By 2009, I had already done a number of large-scale projects around the world. But between the exotic adventures, I still did regular work closer to home, including elementary school assemblies, or the occasional library or museum show. One of those “filler gigs” was scheduled at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York.
Three days after that, I was set to perform at the White House.
Naturally, as I drove the two hours from Rochester to Corning on July 1, I kept thinking, Why am I doing a kids’ gig in Corning when I’m about to perform at the White House? After all the places I’d been, this one felt a little… ordinary. If I could have gotten out of it, I probably would have.
That feeling started to shift the moment I arrived.
Unlike the usual school shows where I had to set up in some crumbling auditorium, carry my own sound system, and prepare everything myself, Corning was different. An intern was waiting for me in the parking lot with a cart, ready to unload my gear. Inside, the AV tech greeted me with a smile and asked what kind of mic I preferred. He even offered options. I got to use my favorite, a Countryman earset. Then he even asked if I wanted my water chilled or room temperature.
I was stunned. I don’t usually get mic choices and water options at elementary schools. If I want those things, I need to bring them myself.
The show went off without a hitch. The tech crew was great. The audience was lovely. But still, a part of me couldn’t stop thinking, In three days, I’ll be at the White House. Why am I in Corning right now?
Then came July 4.
We pulled up to the gate at the White House. No intern with a cart this time. Instead, we were greeted by men in full body armor holding automatic weapons. Very polite ones, sure, but still. We were escorted to the area on the South Lawn where we’d be working. It was a scorcher of a day in D.C., and there was no shade. No water either. Apparently, no one had thought to approve hydration for the balloon crew. At the White House, everything has to be reviewed, cleared, and signed off on… including, it seems, basic human needs like water.
And in that moment, roasting on the lawn of the most powerful residence in the country, I found myself wondering:
Why am I performing at the White House when I could be doing cozy, air-conditioned gigs in places like Corning, New York?
Haha nice twist 😀