Craig On The Road - The Florida Tour: The Real Hollywood

It's the last night of Craig's Florida tour and I need to get to the Hard Rock now!!
My #RSA friend Janis directed me on the phone as I made my way to through the party palace on 441 in Hollywood to the entrance of the Hard Rock Live. She was telling me how she managed to find her way to the meet & greet and was waiting with others at the end of a hallway. I didn't know what to say! I was excited, but then I tend to play by the rules, so I was worried. Would I be in trouble for showing up here? I've spent a lot of time backstage at events, from hosting meet & greets as part of my radio job to just hanging out with friends who are performers. A pre-show meet & greet is different, not necessarily the most comfortable thing to do just before you take the stage.  All these people were getting in because they were high rollers or contest winners. I was none of these things.
Suddenly there was no more time to think. We were in, and Craig was standing in front of a wall with Hard Rock logos all over it. This would be photos only, taken by the Hard Rock photographer (to be picked up next week). Janis stepped up first. Then it was my turn. I mumbled something like "sorry you got roped into this."  And then thought, wait! no! Feeling very much like Ralphie scrambling back up the slide in "A Christmas Story" I managed to get out my Twitter name and said was writing about the tour for RSA News. Craig couldn't have been more gracious or his blue eyes more...lovely. Sorry, it had to be said. :) A smile, a handshake, and a moment that made this weekend even more perfect. Many thanks to Janis for making this happen! And to Craig for being so kind. x
The Hard Rock crowd was large, late, and a bit unruly, but Joe and Craig made it work for them   Joe Matarese came out to do his set and did a great job.  The audience was still rolling in, so there were moments when people walking through the aisles and rows got in the way. I'm not used to this, but Joe soldiered on and was,once again, very funny.
Then Craig introduced himself and took the stage. Tonight's outfit, a black shirt with suit jacket and jeans. Very nice! He was doing great, fine-tuning the phrasing on some of the bits, playing with the audience, getting some very big laughs. I really didn't want this show to end. Then the panties hit the stage. Yep. Even from my vantage point, halfway back in the house, they looked kind of gnarly. I wouldn't have picked them up with a stick! Pass the Purell? The crowd got even crazier after that. It was a real juggling act, but Craig played with them all - the Scots to his right, the Canadians to his left, and the underwear lady - for awhile longer, and then moved on to his finish. I didn't want to see him go, but it was time.
And that's it! Three days in Florida, a different show every night. Craig gave us his best, and we were lucky to have him here again for awhile. I hope he enjoyed his stay. I loved doing this. Thanks to RSA News! And I can't thank you enough, Craig! Looking forward to the next adventure. ♥ #RSAForever

Craig On The Road - The Florida Tour, Part deux

I remember Ft. Myers from years ago when we used to travel across Alligator Alley for a weekend away from our crazy life in Ft. Lauderdale. And here I was, day 2 of Craig's Florida tour, driving from Tallahassee to make this 8PM show in a neighborhood that looks somewhat familiar. Getting a feel for life on the road. It's great to be at (your venue's name) (in your region). :)
Craig stayed on the beach in Naples. I know that place, it's really sweet. Did you see the photos? I stayed five minutes from the Barbara Mann. And my hotel was very cool. With a random upgrade to the private floor, I felt pampered. But all concentration was on getting to the show.
Once I arrived at the Mann, it was already time to take my seat. I met people at the hotel who were in town just to see Craig. Those people were there, but there was were plenty of locals too. John Patrick from WZVN-TV posted some great pics! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.325082414173675.98636.220565714625346&type=3  And there were some older people who were surprised that Craig didn't have a little "tootsiefrootsie" pop up in front of his face when he said a curse word. I wish I'd had that "warning" flyer from the high school show in Bucks County. Really.
One of the things I loved most about this evening was the very beginning, before Craig's opening act Joe Matarese came out. No spoilers because there's a show tonight.   Joe was hilarious! I saw him in Red Bank. He is very funny, a really nice guy, and he has a CD out. http://twitpic.com/7h2pxo Check him out here - http://joematarese.com
Then it was time for Craig, dressed in a fresh white shirt, suit jacket and jeans, looking relaxed (like he'd been at the beach!). This was his night. The night before had been so much about the FSU event. Tonight there was time for more of the material I've come to know and love. The crowd was enthusiastic with plenty of whistles and outbursts (positive ones).  The one person I couldn't see or hear from my 6th row seat was down in front and seemed to have a running commentary on everything Craig said. He used great restraint in not really going after her. In spite of the distraction, Craig put on a fantastic show, even getting to the family stories. ♥ Kudos to Craig for great concentration and a standing-O worthy show!
I met Joe Matarese in the lobby after the show, bought his CD, talked with him a bit. Then he had to run for the bus. Craig and the tour bus bring back great memories of last year in Florida. I waved to them as they drove away. One more night! The Hard Rock. Will I get to say hello to the Chief before this is all over? Wish me luck!

Craig On The Road - The Florida Tour, Part 1

There's only one person who can make me drive all over the state of Florida and still feel like I'm having a relaxing weekEND. When Craig's Florida standup dates were announced, I knew I would make good on my promise to see all of them. When the FSU Pow Wow was added to the mix, I wondered if I was even allowed to go! Not an alum, though I do have plenty of friends who are. So that's my excuse. :)
Tallahassee is a beautiful place, capitol of the state and home of the Florida State Seminoles. When I found the Civic Center, I was surprised that even with GA tickets I found a seat in the 5th row! (Going on my own made it a little easier I think.) The crowd waiting to get in was huge. Not sure how many were there, but most of the 13,800 seats filled up quickly.  The Homecoming entertainment was fantastic! An excellent jazz band, followed by singing groups and dance troupes and videos, nonstop for at least 90 minutes. During this, Craig was tweeting from backstage.  I don't think I've ever seen so much activity on Twitter for a live show! Check the stream and you'll see all of Craig's retweets and responses. BTW during all this, I kept seeing a gentlemen in a kilt walking around. Hmm...
Finally, after an intermission, Craig's opening act, a very entertaining comedian who's name I don't have (help?lol) came out and did a great job. Former theater major at FSU, worked as Goofy at Disneyworld, how do I know all about him and not his name?!
Then it was time for Craig. Then I found out why the kilted guy. A full band of bagpipers came out playing the FSU fight song, and then Craig, tomahawking his way onto the stage wearing an FSU jersey, jeans and  black,red and white sneakers. Perfect! And he danced with the music! The big screen at the back of the stage projected all this wonderfulness to the cheering crowd.
Since I know the basics of this show well (5 times in Denver, then Chicago, Bucks County and Red Bank), I have a different take on it. I enjoy watching Craig figure out the audience. And a college crowd at homecoming is different! He included the marching band (sitting upper deck stage right)  and changed things up for the partying college crowd, getting in the Seminole spirit of things. It was the master at work. And FSU loved him! It was very cool that he took a picture of the audience. Like a family photo. The perfect end to a memorable evening.