Wednesday, April 30
Headed to Baton Rouge, LA on a very early flight. Tomorrow is the Our Lady of the Lake benefit (this year proceeds go toward mental health in adolescents) and this is our 2nd year working with them on the entertainment.
I took the early flight bc some of Kool and the Gang is arriving around 1:30. Our plan is to go over to the venue this afternoon and do load, then we only have to do soundcheck tomorrow.
Landed on time, picked up rental car and since the venue is the Dow Chemical Plane Hangar, it is right by the airport – so I did a quick drive by before heading to the hotel.
Checked into the hotel – my room isn’t ready which  I didn’t think it would be. So they held my luggage and I sat in the lobby waiting for some of the group to start arriving. My first set of guys came in around 2:00 pm and let me know that several members are stuck in Dallas due to weather. However – I do have Ed Irons – the production manager. We decided since he would not have his crew tonight – He and I would go to the venue to do a walk through and the production company was fine with us doing soundcheck tomorrow.
Ed and I ran over to the venue around 4 and stayed about an hour. Met Ashten, Kristen and Teddi. They have been our contacts for this event and super sweet. Came back to the hotel and grabbed some dinner. A few more of my guys landed around 6:00 pm and got them checked in – I finally got into my room as well.
The hotel was very accommodating in holding the rooms for the band members that were going to be stuck in Dallas and arriving on Thursday now.
Thursday, May 1
Headed downstairs this morning as Cecil (TM) and Kool were arriving at 9:00 am. I met them at check in and made sure everything was good with their rooms.
We headed over to the venue at 12:00 for soundcheck. Ashten walked me and “Jam” over to the “Artist” hangar. It is a 2 minute walk from the venue hangar but will solely for the Artists to hang. We will also have the Meet and Greet there as well.
As we are doing soundcheck they are also setting up for the benefit. They will have a seated dinner and live auction before Kool and The Gang performs.
After soundcheck we did a quick Meet and Greet and then the band went to eat dinner. I grabbed something to go and ate in my room so I could get ready.
Back over to the venue at 8:30 and everything is running on time! Kool and the Gang took the stage a little after 9:30 and did a 75 min set. It was such a great show! Hit after hit and true entertainers. I know everyone that put the benefit on were very happy with how gracious and professional they all were.
We were back at the hotel by midnight. Have to get up by 7 to head to the airport to fly back home!