(07-24-2015, 08:26 PM)Tusk Wrote: I'll relay what I can about taking My Niece, as an early 17th Birthday present, to her first live concert, where she met Haley Reinhart, then watched her debut at the Troubadour 
My sister's family in San Diego is musically talented, that is to say, all 3 kids took to playing instruments fairly young and easily. Being up in Seattle and not having the ability, at the time, to travel down to see them often while they were young is kind of a bummer because, as most know, kids grow up really fast, you turn away and they're young adults.
So a couple years ago, my Niece, Kristina, who had enrolled in and participated in a school band that you had to earn a spot in. She'd been doing it for years, this time, with an opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall. Not only that, but they'd earned the honor of being a band that would record a composition whose author was also sitting in the audience
As I hadn't been there for many of her accomplishments and had some air miles to give up, I took the opportunity to be in the audience for her High School's performance for my second time at Carnegie Hall. The first being to see Haley perform with Irvin Mayfield jr and NOJO.
That was then, the thought came into my head that it would be pretty cool if I could get Kristina to meet Haley, someone, like her, who was already musically gifted at an early age. It was just a thought, one that I mentioned to my sister in passing....
My sister thought it'd be nice too, but we didn't take it further than that it was 'a nice thought'...
still, it was in the back of my mind.
Fast forward to Last month. I had hoped to see Haley w/ PMJ in Seattle, but when her schedule came out, the "North West Haley Drought" continued...
When the Laguna Beach show came up, I knew it was to be close to my friends, so gave them a call to let them know...yada yada yada* a 3 day trip to see PMJ in LA turned into a 9 trip which included shows to see Haley at Laguna, Morgan at Newport, then both of them with PMJ in LA. I would have to fly out the day PMJ played in Seattle to get to the Laguna Beach show in time, so would miss that show, a loss I was willing to take
Squeezed in among those dates, right before the Finale, PMJ slipped in a date to San Diego. The date didn't appear on Haley's personal schedule either, so when it was confirmed she'd be there, I decided to go since I'd already be in CA, but it was 21 and over. So even though it was in San Diego, I could not take Kristina to the show.
When the Troubadour date was announced, Roy, one of the other SMYM Haliens told me he planned to take his daughter Hannah (the hula hooping Halien) because it was an all ages show. Add to that, my friends had bought tickets, there was one for me if I wanted, I finally decided, heck I should go, this time there was no age restriction so besides the many hours of driving, there was no reason not to bring Kristina to this show
In the mean time, another remarkable opportunity opened up in regards to Morgan performing near Seattle 2 days after the Troubadour. By the time I decided to buy Tickets Morgan's show at the Winery, it had sold out.... Since I couldn't go, I then planed to stay through the week end for my Sister's Bday, but had to change those plans, fly back to Seattle the next day, after driving my Niece home, to take that opportunity......
Avoiding horrendous traffic congestion was vital to it all working out...
One of worst things about seeing my sister in San Diego is if you don't get off the freeway in time at night, there's a good chance you will be stuck on the freeway with 3-4 lanes closed after a rolling stop
probably 50% of the times this happens on my return from my sister's taking me from 1-4 hours longer to get to where I'm staying. So the day before the Troubadour show, I drove down to see my Sister. We checked if there'd be any road closures before I left. There'd be some, but not on my route.
As to avoid being stuck for hours late at night after the Troubadour show, I rented a hotel room for my Niece to sleep after the show, we would return the next day. I told my sister and Kristina when I was planning to pick them up, making some extra time for traffic. Giving myself over 4 hours to make a 2+ hr trip in good circumstances. I also had to try to get there early, because there was an opportunity to get permission to bring my camera in, but whether I could or not was up in the air, it was very much in the air. There was also having a chance for Kristina to meet Haley, probably much easier before than after the show.
So everything settled for the next day, I took my sister and her family out for an early Birthday dinner, as I would be in Seattle to see Morgan. Believe it or not, I ran into another rolling stop/4 lanes closed road repair closure that would take an hour longer than it should
Hours before the show, whether things would work out or not for the things I was juggling, I wasn't sure I could pull it off, especially if there was any significant chance of heavy traffic, which in LA, there always is....
*Seinfeld reference 
Of course, as it seems is the case I didn't get much sleep that night. The next morning, I was still trying to see if I could get access for my camera at the Troubadour. A few days earlier, I thought I should be proactive and 'show my hand' with the events coordinator. Basically, saying that I might be able to get permission, what are your rules/restrictions as to what we can or cannot do?
I basically gave a summation, any information would be appreciated.
I got a quick reply, their policy for video is $150 charge per hand held camera, that there would still be restriction on where you could do it from and how many cameras.
I think the rules are set up to be a deterrent, more than a ways to collect revenue...
We emailed back and forth, the conversation cordial and informative.
This would be important later...
While tiptoeing through this process with the Troubadour, I lost track of time, I would leave later than I wanted to pick up Kristina, maybe running into early traffic. Fortunately, being a San Diego resident, my sister knew something like this might happen so she offered to meet me half way, because the trip back to LA would be terrible.
We met outside a Denny's, my sister was glad that I would spend some time with her daughter, made sure she had everything, then we would be on our way to our hotel to check in, then to the Troubadour.
I don't think I ever worried there'd be bored silence for hours during our almost 3 hour drive. There was much I didn't know about my Niece, what she wanted to do, that there wasn't a time during the drive that we didn't talk to each other
We talked about going to College, she wanted to Hitch Hike across the US, had been doing her research, thinking about taking self defense classes to prepare. I told her the reason why I wanted her to meet someone like Haley. That she should understand that what she has, the talent in music that comes to her, is extremely, extremely special....
I wanted her to know, so many people don't have a creative outlet in their lives to turn to. That often, a day is: get up, commute, work, commute, eat, go to sleep, get up etc. Music, art, dance, any creative expression is a bridge out of the mundane. The thing that is crazy great about having an artistic outlet is that when you hit that 'sweet spot'? Something that you are so excited about, you can't sleep? There's not a thing like it in the world
I told her, the key to finding passion in your art is to do what you do, keep doing you until you find 'You'. It is not enough to 'be like someone', imitation isn't art, passion is art. If you do it right, if you align with that vibration, that wavelength, it becomes another form of communication. Your passion will transmit to others who seek or share that passion. It becomes communal
I guess that's a revelation I've learned these past years. I think my experience these last 3 years, the experiences I've been lucky to have, can speak to the benefit of being passion driven....
So... just a bit of what we had to talk about
We also talked about drugs, she gave me her frank opinion on drugs and alcohol, we both agreed that parents who try to shield their children instead of understand the context of drugs society, it's a losing battle. Better to have a discussion about it than ignore it as if it doesn't exist. They will be exposed to it in the media and in schools anyway, prepare them.
i figured this might be a good discussion to have with her before I took her to a concert at the Troubadour in LA
She's a smart kid, so it was a useful conversation for both us,
yada yada yada...
We finally made it to the hotel, I took some time to downsize what I would bring. I had the foresight to bring a small pack that was big enough for the camera body and 2 lenses. I made sure I had a back up battery and SD card, this time
. Made sure I had my tickets. Traffic was lightly heavy so we were making good time as exited to meet my friends for a dinner they set up before the show.
