Walking to my seat I passed front of house and glanced over to the mix position. When I arrived to my seat, house left on second row (Thanks DC), I looked and noticed the video wall, next it was the spot ops hanging out in the truss about ten of them, the details in the Tait staging... the movement and the colors of the lights, the monitor mix position and the use of wedges and not in ears... the ushers, the security... Then my focus turned to the crowd... there was a guy in front of me with a Big K- Kmart hat with his girlfriend or wife.. Elton was busting out a not as well know tune and he knew when the drums hit he knew when the guitar came in he was on his feet and standing and he was conducting that song... his girlfriend/wife was laughing at him but he carried on. I realized then that I was now standing and clapping along my focus turned to Elton's hands as they flowed over the keys... he mentions the greatest Rock -n-Roll woman ever to live and states "I'm not talking about Janis Joplin, I'm talking about Nashville's own Brenda Lee. The crowd goes wild and the sweet gray haired woman in the seat next to me stands up all four foot eight inches... and waves as Elton begins "Blue jean baby..." It was in this moment that I felt a smile on my face that went ear to ear...as Billy began his set I left my seat and walked backstage to grab a water and help my friend pack up his cases and we sat in the production office and shared a few yawns and a laughs. However for just awhile I forgot about drivers, dressing rooms, runners, bus-stock, catering, fluff and fold, after show food...and I needed a reminder from that angle. I'm home now but I will be out again soon on the circus...I guess it's true that sometimes right back where you started from is where you belong...in that moment. *smiles*
