Post by bexface on Mar 2, 2003 21:11:44 GMT -5
I arrived at the backstage door at about 11 AM. There were the stage crew dragging in the equipment, there was a lone barricade nearby, and a little further was a bench with two young ladies sitting on it. I introduced myself to Sharon and Carole from Long Island, who had arrived some time before. I was really the fifth person there as two from Cleveland, Candy and Stephanie, had gone off to get some coffee. They all were great company, as we discussed Tori-this and Tori-that. Before noon, a delightful couple showed up, Mica and Dustin. Mica asked me about my travels, noting the many patches on my pack. She had spent a considerable amount of time in Russia so we hobknobbed about Europe. Dustin was also great. He was a techno-geek like me but also had a seasoned mature outlook on life, which led to some great discussions about the state of the world today. But, hey, we were here to meet Tori, right? At one point, we vacated the bench so that a dude who had blood seeping out from a cut above his left eye could sit while his two buddies hovered around him. Eventually, a local police officer came to the scene, then a rescue truck. Hope it turned out okay for him. Some more great additions joined the scene. Lauren by herself and Amanda and Jen (sisters). Lauren was pretty excited as she had never been to a M&G with so few people so her chances were good at being close to Tori. I was excited too but, having been burned recently, I kept on holding my hopes at an arm’s length. It would be sufficient to make sure my gifts got to Tori via Joel or Steve. Lauren is working as an intern for Musical Therapy and has her own website where she has posted her own music (check it out at http://www.laurenfaggiano.com). By this time (1:30?) the crowd had built up to about twenty so Carole and Sharon, the Clevelanders, Mica and D, and I left the bench and held our spots at the lone barricade.
Pat, the reasonably-mellow security guy I had last seen in Vegas, showed up. He asked us to back up past the pizza place so he and someone else could start placing up barricades. And for the first time that I can remember, the crowd (now at about thirty) moved back well and keeping the order, which I liked (the sting of recent past still hovering in the background). After they were set up, he looked up to us and the front starting creeping forward. He said, “I didn’t say anything.” To which we stopped and laughed. I was at this point right behind the front group so my apprehension was alleviated somewhat. Then he said, “Okay.” We didn’t move at first and then he indicated he wasn’t playing “Simon Says.” So we went forward and I ended up right behind Carole. WOO-HOO!! Steve would not be there that day so he was in charge and I was all for that. He gave us the rundown of the rules and seemed to know them very well (compared to Vegas where Kelly had to remind him of the finer points). All the regular stuff was covered, including that there would be no M&G after the show. We all repeated this back to him in a group chant to which he smiled. Much more fun with him than with Steve! J Lauren was absolutely ecstatic that she was up in front and in the corner. The sisters were right behind her on my right and were anxious about getting their photos taken with her. I thought it would work if Lauren would scoot down some.
Tori’s bus pulled up but, as Pat had warned us, she would go in first to get something to eat. Zip, she rushed in with Joel. Then, about a half-hour later, she came out. She first spent time with Lauren talking about music therapy and Sharon took their photo together. Lauren also got her picture disc signed and requested “Baker Baker.” Amanda and Jen got their turn and, sure enough, I was able to take their picture with Tori while Lauren scooted aside. I can’t remember if it was Mica or Jen who got Tori to sign this book with a really silly made-up-on-the-spot question. (She consulted Joel on the question). Dustin got something signed and asked about Tash and how the “terrible twos” were going. Tori replied that they were the “terrific twos!” and it was going great. Next up, me. I passed on greetings from Laurie in Cleveland and Lauren and Skye in Chicago. We all had emailed each other back and forth about what stress this tour must be placing on her family so I asked her how it was going. And I was surprised that she took over a half-minute, close to a minute to talk about it. Actually, she just focused on how Tash had been handling it. It was rough during the first part of the first U.S. leg. Coming back from Europe the second time was very rough. Tash had gotten very sick and was in bad shape in Boca Raton. The jet lag was very rough on her as well. I am glad I asked Tori the question since she really wanted to talk about it. I fumbled around to get the gifts and afterwards asked for (and got) another picture with her (to make up for the blurry one in Vegas). Carole was up next and got her photo taken. I took many shots throughout this and was pleased. I think they will come out well. What a great M&G!! Lauren kept on talking about how great it had been for her and the people there were fab. I agree.
Pat, the reasonably-mellow security guy I had last seen in Vegas, showed up. He asked us to back up past the pizza place so he and someone else could start placing up barricades. And for the first time that I can remember, the crowd (now at about thirty) moved back well and keeping the order, which I liked (the sting of recent past still hovering in the background). After they were set up, he looked up to us and the front starting creeping forward. He said, “I didn’t say anything.” To which we stopped and laughed. I was at this point right behind the front group so my apprehension was alleviated somewhat. Then he said, “Okay.” We didn’t move at first and then he indicated he wasn’t playing “Simon Says.” So we went forward and I ended up right behind Carole. WOO-HOO!! Steve would not be there that day so he was in charge and I was all for that. He gave us the rundown of the rules and seemed to know them very well (compared to Vegas where Kelly had to remind him of the finer points). All the regular stuff was covered, including that there would be no M&G after the show. We all repeated this back to him in a group chant to which he smiled. Much more fun with him than with Steve! J Lauren was absolutely ecstatic that she was up in front and in the corner. The sisters were right behind her on my right and were anxious about getting their photos taken with her. I thought it would work if Lauren would scoot down some.
Tori’s bus pulled up but, as Pat had warned us, she would go in first to get something to eat. Zip, she rushed in with Joel. Then, about a half-hour later, she came out. She first spent time with Lauren talking about music therapy and Sharon took their photo together. Lauren also got her picture disc signed and requested “Baker Baker.” Amanda and Jen got their turn and, sure enough, I was able to take their picture with Tori while Lauren scooted aside. I can’t remember if it was Mica or Jen who got Tori to sign this book with a really silly made-up-on-the-spot question. (She consulted Joel on the question). Dustin got something signed and asked about Tash and how the “terrible twos” were going. Tori replied that they were the “terrific twos!” and it was going great. Next up, me. I passed on greetings from Laurie in Cleveland and Lauren and Skye in Chicago. We all had emailed each other back and forth about what stress this tour must be placing on her family so I asked her how it was going. And I was surprised that she took over a half-minute, close to a minute to talk about it. Actually, she just focused on how Tash had been handling it. It was rough during the first part of the first U.S. leg. Coming back from Europe the second time was very rough. Tash had gotten very sick and was in bad shape in Boca Raton. The jet lag was very rough on her as well. I am glad I asked Tori the question since she really wanted to talk about it. I fumbled around to get the gifts and afterwards asked for (and got) another picture with her (to make up for the blurry one in Vegas). Carole was up next and got her photo taken. I took many shots throughout this and was pleased. I think they will come out well. What a great M&G!! Lauren kept on talking about how great it had been for her and the people there were fab. I agree.