WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8TH – PERFORMANCE AT U.S. ARMY GARRISON BAVARIA IN GRAFENWOEHR, GERMANY – 2ND SHOW:
I got in the bunk at 2:30 am and was trying to quietly set my alarm for 7:30 am. I accidentally hit the wrong button and the alarm started blaring. At first it scared me and I dropped the phone and couldn’t find it in the dark bunk. Finally felt around and located it but figured I had probably managed to wake up the entire bus.
It was an easy ride in the sleeper bus between Ramstein and Grafenwoehr and surprisingly enough I slept for almost 5 hours. Wi-Fi is horrible in lodging plus I just have not had time to write or post any Road Reports. Hoping to get this one out tonight before I get on the bus at 2:30 am.
Right before we arrived at Graf, I was sitting up front with Michael and he got a phone call. I could tell that something was terrible wrong. I was just praying it wasn’t something with our crew bus or tour bus! When he hung up, he said that he had a commercial Jazz Tour in Rotterdam last night. The bus was parked next to the hotel in bus parking. Someone broke into it and stole everything. He has spent the last two months completely renovating the interior with a new big screen tv, sound bar, new coffee maker and microwaves, everything new. The thieves pulled everything off the wall and stole it. He said the police think they might be able to locate the thieves because of DNA. Turns out they used the toilet and sat down and had a drink before stealing everything. Sure wish there had been an alarm on the bus! I just feel horrible for him!
We did not have to show our passports as we anticipated because Tony was able to get everyone cleared. Our rooms were ready for us and breakfast as still being served. I realized I left my adapter plugged into the wall in the bus. Then I made the mistake of walking into the venue and ended up staying there over an hour going over things for tonight. Came back to the room and showered and dressed for soundcheck and the show. I was able to work for a few minutes until 2:00 pm and then had to go back to the venue for sound check. The venue isa 900 seat “theatre”. It’s a great venue.
My dear friend Lisa handles the Marketing at Graf and does an outstanding job for this show. She was at AFN today when we arrived promoting the show. I saw the announcement several times on the TV in my room, too.
I walked over to the base exchange to buy some more sharpies but when I started to check out, they would not accept my orders. I called Tony and he said he would come over and purchase he items for me. The lady at the exchange who would not let me buy them told one of her staff to take the sharpies and return them to the shelf. I told her not to, that I would just get out of line and someone was coming to buy them for me. She said she would not sell them to anyone else now that she knew they were for me! Unbelievable.
I had to get a ride back to lodging because the snow we were having had turned to a steady downpour of rain. Tony brought out pre-ordered dinners to lodging and I helped Don deliver them. Barely had time to eat and rush back to the venue for the show.
Again, leadership came out and supported our event. Colonel Poole, the Garrison Commander, and his wife came backstage with CSM Acevedo and Audre Binder (EdM Director of Family and MWR). I was getting worried about attendance because there was only about 150 people in the huge theatre. The Colonel explained that all their troops were out in the field and attendance might be light. Final count was 220 but in a 900 seat venue, it’s didn’t look like that many. The difference is, what they lacked in numbers attending, they made up for in enthusiasm. It was a great audience and a great show.
Tony’s boss asked me after the show what it would take to get them back for their big Volk fest in August. They loved them that much!
So, everyone but me has been on the bus asleep in their bunks for hours. I’m not getting on until 2:30 am when we depart. Just too much work to do to turn in yet…..
Jude