Contingency plans – IMPORTANT

There are 3 storms on deck this week. I’ve been in communication with the Board and the Music Hall administration. Please take a look at the contingency plan I’ve outlined below. We will be sure to send a confirmation/cancellation notice on each day by 3:00 pm. We are looking at alternate rehearsal possibilities on Tuesday and Thursday, as needed, and an earlier call time on Sunday (with a longer lunch/pre-concert break). We know some of you will have conflicts, no matter what we do. I ask that you please consider our contingency proposal, make alternate plans as you are able, and email Claudia as necessary. Important: When you email Claudia, please consider putting the point of your email in the subject line; it will help her scan/organize messages much easier.

If we all pull together, we can do this. We worked around snow in October 2011, Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Nothing is impossible if you frame your perspective positively.

Oh yeah — You’re going to get a lot of emails this week. Buck up.

Monday/regular rehearsal 7:30-9:45 pm – Unless you live under a rock, you know it’s snowing a good deal. We’ll make a decision about tonight’s rehearsal at or before 3:00 pm. If we cancel tonight, we will rehearse Tuesday evening.

Tuesday/contingency rehearsal, 7:30-9:45 pm – The next storm (#2) is due Tuesday into Wednesday. If we activate rehearsal Tuesday, we’ll confirm/cancel by 3:00 pm.

Wednesday/dress rehearsal, 7:30-10:00 pm – We will confirm/cancel by 3:00 pm. If we cancel Wednesday, we will dress rehearse Thursday evening.

Thursday/contingency dress rehearsal, 7:30-10:00 pm – If we need to activate Thursday, we’ll confirm/cancel by 3:00 pm.

Friday & Saturday – No contingencies scheduled. Bake a pie, or better yet, practice some more. And don’t let the squirrel in.

Sunday/Concert – Currently the sound check is scheduled, as usual, at 1:00 pm. If the House of Cards completely implodes this week, we will set up at 11:00 am, rehearse 11:30 am – 1:00 pm, bring in pizzas and take a lunch break to eat and rest 1:00-2:50 pm, take the stage at 2:50 pm, and perform at 3:00 pm. And I’ll warn Santa Fe to order back up tequila for afterwards.

My close personal friend, Al Roker, is also forecasting the “next big storm”(#3) for Sunday into Monday. Sigh. I am hoping against hope that the storm is delayed (as it often does), but I have already asked Karina for contingency concert dates. The Board will discuss these before we put these out to you.

We will get through this. Please remember: no matter what happens, there is bound to be something funny in all this. Keep yourself open to that, and enjoy it when it happens.

Stay safe today!

Snow events this week

We are watching the forecast and noting the snow events that are in development tonight into tomorrow, and Tuesday into Wednesday. I’ve contacted the Music Hall and we’re in discussions to come up with a Plan B should snow interfere with either rehearsal. There are no changes yet — but please monitor your email through tomorrow afternoon for updates. Either way, we will make a final decision about Monday evening’s rehearsal by 3:00 pm. As soon as we can confirm a proactive Plan B, we’ll let you know.

Now go back to watching the pre-game show.

“Alex, may I have ‘All At Once,’ for $2000, please?”

Alex: And the answer is: Super Bowl, Winter Olympics, WSW “Ideas, Images, and Textures.”
Florence: [Buzz] What are things Chris Christy controls?
Alex: Sorry, no.
Wilbur: [Buzz] What are things that Warren Buffet owns?
Alex: Wrong again. How did you get on this game show, anyway?
Buster: [Buzz] What are huge events that are all happening this week?!?!?!”
Alex: Thank God – someone has a clue!

Monday is our final full rehearsal. We will be rehearsing everything except Hazo and Williams. Wednesday is the dress rehearsal, with all works on the program. Sunday is the concert. Check the Rehearsal This Week page so you’re prepared for rehearsal on Monday.

Warm up carefully this week to protect your chops. Practice diligently to perfect the final bumps in the road. Email friends and attach the lo-res Winter concert flyer. Print up the hi-res flyer and post it in your local library, church/synagogue, Barnes & Noble, Starbucks, Panera, and other local businesses. Spread the word now so we have an excellent crowd on Sunday!