I saw the about half the local A/V talent in the GW ballroom yesterday.  It was strange to be in the same room with all of them and not have a ton of stuff to do (I really wanted to jump up and start working).  It was a two stage setup with one in Hale II & III and the other in Hale IV and V, both stages facing Hale I.  It’s only been about a month, but I already miss doing shows like that (a “real” show).

Funny thing happened midday in the office.  We were going through a coming breakout in Hale IV and the tech team was calling it a GS (General Session), but as I looked at the gear and size of the show I just called it a breakout.  They kept calling it GS, and I know that’s what it was, but my brain works by gear – and the gear in that room is just a breakout.  I know it’s a GS to the client, but for setup and strike purposes it’s just a breakout.  I didn’t want to get in a semantic argument, so I just said, “anything smaller than Hale I, II, III, IV, and V put together is just a breakout in my brain.”  Just wanted to end it, ya know?

Then my A/V Coordinator said something funny (I like her, she’s quick) to make sure it ended.  She said, “man! your hardcore about a few things! this is called this cause I’m Dave!”.  Anyway, it was funnier to be there…

The whole thing left my brain until I was going around talking to “da boys” in the ballroom, on my way out for the day;  I realized that if you ask any one of them they would have called it a breakout too…  

Although, I am probably the breakout king of Maui, I love doing “shows.”  They’re in my blood.  I hope I get to jump on some (or hope my team sells some) soon – I don’t wanna lose “it” for lack of using “it”, ya know?

Well, it’s done. I’m finally free to work at the GW full-time…

I guess it is now official: I’m the Technical Director for Swank at the Grand Wailea…

I had to take down all the links to the local A/V companies, but I still love you guys. As a matter of fact, I need you all to send me equipment and pricing lists so when the need arises I can rent your stuff…

I had to run preshow outside for this one. Totally got rained on the second I had everything set up and turned on. No one would make the rain call, and all my gear was wet, so I had to strike everything, go inside and get dry gear and set that up. Covered up everything, ran the show – me and the musicians were soaked at the end of the show – and then struck it all in just enough time to get to my show position inside. I was wet and going into air conditioning – lucky I didn’t catch a cold!

Willie’s whole family was there, and took part in the show. I liked it, but any people were thrown off cause every song was a Christmas song – I don’t think they were expecting that. On the last “Hana Ho!” he started to crack a little as he was telling the audience which song he was about to sing (Holy Night). Turns out his mother had died this morning…

Anyway, I don’t think there was a dry face in the place by the time he got done with the song…

That man can play the piano! And he sounds exactly as he did all those years ago…

Very cool show!

Yeah, don’t freak out.  I made all my domains to automatically come to this one.  DVT is down now, MauiTech.tv is down as well.  I’m no longer freelancing – I’m now a Swank Technical Director based out of The Grand Wailea.  So I’m doing the same thing, I just have a homebase and a salary now…

So, if you need me, call me there – that’s where I work with most of you anyway…