward to more shows!

My favorite part of this show was the 1812 Overture. The Marine Band definitely did it justice and I'm glad I heard the full version instead of the shortened one I played while with the USC Concert Band. Such a great piece of music!

DC

I wonder if they're trained how to defend themselves with their instruments. 

The News From Lake Wobegon - A Prairie Home Companion

Yay my first show for the summer! The 2014 Wolf Trap Season began with two performances of a Prairie Home Companion, the famous radio show created and led by Garrison Keilor. I'll begin each of these posts by saying a little about the artist/show that I'm writing about. A Prairie Home Companion has been broadcast in some way, shape, or form since 1974. The show is a variety show of sorts and features storytelling from Keilor along with music and singing from various artists. What I think really makes the show unique is that no one tells a story like Garrison Keilor and he's been able to create this fictional town complete with a mid-west atmosphere that many people (including me) have never experienced. The music is also usually top-notch and combines country, bluegrass, and blues. Finally I think performance wise, the show really connects with the audience and Garrison even walked around the Lawn before the show started.

While it was nice to enjoy the show, I did have a job to do. I had to arrive two and a half hours before showtime and I didn't end up leaving until two hours after the show ended. As a member of the lawn staff, I have to help with clearing the lawn before and after the show and have to monitor the patrons to make sure they're following all the rules. So far, I haven't had any negative encounters with a patron and I hope to keep that a minimum. The hardest part of the job, honestly, is that Im standing for more than five hours with only a twenty minute break. It also does get pretty hot because of the uniform and the fact that the lawn is completely exposed to the sun, But other than that, it's really not a difficult job and I'm looking forward to more shows!

I'll end each post with my favorite part of the show. For me, it was when Garrison Keilor walked up the stairway where my post was and I literally got two feet from him!

DC

The tie really pulls it all together 

He looks older in person 

I'm Part of the System

Job Training

Never have i ever met someone who said job training was the best part of the job. While my training wasn't pure torture, it definitely wasn't fun fun fun. The first day I'd say was the best because the new ushers got an insider look at the Filene Center, including a tour of backstage and the stage itself. I never realized how big the theatre is and the stage really is just the tip of the iceberg. after the tour, the real fun began. I won't bore people with the details but we went over everything from dress code to bomb safety. Since bag inspections are new this year at the Trap, my bosses were making a big deal out of getting us ready for checking the bags and coolers of 7000 people. Since I'm working on the lawn this summer, I'm guessing i'm not gonna be doing much inspecting which is good since its not really my forte. Nevertheless, I did the training for inspections and virtually everything else one would think could happen at a major venue.

The highlights of the training were meeting my coworkers and getting my gear. I'll be the first to say that I'm not gonna be on the cutting edge of fashion when I'm on the job. I mean my tie has music notes on it... But anyway the badge is pretty cool and all this government apparel makes me feel legit even if I'm only a GS-3 (means I'm not makin' bank). My coworkers seem pretty cool overall. I'm a pretty chill person and can get along with almost everyone so I figured this part of my job would work out. There are very few people i legitimately dislike and so far I've met no one at the Trap who fit into that category. Luckily, there are some college kids on the staff so I'll have people my age to talk to! They seem awesome and honestly doing things with my colleagues is a welcome surprise I don't think would happen with this job. Well that's all for now, my first show is this Friday with A Prairie Home Companion. I'll let you all know how it goes!

DC

Lights, Camera, 22 hours of job training 

It's actually metal I swear

About My Summer Home

Wolf Trap

Before I start writing about my summer job at Wolf Trap, I should first probably describe what Wolf Trap is exactly since it's not really known outside the Washington DC area. Wolf Trap is National Park and the only National Park that is dedicated to the performing arts. There are a number of stages at the Trap including the Filene Center, the Barns, and the Theatre in the Woods. The Barns is an indoor stage that mostly has plays and opera. The Theater in the Woods is this little stage for children entertainment. The Filene Center, where I'll be working, is the main stage at Wolf Trap and has the main acts of the summer. Coming from someone who has no architectural experience (except architecture merit badge!), I'd say the Filene Center is one of the coolest structures I've ever seen. It's made entirely out of wood and even though it's burned down twice, it's been rebuilt every time and looks better than ever.

The best part about the Filene Center in my opinion is that it's an open theater. While it does suck that you're exposed to the elements (think DC humidity), the idea of being outside while watching your favorite artist is pretty appealing. Plus the theater is divided into the lawn and the actual seating area. All together, 7000 Washingtonians can fit into the theatre and the lawn. Since its first season in 1971, Wolf Trap has invited a huge variety of artists to its stages. I have had the pleasure of seeing many artists there including the Steve Miller Band, the Beach Boys, and the Monkees (no I'm not 65...i'm 19). Hopefully this blog will be a testament to the wonderful  artists that grace Wolf Trap every year. I know I'm definitely going to enjoy this summer!

DC

The Filene Center