August 30, 2006
Money Layer
Another three hours to go.
Posted by Dave at 07:59 PM | Comments (2)
Put A Fork In It
One More...
Posted by Dave at 09:10 AM
August 29, 2006
What DTV Looks Like
Posted by Dave at 02:44 PM | Comments (1)
August 28, 2006
Varsity Computer
Posted by Dave at 03:42 PM
August 25, 2006
When Knuckleheads Work With Power
Pala, CA at the in, hot cams on deck
Posted by Dave at 09:43 AM
August 24, 2006
Outlet Mall Gig
Posted by Dave at 05:35 PM
Roadie Breakfast
Posted by Dave at 08:05 AM | Comments (1)
August 22, 2006
Room With A View
Posted by Dave at 04:31 PM | Comments (2)
August 20, 2006
Office Space
Posted by Dave at 04:27 PM | Comments (2)
You're Gonna Want That Cowbell
Posted by Dave at 11:18 AM | Comments (1)
August 19, 2006
Bad Air Karma
From 15J on UA 259 ORD - DEN diverted to Lincoln, arrival TBA.
Posted by Dave at 06:44 PM | Comments (1)
August 17, 2006
Downtown Chitown
Posted by Dave at 11:24 AM | Comments (5)
August 16, 2006
When School Kids Name Streets
Troy, MI
Posted by Dave at 05:31 AM
August 15, 2006
LDI/ETS Heads Up
October 19-22 down here in the the desert is the LDI-ETS tradeshow and conference. It's pretty much displaced NAMM and AES as the show that the US based tour sound folks attend. There is space for real world deployments of rigs where you can see stuff more or less in the wild (but still under pretty controlled conditions). We should try to get a LAB/ABD meetup for beverages and a meet up to put faces with names. Text or ping me off the blog and we'll see about setting something up. It's likely that the Vegas based Drinking Club with an Audio Problem will hold a gathering around that time, but be warned, our shows don't end until midnight or so and those gatherings generally get hopping at around 1 am so it's not for the faint of heart. I know there are reptiles and manufacturer product types that can't stay up all night drinking (or at least let the bosses know) so let's try for something a little closer to the time the show closes.
Posted by Dave at 08:46 AM
Domesticated Roadies
Day off = wash day
Posted by Dave at 06:49 AM
August 14, 2006
In Training
Amtrak 1177 PVD - MYS 45 mins late
Posted by Dave at 04:00 PM
August 12, 2006
Sing Me A Sea Shanty
Posted by Dave at 03:45 PM | Comments (1)
Roadie Ingenuity
120k surface,2 buck sun shade
Posted by Dave at 03:15 PM
American Castle
Posted by Dave at 08:34 AM | Comments (1)
August 10, 2006
Lunatic Fringe (we all know you're out there)
We pulled into the Hyatt at MCO (Orlando airport) at about 0230 from our gig in Clearwater. On this leg the crew rides the production bus when we have a gig in the morning, other times we travel on jazz singer's bus because of the better hotels and travel schedule. I don't want to get into it right now but the differences between the touring crews of each band is pretty apparent. We'd flown down to Florida for two dates with our busses and trucks meeting us down there. It's good to get off the bus, particularly when the production is stuck in an 80s mind frame. We disembarked the coach to send it deadheading back to NY for the next gig. When I got to my room, I hit the CNN for a quick update before crashing for the night. Low and behold, another terrorist plot broken up and big security changes. My room overlooked the intersection of the A and B terminals of MCO and not a soul in sight. I expected this to change in five or six hours as the airport reached peak time. I retired for the evening knowing there wasn't much more I could do, even though CNN seemed to want me as informed/panic as could be.
I woke about 8 hours later and turned back on the TV. The news cycle was in full spin. I looked out down onto the entrance to terminal B security entrance. It was packed. About 15 mins later I got the call. Our American flight had been cancelled. I was told to hang tight in my room and await further instructions. I ordered steak and eggs from room service. By then the no liquids on board directive had not only been on the news, but circulated throught he hotel with a couple of members of our party calling to remind us. The steak was good but they only had white toast. And they have free Internet. About an hour later I got the call that my passport was required (that's what we use for ID, even in the States) and we were now on a Delta flight. We met early that afternoon, only delayed by a couple of hours to walk the few hundred feet to the check in.
It didn't look too packed from the hotel, but the check in area was a madhouse. Due to how our reservations were changed, we couldn't use the self service kiosks and they were only letting computer bags on as carry on, regardless of what the CNN was saying. We lucked out that we could check in as a group with the jazz singer as he was going First Class and later upgraded our full fare coach tix to First for seventy five bucks. Well worth it. TSA was out in force and those that are regular readers will note I have no love loss for the TSA. Particularly after my run in at Dulles coming down to Florida a few days prior. Dulles is a pretty shitty airport anyway. It's one of those that hasn't been modernized and due to the economy of the DC/Northern VA/ MD area, the quality of the service and the personel are less than desirable. IOW, if you can't hold a real gig, you can get one at Dulles. This being one of two of the airports to the capital city of the self proclaimed "leader of the free world" I would think we could do better. Then again, we can't show any leadership in our own country let alone the rest of the world. We were in a priority line at Dulles due to our status on the airline when we approached the checkpoint and saw what in any other instance would be some babbling old man. Except this time he was a TSA agent, uniformed, running the metal detector at the check point. When we got close enough to hear him proclaim the following. "If you want customer service, the complaint department is over there" (he said with a gesture). "This ain't Walmart. They tell us you are customers but we don't consider you our customers."
Mind you, this wasn't addressing anything specific, he has bellowing it at the top of his lungs with no provacation. Lewis Black does a great bit on the TSA in his current act. Saw it at home during the break last week. Good stuff. After the comment about Walmart, as I prepared to pass through the detector I said to the grumpy screener "you haven't been to a Walmart lately, have you?" "Don't compare me to Walmart" was his reply. Which I shot back, "you're the one that brought it up. What I mean is that with that kind of attitude even they wouldn't hire you." WOW, talk about a chilling reception. Even though I passed the screening he insisted on giving me a full wand and pat down. As he did, I mentioned that "it's too bad you career choice isn't working for you". "I didn't choose this" he barked. "Really? You didn't apply and accept the job?" He was flustered and another screener interviened and set him away. I gathered my belongings and headed for the gate. Guys like that shouldn't be in the TSA, or any business where they have to deal with the general public. Not my fault you have a shitty life dude. You need to deal with it. The TSA is inffectual enough without without assholes like that being in the mix. If he doesn't like it, he should quit. They've got a difficult enough gig without asshats like him.
Let's get back to a few days later (which would be today), departing MCO under an orange threat level. The TSA was well prepared, friendly and informative. The check in was a bitch due to the crowds and cancelled flights, but the screeners were pleasant, professional and seemed to have a handle on what was happening. They set up info zones/ tables prior to screening to tell up what we could and couldn't bring on board with examples and people that seemed to want to really help. Due to our flight changes some of us were branded as four S (SSSS) which means we get special screening. While they took all our stuff apart (the roadie term for a full search), they were nice, professional and appeared to be interested in doing a good job. They did have a secondary screening at the gate where they again checked carry ons for liquids, much like after 9/11 when there was secondary screening at the gate. You can't even take water you bought at the concourse gift shop on the plane.
All in all, inspite of what the news outlets were saying where I was (at an airport, flying as part of my daily thing) it was only a minimal hassle. That said, if some or even any of these new rules are implemented it will impact the way most of us fly. My city and my new gig at home depend on guests coming into town. Let's hope the new rules don't impede that too badly.
Posted by Dave at 09:06 PM | Comments (2)
5A on DL340 MCO-JFK
Code orange, details to follow but so far everything going well considering.
Posted by Dave at 12:25 PM | Comments (3)
August 07, 2006
Tunnel Of Doom
Castle Sold Separately
Posted by Dave at 12:04 PM
Noise Police
Posted by Dave at 12:00 PM
August 03, 2006
Lost Castle Pic
Posted by Dave at 12:38 PM | Comments (1)