Halloween Show

I'm allowing myself some inflated pride right now. 
I decided about three months ago to throw a Halloween show in Grand Forks.  I wanted a costume contest, bands, and I wanted to prove that it could be done right.  I had planned a few shows already, and it's been hit-and-miss.  One show turned out with the same attendance and success as any at that same venue, one was done with 2 weeks' notice, resulting in less-than-adequate attendance. 

I love learning how this process works, even when it bites me in the ass.  For the Halloween show, I needed help, and I thought about where to get it.  A fundraiser would work well, the Derby girls always managed to raise money for their league--a derby fundraiser!  And who to help?  One derby girl did amazing posters for the team's bouts, would she be willing to do a poster for us?  One served as marketing director, could she use her experience to help out?

In short:  Poster was designed by a derby girl, a venue was found and posters printed by a derby girl, tickets were sold by bands and a local business, links were repeatedly updated.  Promotion was in full swing.  The Mecan'tiKs were able to get on a local radio station for an interview and managed to get frequent plugs for the show from a very supportive DJ.  I even sent weekly messages to virtually every band member, just to keep them all updated on every change possible.

It's one of the first major (I consider it major) business projects I oversaw from start to finish.  I learned an incredible amount along the way, and hope to be able to do this again as soon as fucking possible.  I was so happy with the result--a great turnout, a significant amount of profit to pay off the bands and contribute to the Forx Derby league, and bands who enjoyed the experience so much that by the end of the night we, in our entirely exhausted states, could barely contain our happiness.

It was many times a headache, to be sure.  But it was one I would absolutely do again.

A Good Night

Last Saturday was an example of how a concert should play out. 

I got there before the other guys and chatted with the manager about details.  Soon after the boys from Rotting Thought showed up, so I helped them move their equipment in.  Cody showed up soon after, then Kevin.  Some minor hiccups (misplaced mic stands and us forgetting the bass amp), but we got everything going and both bands came out sounding great. 

The turnout was great, and afterward while I was getting paid, the manager asked if we'd be interested in coming out every other month to do a show there.  Hopefully we can keep people's interest long enough to get them out to the bar every couple months to see us. 

The whole experience is incredible to me.  I don't feel a need for roadies, I like moving the equipment in and out on my own, I like it when the bands themselves are setting up the PA.  I like interacting with the audience while we're setting up, and I fucking LOVE the feeling I get when I'm standing up there in front of the microphone with a guitar strapped on.  The only better feeling is when I make that guitar make noise.

I love when the crowd gets into it, but it doesn't matter much a few seconds into the song, I forget about everyone else.  Sigh, if only I could do this 40 hours a week with decent pay...

Unfurling the Creative Process

I'm starting to fall into a comfortable groove with drawing.  My work area is set up as I like it, in an 8x10 room in the basement, with a little TV/VCR setup so I can let movies play in the background while I work.  It's a tiny room (more like a cell with walls of old wood and concrete, and I share it with some small old appliances and a white stove from the 1950s), but it doesn't really feel confining at all.  Everything I need is typically at arm's reach or a few steps away in the basement proper.  Every couple nights (hopefully every night when I stop pulling 12-hour days), I come down to my "cell" and draw for up to about an hour.  I feel good about my time spent down there, even if I didn't get much done. 

The Halloween show is coming along slowly but surely.  Things are getting done, and I'm very happy about that.  We just got our poster designed, The tickets have been printed and dispersed to the bands to sell--though I still need to find some derby girls willing to sell them as well--and I got a good radio plug during our interview at the Thief River Falls radio station.  The next couple weeks will be devoted to finding prizes for the costume contest and drawings, making sure my bands have what they need and are properly updated, and promoting the hell out of this thing. 

Work Woes...

Work has frequently been up in the air for me this summer.  We've been busting our asses pretty severely due to people quitting or routes getting changed around. 
Last week one of our senior employees put in his two weeks due to frustration over our inability to get proper maintenance for our vans.  This week another put in his two weeks because the bosses who won't maintain our vehicles are charging him for a scanner he lost.  I worked 12 hours on Monday and missed my uncle's funeral just to get hollered at by the same boss for "wasting plastic wrap" and not keeping the vehicles washed.  The new guy I was training in (who I affectionately called "Old Balls" because he's old) watched it happen, and as a result quit after today's shift. 
So now we're 3 down again, and can't break up routes any further.  The three of us who are still working (without notices) are getting stretched thin and very pissed off.  And yet I like the job.  I kick an amazing amount of ass in one given day, and still pull up to the shop with a smirk and a smartass remark.  I keep my cool for the most part, and try to remain upbeat.  But it's getting just a little fucking harder each day. 
Some days I really miss working nights.

Skates and Psychobilly

Ever since we went to our first derby bout in Fargo over a year ago, Kevin and I thought it would be completely awesome to be one of the bands playing.  When Grand Forks started their league, we got even more excited because April and Karissa were joining, which made us feel involved in it by extension (the old 'riding coat tails' thing haha). 

Finally, our wish has been granted.  Last night The Mecan'tiKs played before and during the half, and it was awesome.  We needed the experience of playing in a sports arena so we could get a good idea of acoustics.  But overall, the experience was fucking great.  The game was enthralling, getting to play was a kick, I hope we get to do it again soon.

After the bout, I made my way to Zombie Fest to watch an Ozzy impersonator creep up and down the stage.  I was hoping to introduce my sister to some of the derby girls I've been getting to know (she's a loud and take-charge type as well), but she unfortunately had to take off early. 

Following Zombie Fest, I walked all the way to the Knights of Columbus where the derby after-party was being held, and after a beer or two convinced a few derby girls to defect with me to the Hub. 

I've said it before, I feel lately like I'm having too much fun.  I've been trying to think of how I should deserve to be having such a good time in the company of awesome chicks.  Perhaps I should just shut up and enjoy it, hahaha.  As they say, work hard/play hard.