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
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