Posted by: travlin'easy
Typical day with DNJ - 08/06/05 08:09 AM
Last Thursday was about as hot as anyone can ever remember in central New Jersey. Mid day temperatures soared to nearly 100 degrees and the humidity topped 85 percent. Stepping out the door was akin to stepping into a sauna--just another fun day in Paradise.
My wife and I drove up to DNJ's from Maryland, an uneventful 3-hour drive at a high rate of speed and fuel consumption. Arriving just before noon, Donny, Nancy, Carol and I headed for a sumptious lunch at a nearby Chinese restaurant.
The food was incredible, and after a feast fit for a king, the ladies went back to DNJ's home, while we took Donny's car and drove about 40 miles up the Garden State Parkway to an Assisted Living Center where he was scheduled to do a 1-hour performance.
Set-up time was about 5 minutes, and by 2 p.m. he was rocking the place with lots of wonderful, upbeat tunes and working the audience like the true professional he is. At 3 p.m. he ended his performance with a round of applause, lots of hugs and kisses from the elderly ladies, and we were back on the road to get ready for the next job.
After a quick stop at his home, and a change of clothes we were headed down the highways to the American Veterans Association hall where he performs to a packed house every Thursday night. The dance begins promptly at 8 p.m., however, Donny and Nancy have everything ready to go by 6:30. Dozens of tables have to be covered, snacks, soda, ice, coffee, and an assortment of other goodies are set up, and this is all taken care of my Nancy.
At the same time, Donny sets up his rig on stage, however, the setup now takes much less time, connections are very uncomplicated and those big, boxy speakers on stands are gone.
[img]http://www.bcpl.net/~keyboard/donny's-rig.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.bcpl.net/~keyboard/donny's-rig-2.jpg[/img]
What a difference. After everything was set up, we took a break, relaxed and got ready for the crowd, which often begins showing up before 7 p.m.. Just enough time for a few photos.
For those who didn't notice, DNJ has lost approximately 100 pounds since I posted photos of us last year, and I've dumped 50 pounds.
Quite a difference, thanks to South Beach Diet.
By 7:30 p.m. the dancefloor was filling with folks who were dancing to Rod Stewart MP3s coming from the Bose PAS, beautiful sounds that filled the entire room. The volume level was nearly equal throughout the large hall, and the master control never exceeded the halfway point. By 8:00 O'Clock the place was packed, lots of attractive, wealthy, elegantly-dressed, elderly ladies were on the prowl, and you couldn't fit another couple on the dancefloor if you had a shoe-horn. The place was really jumping and DNJ was rocking the house.
At 9:00 O'Clock Carol and I reluctantly headed out the door and into the steamy night air to begin the 3-hour journey back home. We arrived just before midnight, answered a few emails and hit the sack. For DNJ, it was just another typical day, not much difference than any other day and tomorrow would be more of the same.
Cheers,
Gary
My wife and I drove up to DNJ's from Maryland, an uneventful 3-hour drive at a high rate of speed and fuel consumption. Arriving just before noon, Donny, Nancy, Carol and I headed for a sumptious lunch at a nearby Chinese restaurant.
The food was incredible, and after a feast fit for a king, the ladies went back to DNJ's home, while we took Donny's car and drove about 40 miles up the Garden State Parkway to an Assisted Living Center where he was scheduled to do a 1-hour performance.
Set-up time was about 5 minutes, and by 2 p.m. he was rocking the place with lots of wonderful, upbeat tunes and working the audience like the true professional he is. At 3 p.m. he ended his performance with a round of applause, lots of hugs and kisses from the elderly ladies, and we were back on the road to get ready for the next job.
After a quick stop at his home, and a change of clothes we were headed down the highways to the American Veterans Association hall where he performs to a packed house every Thursday night. The dance begins promptly at 8 p.m., however, Donny and Nancy have everything ready to go by 6:30. Dozens of tables have to be covered, snacks, soda, ice, coffee, and an assortment of other goodies are set up, and this is all taken care of my Nancy.
At the same time, Donny sets up his rig on stage, however, the setup now takes much less time, connections are very uncomplicated and those big, boxy speakers on stands are gone.
[img]http://www.bcpl.net/~keyboard/donny's-rig.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.bcpl.net/~keyboard/donny's-rig-2.jpg[/img]
What a difference. After everything was set up, we took a break, relaxed and got ready for the crowd, which often begins showing up before 7 p.m.. Just enough time for a few photos.
For those who didn't notice, DNJ has lost approximately 100 pounds since I posted photos of us last year, and I've dumped 50 pounds.
Quite a difference, thanks to South Beach Diet.
By 7:30 p.m. the dancefloor was filling with folks who were dancing to Rod Stewart MP3s coming from the Bose PAS, beautiful sounds that filled the entire room. The volume level was nearly equal throughout the large hall, and the master control never exceeded the halfway point. By 8:00 O'Clock the place was packed, lots of attractive, wealthy, elegantly-dressed, elderly ladies were on the prowl, and you couldn't fit another couple on the dancefloor if you had a shoe-horn. The place was really jumping and DNJ was rocking the house.
At 9:00 O'Clock Carol and I reluctantly headed out the door and into the steamy night air to begin the 3-hour journey back home. We arrived just before midnight, answered a few emails and hit the sack. For DNJ, it was just another typical day, not much difference than any other day and tomorrow would be more of the same.
Cheers,
Gary
Hopefully (someday) I will meet you and others, as I enjoy being part of your lives from this remote location.