Quote from Forum Archives on November 30, 2003, 12:20 pm

Posted by: mark <mark@...>

Hi All,

I haven't had access to the internet for a week or so now because I have been away from home. I was just hired to play bass for the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus!!!! It is a great paying gig with all the benefits you'd expect from a real job. 🙂 The down side is that I'm away from home and my wife 95% of the time. (Please pray for my sanity.) The first couple of days were rough. I am living on the circus train in a room the size of a walk-in closet. 🙁 I was quite lonely even though there were people all around. I am now doing much better and have made some friends.

 

The gig is very challenging. I was not previously aware that circus music was as complex as it turns out. The biggest challenge (aside from re-learning how to read music) is that many of the changes are on cue - in the middle of the song - just GO!!!! I missed many cues this first week - my "rehearsal" is live in front of the audience! But I was told by the band leader that I would miss a bunch. I have improved greatly since day one. 🙂

 

We are now in Chicago. Leaving for Huntsville, AL tonight.

 

I'd love to meet as many of you as possible along the way - my schedule is very good for meeting in the daytime! Sadly, I cannot get an endless supply of comp tix so if you wish to see the circus I'm not in a position to help, sorry. Great show though - I'd recommend it!

 

Here is a *tentative* itinerary:

 

City	Start Date	End Date
Huntsville	December 3, 2003	December 8, 2003
N. Charleston, SC	December 26, 2003	December 30, 2003
Tallahassee, FL	January 1, 2004	January 5, 2004
Miami, FL	January 8, 2004	January 19, 2004
Nashville	January 22, 2004	January 26, 2004
Columbia, SC	January 28, 2004	February 2, 2004
Raleigh, NC	February 5, 2004	February 10, 2004
Atlanta, GA	February 12, 2004	February 23, 2004
Cincinnati, OH	February 25, 2004	March 1, 2004
Baltimore, MD	March 10, 2004	March 22, 2004
Washington, DC	March 24, 2004	March 29, 2004
Charlotte, NC	March 3, 2004	March 8, 2004
Fairfax, VA	March 31, 2004	April 5, 2004
Washington, DC	April 6, 2004	April 13, 2004
Charleston, WV	April 15, 2004	April 19, 2004
Knoxville, TN	April 21, 2004	April 26, 2004
Albany, NY	April 29, 2004	May 3, 2004
Worcester, MA	May 5, 2004	May 10, 2004
Dayton, OH	May 13, 2004	May 17, 2004
Lexington, KY	May 19, 2004	May 24, 2004
Chattanooga, TN	May 26, 2004	May 31, 2004
Memphis, TN	June 2, 2004	June 6, 2004
Tulsa, OK	June 8, 2004	June 10, 2004
Oklahoma City, OK	June 11, 2004	June 14, 2004
Little Rock, AR	June 16, 2004	June 21, 2004
Hidalgo, TX	June 24, 2004	June 28, 2004
San Antonio, TX	June 30, 2004	July 6, 2004
College Station, TX	July 13, 2004	July 15, 2004
Houston, TX	July 16, 2004	July 26, 2004
Dallas, TX	July 28, 2004	August 9, 2004
Fort Worth, TX	August 11, 2004	August 16, 2004
Waco, TX	August 18, 2004	August 23, 2004
Jackson, MS	August 26, 2004	August 30, 2004
Moline, IL	September 1, 2004	September 7, 2004
Kansas City, MO	September 8, 2004	September 13, 2004
Indianapolis, IN	September 15, 2004	September 20, 2004
Columbus, OH	September 22, 2004	September 27, 2004
Grand Rapids, MI	September 29, 2004	October 4, 2004
Boston, MA	October 8, 2004	October 18, 2004
Manchester, NH	October 20, 2004	October 25, 2004
Bridgeport, CT	October 27, 2004	November 1, 2004
Pittsburgh, PA	November 3, 2004	November 8, 2004
Auburn Hills, MI	November 10, 2004	November 15, 2004
St. Louis, MO	November 17, 2004	November 22, 2004