Haley at the Troubadour July 23rd

[Tusk]

I forgot to mention, on our drive up from San Diego, we did spend some time talking about Haley. Kristina said she tried to look up some of Haley's music because she was unfamiliar, but couldn't figure out to spell her name right LOL..

She described the music she liked as .... california, surfer punk, garage band?

So, during a drive break to get coffee and a snack, I whipped out my cell phone, pulled up my channel and chose Creep O2, gave it to Kristina to listen too. "wow...."

I then pulled up Room5 AATB. Kristina's older brother, Christian is a red head, a ginger. I had talked to Kristina about Casey too. Kristina can also play multiple instruments. I remember, years ago, sitting in their garage talking to Kristina. While we were conversing, Kristina casually picked up her brother's electric bass guitar and started playing it, almost subconscientiously. I remember thinking "I didn't know she could play the bass?" I knew she played horns, the Tuba and Euphonium, but not string instruments....

So that's how the subject of Casey came up. Like Christian, he was a red head, and like Kristina, he plays multiple instruments. Kristina thought he was really cool

The drive from the hotel was a lot more pleasant traffic wise than the freeway trip from San Diego. As my trusty GPS told me to turn here, take that exit there, Kristina was wide eyed at what she saw.

She said she had never been in LA before, the buildings are so nice, the people were so beautiful.... lots of oohhs and aaaahhss LOL

She noted that driving through the beautiful homes reminded her of the game Grand Theft Auto. Often in simulation games, you can 'visit' a city through the game without ever being there. So the streets were familiar to her LOL

I punched in the address I thought was a restaurant, so once we were close we began looking for a place to park. We made the it around the block several times, passing the same shops. One shop in particular, there was this young dark skinned, darked hair young lady outside of a fancy store, I had no idea what they sold.

Each time we passed that store, Kristina marveled at how beautiful the young lady was, she looked a little bit like a cross between Niki Minaj and Cleopatra. It was very cute. I was enjoying watching her have a good time, that this wasn't boring for her.

So we finally gave up on finding 'free' parking. I would bite the bullet and overpay at a parking garage. There was a blue "P" sign that led me into this entry. It was very fancy, the wall was bricked, there was an alcove that contained greenery (fake?) and a black marble lion...."How much is this parking going to cost?" I thought to myself...

I swear to god, this started feeling like it was a Disneyland ride, the way to the parking structure, undulated and weaved, the entire time, the wall was a clean red bricked wall. We finally came to a place, it seemed like stores surrounded the area where you would talk to attendants.

This young man waved me to pull up, I asked him, what does it cost to park here? I would relay what he told me if I could just understand what he was saying? He sounded like someone with a cross between a New Jersey and Brooklyn accent...with marbles in his mouth. I wanted to ask him if I could talk to someone who spoke English

I wasn't sure but the total would be something around $26 if I valet parked, there was restrictions, I could do this or that or we could...it was really hard to get passed that accent and not be rude, asking him to repeat...again.

So I said, OK, never mind, how can I get out of here....

We eventually found one that was clear about the charge, we parked then, were done...enough already, the clock was ticking, I'm not sure we could be done eating and still make it in early to figure out if I can bring my camera in or not

We went to where the address I was given took us. It wasn't a restaurant, it was an office building lobby I texted my friend who set up the dinner, "Go up to the 3rd floor" she replied and gave me the room. #....?

As we walked and opened to the room I was directed, there were my friends, a new friend of theirs, a young girl by the name of Elizabeth, and a couple who I'd met before, but very casually. They were trying to navigate their TV to pull up Haley's SMYM video.....

Before I go further. This couple were in part producing a movie, working with Al Pacino, Elijah Wood and Malcolm McDowell, were the names they told me. The had posters, art board some story boards scattered around.

Nick was impressed with Haley's Hula Hooping in the video (lol) so I showed the SMYM video from behind the scenes of Haley hula hooping for like 6 minutes LOL

I introduced my Niece to everyone, then them to my Niece.

Any way, they were looking up SMYM, my friends having fun at my expense with Nick and Kaylah .

Apparently, my friend is my agent, wanted to show Nick my dance moves
Nick actually thought that the video was done Green screened. I told him, nope, we spent almost 16 hours in the desert, those planes weren't added. That piqued Nick's interest, so I gave him a brief story of how the video came out, pointed out who Dannig was in the video...

We went on to watch a couple of my better Haley videos... but it was really started getting late.

It was then decided we could eat at the restaurant underneath their office, where we learned more about each other. Turns out I had a connection to Both Nick and Kaylah. Nick was raised in the UK and Kaylah came form Spokane Washington. I found out that Nick was also a former wake board champion, basically one of those personality who aggresively attacks life instead of wait for something to happen. He was exactly what I was NOT.

Still unsure about the situations with the cameras, we finally organised to leave for the Troubadour. Elizabeth would ride with Kristina and I. The Troubadour was only a mile away, so we should make decent time, although traffic, both auto and pedestrian was thickening.

My friend arrived before I did, gave me a call, "your name isn't on their photo pass list"
We found parking across from the Troubadour, a decent $10. On the way, I bumped into my friends making it back to their car. Apparently they tried to find my name, if only I had something to prove that there was communication... This is where the proactive conversation I had came handy. I had proof and the right name on my phone. I didn't have to worry about being on the list because I'd bought my ticket.... we were in

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I had been tipped before hand about where decent spots at the Troubadour would be to have a good angle of the stage. Relieved at finally having the camera issue lifted off my shoulders, I could relax.

To the left as you entered, there was a bar. The sound of muffled conversation straight ahead led to the main room. The room entrance is stage left (so right if you were facing the stage)

On the left, there were stairs that led up the balcony seating area. Going up the stairs, before you turned right to the balcony area, on your left, was another place to get alcohol. There was one waitress working the area.

As soon as I walked in the main staging area, who should I run into but Casey I introduced him to Kristina, told Casey that she also plays multiple instruments. Casey said really? wow? But Kristina's shyness had her speechless able to make a hand shake.

I asked Casey if Haley was here already, he said he texted but had to keep checking his phone. So I let him get on with his business. We went up to get a closer look at the stage when Rachel arrived. She had brought a friend, Tony, we were introduced, then went on to explore a little more

We worked our way to the area that was suggested. The seats in the balcony was cordoned off with tape and rope, I don't recall the name on the paper. Someone said they were for label executives, maybe for the Rigs because no executive sat in them, at least for Haley or All Hail. Eventually people went over the ropes and sat in chairs that were empty most of the night.

So as I was looking around the area, I saw across the way, Beatalks, from the SMYM and drummer at Room5 came out to say hi to friends. I thought I should go over and say hi. Turns out that's where Haley was, so I said Hi, usual warm greeting from Haley, and I took that pic..

I told Haley I brought my Niece, asked if it's OK if she could meet Haley. "Sure"

So I went over to get my Niece, brought her over told her about Carnegie Hall, got a picture of us with Haley. But then other people found their way to the room, so Haley didn't have much time than to say a few words with Kristina, Being shy I wasn't sure there was much she might have said, any way, so we thanked Haley and made our way back to 'the spot'

While we were checking and testing our equipment, Kristina was quietly looking over the scene keeping to herself. Elizabeth noticed this, went up to Kristina and told her, "it's too boring up here with the 'old folk', come with me we'll check what's going on downstairs" How cool is that? Instead of hanging around in the balcony while her uncle does video taping, Elizabeth did me a great solid and took Kristina up near the stage, engaging with her the whole time! So cool

Still strategizing and looking at where security was, asking some questions, who should show up but Yanni We said Hi to each other then Yanni told me that Scott Braddlee's here. Wow, Bonus! I excused myself from Yanni to say Hi to Scott. Scott was on the other side of the room, across from the main entrance. With him were his stage manager/college room mate, Casey and Jacob...

Jacob always with a warm hug was excited to playing the troubadour, I told Scott how much Haliens love love love him for giving Haley this stage (PMJ) to shine... as always, Scott humbly says thanks, then turns it around and says "Thank You for your support"..... He is so aware of the parts people play to make his PMJ machine works, always appreciating the fans

Also, he excitedly 'hinted' that he might take the stage to join Haley. I asked if it's OK to tweet that? "Yeah, OK"

Tusk ‏@HaleysTusk Jul 23
Look who I found..@CaseyBassy @scottbradlee @JSaysKnee @PMJofficial .
Maybe Scott might sit in

Soon enough it was time for the opening band, All Hail, to take the stage, so every one took position...

(Next....post script. after the show)