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Delong Cultural Center

The Whirlwind That is My Life

July 21, 2018 by Tyler

Hello all! It’s been a few weeks and for that… I’m not going to apologize. I’ve had a crap ton going on.

I returned to Bloomington and had a week and a half to get my affairs in order to be on tour till May. This included taking possession of my new house, moving out of my condo, getting the condo “renter ready”, starting the renovation of the new house… it was hectic to say the least. Nothing got done, but everything got started and steered in the right direction so other people could finish it after I left.

Some of the highlights of that process included a massive trip to Lowe’s.

A trailer that kept trying to kill me.

 

And addressing my issues with hoarding building materials.

 

Also, of course to add to all of it, Jeff is a dick. Jeff, my trusty steed for my summer adventures, my ride or die partner in crime… blew a head gasket… So Jeff is currently parked on the farm and will be remaining there until I get back to Indiana.

It was an overall adventure and it hurt my soul to leave so soon, but on July 15th I left Bloomington and headed to start my new position at Feld Entertainment as a Production Manager. In all likelihood it’ll be 10 months or more before I’m home again, but that is part of the adventure. My first stop is 84 days straight in Palmetto, FL.

 

That’s right guys, I traded my kilt for slacks and a button up. I am now being paid to be the adult supervision. Apparently the fact that I was on a road trip with no destination during my interview process didn’t tip them off that adulting is not my strong suit.

But don’t worry, they have now figured out that I am descending into the world of being an adult kicking and screaming like the toddler I truly am. I don’t know exactly what tipped them off, but it may have been the fact that I am referring to my cubical as a cell and am refusing to use it, or the fact that I am spending what used to be my smoke breaks wondering around the facility killing zombies… The transition to being an adult may not be going as smooth as some would like. Haha

All of that aside, I really am loving this job. We are currently 2 weeks into the electrics build of my show and all of the other departments will be joining us here at Feld Studios this week. We have 2 weeks of building/training, then we’ll spend a week putting it all together, follow that up with a month of rehearsals and then we open on October 12th in Tampa.

I know that I just glazed over a really long period of time there guys, but I can’t really talk about projects that aren’t open yet. But trust me when I say we’re excited about several of the projects going on around here.

I promise once the show is open and the tour has begun I’ll have more adventures to share with you guys, but until then, why don’t you go have an adventure of your own?

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Adulting fail, Broke Down, Delong Cultural Center, Jeff is a Dick, Palmetto Florida, Production Manager, Working

It’s my Birthday and I leave in a week…

June 4, 2018 by Tyler

Well, it’s my birthday. I am on the home stretch of 16 hour days 7 days a week. I won’t have time to do anything until it’s over on the 10th, which yes means I leave on this adventure a week from today, assuming I get my license renewed (it expires today). Oh and I just got the jeep running again last night…

Today I turn 31. I’ve got to tell you, 30 was an interesting year. I mean last year I celebrated my birthday in a hotel parking lot after working a 14 hour over night shift on the new falcons stadium. Basically my father bought me a decent bottle of bourbon and then we, along with a few of my coworkers, drank the bottle while sitting on concrete steps shooting the shit. It was not a bad way to celebrate, but it did set the tone for 30. 30 has basically been all about getting things done. I put a serious dent in my debts, mended some proverbial fences with touring companies, did a short tour, and got double ETCP certified in rigging. Not a lot of socializing or adventures outside of taking care of business. Hell this year I will be celebrating my birthday while working a 16 hour day.

The above project is what I have been working such insane hours on for the last month. This thing is massive, and in 2 days we are going to premiere it off the beaten path here in Bloomington. Once we have our one and only performance we’ll spend a few days packing it up and send it off to the Kennedy Center in D.C., where it’ll enjoy a 6 week run before heading to LA for a few months, then Toronto, and finally Broadway.

But nothing past the 9th is my problem at this point. On the 9th we’ll finish loading it onto the trucks and say goodbye and I’ll get to sleep in for the first time since mid April. I will be spending Sunday the 10th preparing the jeep with all of its new sensors, freshly cleaned grounds and new ball joints for the trip. This thing is gonna happen folks! On the 11th I will be driving the fully loaded beast to the BMV and as soon as I have my new license in hand… West, I am heading westward!

The exact route is not set in stone, the timeline is still fluid, but the above map is what I think the trip is going to look like. I am still trying to complete things off the scavenger hunt, but I may not be making it to the East Coast on this one. The reason I won’t be is simply time…

I am only going to have a month to play and after that I will be returning to Bloomington to see to my adult responsibility… Because I am now 31, and bills must be paid, jobs must be done…. oh and I am moving into a 5 bed, 3 bath monstrosity that also has a home gym, greenhouse, 25′ vaulted ceilings in one of the two living rooms (yes I am building an indoor rock wall), kitchen, dining room giant fenced in yard, and a 1,000 square foot garage… Excessive? Probably, but I am 31, single, and it’s too late for reason to prevail. I am dubbing the house, The DeLong Cultural Center.

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Deep thoughts, Delong Cultural Center, No Plan, Random adventure, Road trip 2018, The Plan, Working

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