It would be totally boring to write about a typical day around here. But perhaps I can provide a glimpse of what it is like to try to organize an outdoor concert.
It all started in 2022 when we attended an evening outdoor concert put on by a semi-commercial group here in Devon. This group had a local radio station sending out live updates, a couple of fast-food trucks lined up on the roadside and 3 or 4 young musicians performing sets from the gazebo throughout the evening. The music was mostly “country” and the sound system was set to “loud”.
About 100 people were sitting on lawn chairs, enjoying the evening. The weather was very pleasant and it was generally a fun way to spend an evening.
I thought, “We could play here.” So I contacted the company that had organized the event to find out how we get invited to the stage.
Well, it turns out that we don’t get invited. We are too old, or not country enough, or whatever.
So then I thought, “This is a public park, why don’t we do our own concert?” I contacted the Town of Devon administration and they said all I had to do was reserve the park and put the event on their calendar.
So, in 2023, I did exactly that. And then I thought, “Whoa, we are not doing a 3 hour concert on our own, we need some help.” Thus began the quest for other entertainers. And it turns out there are a few. In particular, the retired high-school music teacher has a jazz band (8 piece octet). And he was delighted at the opportunity to bring the group together and perform in public for his home town.
So then I reserved 2 dates and scheduled ourselves, Mountain Sapphire, to perform on both dates, and after much searching, came up with another music teacher, a local “oldies” group and a violin soloist to round out the schedule.
Names are important in the music business, so, what to call the concerts. Well, with a band name like Mountain Sapphire, and the concert being in the evening, “Sapphire Sunset” seemed appropriate.
Next steps, create a poster, get it printed, put it up in 20+ locations around town. Contact a fellow who has done other sound events and see if he will help out (turns out, not only would he help, but he is also the drummer for the Jazz Octet). Dig out the generator from under all the other junk in the garage, fill it with gas and give it a test. [ed. note: not actual poster]
Order a 30 m, heavy duty outdoor extension cord. Check all the mic stands and cables. And finally, on the night, head down to the park with the campervan jammed full of gear and tables and tents and chairs and start setting up.
What a hectic day, but it all came together and people loved the music and the great weather and the chance to just get out of the house and enjoy an evening out. And the weather was perfect and there were no mosquitoes!
Second event that year was a bit easier to manage, again with good attendance and lots of good comments.
Our 2024 season didn’t go quite as well, our first date was rained out. So we lost the Jazz Octet that year as they weren’t available on the second date. But the second evening went well.
So here we are in 2025, with 3 days to go before this year’s first concert. Our competitors got rained out last week and it has been raining since. The forecast for Thursday is “risk of a strong thunderstorm”. But this year, we have it covered. The town has agreed to let us move into the community centre as a backup plan. I just need to make that call on Wednesday.
Will we do this again next year? No. Not without someone else taking the lead. It is just too much for a couple whose combined age is 150 years. But fingers crossed, this year will go well and we will get good attendance.
Elder M
Elder M is pushing the envelope of culinary challenges. She has discovered a Buenos Aires restaurant that serves octopus pizza. She will be writing a culinary review soon, but we wanted to first look at the historical art of Octopus Pizza.
A Medieval Convent and Monastery Lenten Favorite!
A Challenge to the Pizza Sauce and the White Wimple
An Update from Elder M
Maybe in the “lives of the Elders” you can write that I’ve suffered my first bout of Covid and learned all about the olfactory sense — or more specifically, what happens when it’s gone. It’s been quite an experience, not being able to taste or smell anything for the last week or so. And such a delight as the sense slowly returns. I got super excited this morning simply because I could smell the hand soap I was using.
Or how I learned that Dextromethorphan is a controlled substance in Argentina, which explains why I wasn’t able to find any decent cough syrup without a prescription.
Or the strange difference in facial tissue sizing. In the US, we have those small “travel packs” and larger boxes for home use. Both sizes of tissue are roughly the same, with the boxed tissues occasionally being larger. In Argentina, there are “travel packs” (same size and count as in the US) and then boxed tissues that are teeny. I have photographic proof. It blows my mind that the boxed tissues are smaller than the travel ones. And FORGET finding anything soft, thick, or “with lotion”. I resolve to bring back a suitcase full of Kleenex on my next trip. (At least it won’t trigger the overweight baggage charge with the airline…)
Elder JZ
Lately, life has revolved around car repairs and sweet potato gardening.
Sweet Potatoes
The WLBOTT Ag Research Team (WART) noted a fairly rare occurrence a few days ago. A sweet potato vine produced a flower – a lovely bloom that lasted one short day.
This necessitated a series of rituals and rites.
Our ceremony was organized and officiated by the WLBOTT Women of the Tuber (WWOT?).
Car Repairs: The WLBOTT-mobile
The WLBOTT-mobile wouldn’t start yesterday, and the usual incantations weren’t working. Even the powerful “Mechanic’s Blessing” failed to get the engine to turn over.
Sally T. Intern and Elder MJ
Working tirelessly to increase shareholder value, Sally T. and Elder MJ stay very busy at WLBOTT HQ.
