24/03/2025
This was the first real challenging event of the year so far (will probably have several more lol). Started off with a drive that should have only be about 4 1/2 hours, turned into 6 1/2 hours with driving rain during most of it. Arrived to check into the hotel behind a wrestling team from Indiana 😒, got a some rest and then got up to build my setlist for the couple.
The software I use to download YouTube tracks and other music I can’t buy didn’t work so I spent two hours trying to get that sorted with tech support. Get ready to leave, the wedding planner said get there at 4 pm. I left at 3 pm though it’s only a 7 minute drive, that turned into a half hour drive due to a hit and run high speed chase that ended with a pit maneuver (very 2025 it was a Tesla). Glad I did…
Once I arrived in downtown in Charlotte, just about every street around the venue had some kind of construction going on which made all the lights extra long. SN: I would actually rather deal with DC any day over Charlotte.🤷🏽♂️
I get to the “guard shack” on the corner at street level for the first of 3 check ins! They take all my info and head down another 3 levels below the street to check in with the second guard and he points me to the garage that services venue I’m at. There is a phone you have to pick up and call to get into the final loading area. I’ve had a better experience at the Pentagon.🤦🏽♂️
Check in with the last security guard and surrender my license to get an elevator pass (yes you heard that right). Proceed to unload and get everything on the elevator close the door and nothing…. Elevator just buzzed!😧 Started making calls and after about 25 minutes I get some help. We are now an 1 hour and 20 minutes from cocktail hour. Security finally shows up and discovered there was rubber glove blocking a sensor which locked up the elevator on me.😞
Managed to get all the gear in the other freight elevator and immediately proceeded to get to work. Of course my wireless setup would not work because all the frequencies I had were getting blocked in this area. So I had to run a hard line out to the terrace to get sound (lost a 50 ft cable that was cut up by the end of the night by a door😭).
At this point I was focused on finishing the sound, getting the rest of the lighting done and cleaning up. All of this was completely transparent to the bride and groom as they were able to great the guests 15 minutes ahead of schedule! The party was amazing and everyone enjoyed themselves.
I managed to pack up and get back to the hotel in 1 hour and 30 minutes (imagine that). Microwaved the rest of my Carolina BBQ I had and went to bed. Go on the road at 7:30 and was back in Stafford about 12:45 to unpack and go my son’s first academy soccer game of the season and of course he has fever and is done for the weekend….whoomp whoop!
Alot of work for a phenomenal result that your clients will never understand the amount of effort that was put in to make sure they enjoyed their special day. That pretty much sums up every vendor in this industry and I salute you guys. 🫡 Good Evening!
