Living by the List

The list is getting a little grubby and worn, and even though I am checking things off the list, it doesn’t seem to be getting any shorter. Everyone is feeling the crunch as we near the end of Tour rehearsals.

Yesterday we received our Tour Brief from Operations (Fred), the Tour Director (Andy), and Captain Rakers. We received our post-Tour schedules from Operations, including the various deadlines that occur while on Tour. It is easy to lose track of time on the road. Andy briefed us on the itinerary and any details to note, such as dry cleaning of uniforms, time changes, maintenance days, and en route concerts. Captain Rakers covered the practical side of Tour; instrument repair, security, dress code, practice hours, and various other matters that make Tour smoother. Trox gave the Tour Newbies a briefing of their own, as did our Stage Manager, Charles.

A lot of information to digest; more things added to the list. I may have to copy it to a new piece of paper.

Early morning today found me stopping at the Navy Yard Valet on the way to the Annex to pick up the last batch of cleaning. Concert Full Dress Coats had to be “dressed” with shoulder knots, collar emblems, medals, and ribbons; buttons had to be replaced that had been removed for the cleaning. Skirts folded over the hangers under the coats and placed in the hanging bag. Shoes, hose, blue t-shirts, and skirt hangers fit into the bag’s pockets, leaving just enough room for the emergency items; sewing kit with extra buttons, ribbons, stars, and dammits; a travel roll of toilet paper, Febreze, and a mini first aid kit, to mention but a few items needed at the concert site. Very few women are assigned to trunks with drawers, so all the odds and ends essential to the traveling female have to fit in the pockets of the hanging bag. Thankfully I wear my hair short and don't have to bring hair accessories.

Rehearsal began with more minor housekeeping details and a library briefing by Mike. Program rundowns and a complete listing of programs by concert site were passed out for placement in the folders, and a last minute edition substitution for the Blue folder. We made another recording for the audio section of the web site, and still finished rehearsal a little early today.

Band members scurried out of the room, some to squeeze in appointments, others to load the uniform trunks or take care of practice parts and page turns. I checked over my uniforms and other essential items and carried the very heavy bag upstairs to load it in my assigned trunk. Some trunks are already loaded, some just getting started.

The list doesn’t end there. In addition to preparing for Tour, some Tour personnel are preparing for events that will occur while we’re on the road and beyond Tour. The Clarinet Quartet has several masterclasses and recitals while on the road, and many other small ensembles are preparing for similar programs. Tom stayed after today’s rehearsal for a Dixie Land band rehearsal, and poor Leslye is spending countless hours in the Library proofing the audition packets for an English Horn audition in January and an Oboe audition not long after. I am afraid to ask what she has left on her list. I should count my blessings.