Well, dear readers, we have survived the first day of recording a new studio cast album of And the World Goes Round. I can’t say it was a walk in the park, but we got through a very difficult day. We had Christiane Noll for only one day, and she’s a participant in seventeen songs. But we also had to get four songs beyond that, which is just a little bit insane. I actually got us ahead by the second hour, but that didn’t last long, because the schedule was kind of screwy and lunch hadn’t been counted as an actual hour – so the minute lunch happened we were suddenly behind almost an hour. And again I caught us up and again we had a problem in that one song we had to do wasn’t even on the schedule. So at about two I went into getting it done mode. Anyone who has ever been in the studio with me knows exactly what that’s like. I brook no opinions other than mine own and my engineer’s. If we think we have a take that we can work with, we move on. Otherwise, you just get hung up on details that aren’t worth it and you end up not getting what you need to get. So, we did get it all, and some of it will take some mixing magic, but it’s not like we haven’t done that before. And the fact is, if there’s something I’m not happy with in the band after we do the final mix, I will bring in two of my best players and we’ll fix it quickly and effortlessly. We have enough separation on the band to do that.
Our mighty cast was a pleasure and just rolled with it all. Jason Graae is always a delight to have anywhere, and he and I just have a wicked sense of humor, which is very helpful when things get tense. Christiane Noll is a no-nonsense professional and a superb musician, but she also takes direction like a dream. Kristin Towers Rowles had the least to do yesterday, because her solo stuff is all scheduled for today. She was supposed to do one of the solos yesterday, but I moved it and one of Kyra Da Costa’s solos to today. Kyra, who is new to me, is just wonderful. And Brent Barrett – just so charming and personable and fun. I think the day was very hard on our hard-working musical director – he’s just not used to this kind of pressure cooker atmosphere or working in the studio. So, he was feeling the brunt of my needing to be in getting it done mode, but, he got it done and played very well.
I managed to get out of the studio by seven-twenty, and I got in my car and just made it to the theater by eight. I have to say, the show plays beautifully in the larger space. There are some vocal level things that the cast need to be aware of, and they will be. I hadn’t seen it in quite a while, and it’s really entertaining. And Laura Wolfe, with nary a complete run-through under her belt, stepped in and did an amazing job. A couple of little things to fix, but she got her laughs, sang beautifully, and the audience really liked her a lot. So, she’ll just get better and better from here on in.
I came home directly after that, had to answer e-mails and have a conversation with the musical director. Before I’d left in the morning I’d written a page, and just before beginning these here notes, I managed to do two more – so a light day, but at least I got some done, and if I can do ten tomorrow evening I’ll be right where I want to be – even if I do seven or eight I’ll be just fine.
Today, we’ll do our second day of recording – it’s not quite as hard as yesterday in terms of schedule, but we’ll get through it and we should wrap by seven or so, after which I’ll come home and write.
Tomorrow, I’ll write most of the day, until it’s time for sound check and then it’s the show. Tuesday, I’m sleeping in, and doing nothing but writing, and the same goes for the rest of the week. Then there’s a book fair on the weekend and I’ll see our show on Saturday night and then am taking Sami out for her birthday afterwards.
Let’s all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s all break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, let’s all dance the Hora or the charleston, because we’ve got us two count them two birthdays to celebrate. The first birthday to celebrate is our very own dear reader Ben. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to our very own dear reader Ben. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO OUR VERY OWN DEAR READER BEN!!!
Our second birthday to celebrate is occasional dear reader and lurker Iris. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to occasional dear reader and lurker Iris. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO OCCASIONAL DEAR READER AND LURKER IRIS!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a recording, eat, and write. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s free-for-all day, the day in which you dear readers get to make with the topics and we all get to post about them. So, let’s have loads of lovely topics and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, because let me tell you, I am EXHAUSTED from a long day of recording and going and doing.