CMT Blog: Archive

New York City can often be intimidating, but when we were there, it seemed as though we were on the top of the world. As I entered the city I saw the stagehands picketing in front of Broadway theaters. It was one of the more interesting experiences of my life. Our venue for the show was in the middle of Times Square and the flashing signs, video screens and news tickers made for quite a scene as I entered the building. The New York show was very cool because it wasn’t in a traditional venue. Rather than rows of seating, it was more like a club and fans were right up at the front of the stage. As Jake Owen was opening the show, I stood and watched from backstage with Kristian Bush of Sugarland. After the first song, I mentioned that the fans were going to be right in his face and he was really excited about getting to play in such an environment.

As Jake Owen ended his set, he invited a member of the New York City Fire Department to sing “Yee Haw” with him. It was a very touching moment and a nice tribute to those who keep the city safe. Little Big Town performed an excellent set for the crowd as did Sugarland. For me, it was quite a rush to experience a true New York City crowd with a show of our magnitude. I’m sure that the experience is not singular to me, but that every crew member and artist felt it too.

We spent two weeks touring on the West Coast and we experienced a few situations that required quick solutions. After our first show, one of our tractor trailers experienced some difficulty in traveling to the next show. When we woke up in the next city, it was apparent that we were missing the trailer and some important cargo. For the better part of the morning, several of us had to make due with only a small amount of the tools we use in our daily tasks. Fortunately, our truck and the driver were safe and made it to the venue with enough time for us to put on a show!

Additionally, we were faced with the harsh reality of the fires in Los Angeles and San Diego. It was obvious that the areas were ravaged and smoke still hung in the air when we arrived. One meet-and-greet winner in L.A. told me stories about the fires and worried about the current situation. When she met Sugarland, they asked her about the fires and how she was coping. After their meeting, she told me how nice it was that they were concerned and hoping for the best. At our San Diego show, many firefighters were invited to attend the show as a thank you for their hard work. It was a humbling experience and I’m glad that we were able to provide some happiness and joy in a time of such sadness.