So, almost 48 hours after the most stressful weekend of my life, I can finally breathe and count my blessings that I didn't lose my mind, my money, or any major body parts.
I slept until 2 pm on Sunday, went bridesmaid dress shopping for Daysun's wedding, got home, went for a massage, and then went right back to bed. I am ready to deal with *MY* life again. Yeah, there's a lot of stuff coming up - getting back in shape, reorg at work, GMATs - but at least there's only one person to deal with. I can handle stress. I can handle lots to do. What I can't handle are people, with all their egos and emotions and childhood traumas.
Hey, I never said I was a people person.
Waking up this morning was blissful. The sun was shining, and it was a completely gorgeous day - at least in San Jose. I sat out in the sun for lunch, and tackled my job, which I've been neglecting for so long, with renewed vigor. Plus, I got on the scale this morning and realized that I've lost 5 lbs - probably because I didn't eaten a real meal or sleep for a week.
After work, I went to the MINI dealer in SF to check out a car. Mini of San Francisco is the only dealer in the Bay Area with an automatic in stock, so even though I wasn't keen on getting a brand new car, I thought I'd test drive one. Turned out to be my lucky day! They just got a 2002 factory car in stock, i.e., one of the cars execs drive around until they're bored with it. Its an automatic, fully loaded, and only has 2,500 miles! I put a deposit on it so that they'll hold it until I can test drive it on Saturday. Cross fingers - if it works out, I'll finally have a new car!
It feels so good to be home and not using my brain or working on 09:Babies stuff! Of course, Club Six is coming up right around the corner, but Miriam and Wiggins are taking the lead on that, so I don't have to do much beyond design the flyers. Martha called tonight and told me that she was detoxing from alcohol. Well, I've decided to detox from people for a while. God bless television.
2.28.2005
BnB Part 2: The Brawl
Saturday night's show went considerably smoother, as we didn't have any power outages, missing dancers, or people entering from 8 different places. Actually - correction. We didn't have anyone entering from the wrong wings because I pulled every single group aside and made it super clear that they were only to enter in from one wing. Michelle and Angel also got the lighting down pat, and we agreed from the beginning that they would only turned the lights on when I asked them to.
But Saturday... well, Saturday could be titled The Brawl. There were brawls amongst the dancers, brawls amongst the staff, brawls amongst the ticket buyers, brawls between the seated and the standed. We thought we had a clear idea of how many seats were actually in the theatre and how much standing room was available, but somehow, we ended up with an entirely packed house. Logistically speaking, getting people in to the theatre was much more organized - we had a wait list and standing room tickets set up. But we sold paid tickets at 8:15, and Heather almost got beat up by a couple of people that we tried to refund money to.
The theatre was completely packed. There were people on top of people, under people, everywhere. I had to actually get up on stage *before* the show started and kick kids or standing room people out of seats so that those who paid for seats could actually sit in a chair! One woman pulled the most outrageous attitude. I give myself credit for actually not escorting her out of the show.
It was a fire hazard if I'd ever seen one. The MCs cautioned the audience NOT to go to the bathroom, or do anything bad. It was so packed that it was completely boiling in the theatre. During intermission, we actually ran out of water at the snack stand, and we almost had a riot. Luckily, Fernando ran out to get more.
Michelle and I of course got into a complete screaming match in the middle of the lobby. Snippets:
But Saturday... well, Saturday could be titled The Brawl. There were brawls amongst the dancers, brawls amongst the staff, brawls amongst the ticket buyers, brawls between the seated and the standed. We thought we had a clear idea of how many seats were actually in the theatre and how much standing room was available, but somehow, we ended up with an entirely packed house. Logistically speaking, getting people in to the theatre was much more organized - we had a wait list and standing room tickets set up. But we sold paid tickets at 8:15, and Heather almost got beat up by a couple of people that we tried to refund money to.
The theatre was completely packed. There were people on top of people, under people, everywhere. I had to actually get up on stage *before* the show started and kick kids or standing room people out of seats so that those who paid for seats could actually sit in a chair! One woman pulled the most outrageous attitude. I give myself credit for actually not escorting her out of the show.
It was a fire hazard if I'd ever seen one. The MCs cautioned the audience NOT to go to the bathroom, or do anything bad. It was so packed that it was completely boiling in the theatre. During intermission, we actually ran out of water at the snack stand, and we almost had a riot. Luckily, Fernando ran out to get more.
Michelle and I of course got into a complete screaming match in the middle of the lobby. Snippets:
Serena (yelling): Why did you do that without letting me know bitch!
Michelle (yelling): Stop talking to me like that bitch!
Serena (yelling): Stop yelling in front of all these people, bitch!
Michelle (yelling): You're yelling too bitch!
Serena (yelling): F-you bitch!
In retrospect - i.e., sitting in a taqueria eating Mexican food after the show, it was pretty damn hilarious - Michelle and I had a good laugh over it.
But from the show perspective, it went fabulously. The dancers were ON and the crowd was totally into it. The show was a smash! Plus, we made almost $2000 for the American Red Cross. Go us!
*** PIX from SATURDAY ***
2.27.2005
BnB Part 1: The Chaos
I'm still rather in disbelief that we actually pulled off the show! Both nights were completely sold out... in fact, we were worried that there were going to be brawls over who got to go in, and who didn't!
Friday night can be summed up in one word: CHAOS. First, I was running late because there were 40 messages on our line asking for tickets. By the time I got there, the tech rehersal was in full swing. On top of which, the dancers were all in the theatre for call.
Thankfully, Becky and Miriam were able to deal with the ticketing, so I ran off to deal with everything else. That was mistake number one. I should have been there for the final tech rehersals, because it wasn't clear to some of the dancers how they needed to get on and off stage. I had originally told them that they could enter in from both wings - a comment I later regretted.
At 6:45, the House Manager told us that the studio was actually vacant early, so thankfully we were able to move people up earlier than expected. After running around a bit more, I went out to check on the lobby situation, which was a mess. People were desperate for tickets. One woman actually drove up all the way from San Diego without buying a ticket! I ended up pulling more seating out of my a**, and selling tickets for standing room only.
We started the show at about 8:20, and it went ok for the first couple of acts. WHAT and IMPACT are absolutely adorable, and crowd pleasers. But in the middle of Alliance Streetdance's performance, the power blew. At first, we had no clue what was going on - they just told me that the music shut off. We moved them offstage, and while Fernando ran up to the tech booth to figure out what happened, I had to deal with some super-pissed off dancers.
We got through the crisis by having our lovely MCs explaining what happened, and letting Alliance redo their piece at the beginning of the 2nd act. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as the drums group totally didn't show at all. Beyond that, we had lighting that didn't go on and off as we needed - lights would go on before people were ready to take a bow; a group that decided to enter offstage, but didn't bother to tell me - so I ended up spending like 2 minutes wondering where the hell they were; not one, but two groups entering in from the wrong wings (and these were supposedly the "professional" dancers); a group who wasn't ready and didn't show up until 2 minutes before they were on; and dancers that were on stage while another group was trying to take their bow. All this because people didn't know that they had to enter the stage from the right wing.
But the night ended, the dancers were amazing, and we were able to cover the gaps for the most part. Kim came up with a fabulous idea when the group wasn't ready in time - we got people on stage for a freestyle, that was a real crowd pleaser. In particular, I thought Funkanometry SF, WHAT/IMPACT, and Freeplay really pulled it out, so everyone enjoyed the show beyond the snafu's.
As for me, I was ready just to go to bed - I hadn't slept for 5 days, or eaten since 11am that morning, and was running on pure adrenaline and caffeine. As Scarlett says, "Tomorrow will be another day."
Friday night can be summed up in one word: CHAOS. First, I was running late because there were 40 messages on our line asking for tickets. By the time I got there, the tech rehersal was in full swing. On top of which, the dancers were all in the theatre for call.
Thankfully, Becky and Miriam were able to deal with the ticketing, so I ran off to deal with everything else. That was mistake number one. I should have been there for the final tech rehersals, because it wasn't clear to some of the dancers how they needed to get on and off stage. I had originally told them that they could enter in from both wings - a comment I later regretted.
At 6:45, the House Manager told us that the studio was actually vacant early, so thankfully we were able to move people up earlier than expected. After running around a bit more, I went out to check on the lobby situation, which was a mess. People were desperate for tickets. One woman actually drove up all the way from San Diego without buying a ticket! I ended up pulling more seating out of my a**, and selling tickets for standing room only.
We started the show at about 8:20, and it went ok for the first couple of acts. WHAT and IMPACT are absolutely adorable, and crowd pleasers. But in the middle of Alliance Streetdance's performance, the power blew. At first, we had no clue what was going on - they just told me that the music shut off. We moved them offstage, and while Fernando ran up to the tech booth to figure out what happened, I had to deal with some super-pissed off dancers.
We got through the crisis by having our lovely MCs explaining what happened, and letting Alliance redo their piece at the beginning of the 2nd act. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as the drums group totally didn't show at all. Beyond that, we had lighting that didn't go on and off as we needed - lights would go on before people were ready to take a bow; a group that decided to enter offstage, but didn't bother to tell me - so I ended up spending like 2 minutes wondering where the hell they were; not one, but two groups entering in from the wrong wings (and these were supposedly the "professional" dancers); a group who wasn't ready and didn't show up until 2 minutes before they were on; and dancers that were on stage while another group was trying to take their bow. All this because people didn't know that they had to enter the stage from the right wing.
But the night ended, the dancers were amazing, and we were able to cover the gaps for the most part. Kim came up with a fabulous idea when the group wasn't ready in time - we got people on stage for a freestyle, that was a real crowd pleaser. In particular, I thought Funkanometry SF, WHAT/IMPACT, and Freeplay really pulled it out, so everyone enjoyed the show beyond the snafu's.
As for me, I was ready just to go to bed - I hadn't slept for 5 days, or eaten since 11am that morning, and was running on pure adrenaline and caffeine. As Scarlett says, "Tomorrow will be another day."
*** More Pics from FRIDAY ***
2.24.2005
btw, the best advertising i have ever seen
An email that went out from Michelle, my partner in crime. Seriously made my day :-)
I am tired! I have only eatten three meals in the last three days !Last night, I nearly died of slight anorism! I have turned to thebottle! And if that hasn't gotten your pity vote, please considerthis...
All the blood (literally), sweat and tears I have shed these pastcouple weeks will all be dedicated to raising money for the AmericanRed Cross and the Tsunami Relief Efforts. If you are free Friday orSaturday, please come out and support the show.
If you have told me already that you can't make, please tell a friend
...and yes, I love you all...so please come
************* SPREAD THE LOVE - AND FORWARD ME **************
frazzle razzle me
Well, I guess no one said it was going to be easy...
So we're less than 24 hours away from opening night of the show, and holy mother of God - I swear I'm never doing this again. Tech Rehersal last night ran late (of course), and I felt really bad because I wasn't able to give Mind Over Matter a real tech. But the House Manager at MCC was hovering over me starting at 9:50, telling me every single minute that it was 10:30 already. What a nightmare.
We've arranged to have the theatre and additional hour for tech on Saturday, and some of the ppl are coming in tomorrow to redo their tech. Tomorrow is going to be a serious zoo... we're packed so tightly with the staff, I don't know how we'll all manage. Of course, things never go as planned either. I guess the Project Manager in me is finally realizing that performances and talent don't run on a schedule.
On top of it all, I was told this morning that my department is being rolled up to another one at work, and that I need to be here tomorrow at 10 am so that I can meet my new manager, and find out what my job is. I was really hoping to sleep in tomorrow, too, because I know I'm going to be up all night. I mean, its already 7:45 and I'm still in San Jose photocopying programs!
On the bright side, we're selling tickets hot and fast. We're averaging about 25+ tickets a day, which is excellent. Hopefully, we'll sell out and be able to donate a bunch of money to the ARC.
I love you, Michelle and Fernando - but after this show, I seriously never want to see either of you again.
So we're less than 24 hours away from opening night of the show, and holy mother of God - I swear I'm never doing this again. Tech Rehersal last night ran late (of course), and I felt really bad because I wasn't able to give Mind Over Matter a real tech. But the House Manager at MCC was hovering over me starting at 9:50, telling me every single minute that it was 10:30 already. What a nightmare.
We've arranged to have the theatre and additional hour for tech on Saturday, and some of the ppl are coming in tomorrow to redo their tech. Tomorrow is going to be a serious zoo... we're packed so tightly with the staff, I don't know how we'll all manage. Of course, things never go as planned either. I guess the Project Manager in me is finally realizing that performances and talent don't run on a schedule.
On top of it all, I was told this morning that my department is being rolled up to another one at work, and that I need to be here tomorrow at 10 am so that I can meet my new manager, and find out what my job is. I was really hoping to sleep in tomorrow, too, because I know I'm going to be up all night. I mean, its already 7:45 and I'm still in San Jose photocopying programs!
On the bright side, we're selling tickets hot and fast. We're averaging about 25+ tickets a day, which is excellent. Hopefully, we'll sell out and be able to donate a bunch of money to the ARC.
I love you, Michelle and Fernando - but after this show, I seriously never want to see either of you again.
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