It’s currently 8:42am on July 7th. We’re parked outside Harrah’s in Council Bluff’s, IA waiting for our hotel rooms…might as well tell you all about Kansas City.

We flew into KC on Monday the 5th so we could all get settled in. Standing outside the airport, our bus rolled in and my face lit up. I felt like freakin’ ROYALTY!

We hopped on the bus, grabbed our bunks, and headed off to the hotel.

Hotel Phillips — Great hotel to stay in. Courteous staff, nice rooms, great breakfast, but I think it’s haunted. Even though nothing of the paranormal happened, I still think its haunted — We all went to Jack’s Stacks for dinner, had some delicious BBQ, and headed off to bed.

I woke up at 7:30am (not impressed) got myself ready and hopped on the bus. As tired as I was, I just kept saying to myself “Ok Nat. First day, let’s do this”

Starlight Theater, wow, very cool. Set up the production office, set up the dressing rooms, and send the runner on his way. Put up signs, check the bus stock, send the runner on his way. Work on a few things, watch a piece of the show –

BNL put on a great show. They had just watched the RUSH documentary on the bus prior to performing, and spent about 5 minutes on stage playing “80’s jukebox”. Hilarious. They also played The Big Bang Theory, (secretly my favorite BNL song), and it was AWESOME.

– eat, ice the bus, where the hell is the runner??

order food, stock the bus, stock the other bus, send the runner to pick up the food. Pack up the production office, pack up the dressing rooms, shower, hop on the bus, wait for the runner, EAT, and crash.

It doesn’t sound like alot, but it was a steady work flow day. The adrenalin kept me running all day, and it wasn’t until I was walking to the bus that I realized I was exhausted.

I climbed into bed, and woke up in Iowa.

By the way, what the hell is there to do on a day off in IOWA?!

Touring with a band.  It’s a dream that many kids have, but are never able fulfill.  But Natalie Goik’s dream is coming true this week as she sets off across the US on her first big production tour with Barenaked Ladies.  Nat will be reporting in to me as often as she can about life on the road and all of her “firsts.”   I’m looking forward to going on tour with her and I hope you come back often to see what she’s been up to.

I asked Nat to give me a little info about herself and how she got this gig.

“I’ve been a techie for the past 6 or 7 years now. It all started back in high school when I found out that you could join the sound and lighting crew, and every time there was an event or an assembly, you were allowed get out of class early to go set up. Ever since then I’ve been working gigs around Ontario.

I’ve worked 4am load ins and 40 hour weekends (not including Friday), I’ve driven to cities hours away, only to work 4 hour calls, I’ve worked 13 hours and then had to drive home 2, 3 hours, and I’ve done more than my share of volunteering.   Hell, I’ve even toured with a Magician.  But I can’t say I’ve regretted anything so far. I’ve made friends, contacts, and injured myself many many times.

For years now I’ve been trying so hard to get on a big production tour. I’ve had interviews and sent out resumes, and never gotten any response – until a few months back.  I remember it very clearly. I was in my house, walking down the stairs when my phone made it’s “you’ve got mail” ding. I stopped, picked up my phone, and opened my mail box.

from: Deb H.
subject: Tour

Now, Deb has been my guardian angel for this past year. She always puts my name in and always calls me up when she needs an extra crewman. So, I open this email, and read:

Hey Nat,

Are you free from July 5th-Aug 15th to come out on tour with the Barenaked Ladies?

Let me know
Deb

I froze. Mouth dropped. Totally speechless. This was it, the big break I’ve been waiting for.  Holy-shit. I’m going on tour.”

First Stop: Starlight Theater, Kansas City, MO