The High Roller

I've been wanting to go on the High Roller, a big observation wheel on the Strip, for quite a while. I believe it's the tallest one in the world and it seemed like a fun attraction that we could enjoy without having to battle hordes of tourists, casinos, and cigarette smoke. On Tuesdays it is half off for locals so Kim and I met down there in the afternoon when her girls were out of school. 

We had a lot of fun! The kids were all free and it ended being a very affordable activity. Here we are getting ready to board. The wheel moves very slow (as I had to keep reassuring my girls before) and I was surprised that it doesn't stop to let you on and off. It thought maybe it would unclip from the wheel like a ski chair does, but nope. 

It took forty minutes for the entire revolution and we had the whole pod to ourselves. It was a very fun and affordable afternoon activity. I'm glad we got out of our comfort zone and tried something new.

Swimming at Red Rock

 I just remembered this photos and found them again, so this post is several months behind schedule. Red Rock resort sent a mailer out at the beginning of summer that had a bunch of locals' deals that were good until the end of July. The one that was perfect for us was the pool entry for two. It expired on July 31 and that's the exact day I ended up using it. I kept procrastinating because I needed to get a new players' card (which is basically like a Smiths card or grocery card, but if you use it at the casinos you get points, and you can use it at restaurants, or anything at the casino - not just the gambling). Anyway, the unknown always causes me a little anxiety and procrastination even though I know it will be easy if I just get off my duff and do it.

So, we almost didn't go, but I'm so glad we did. It was easy to get my new card and no hassle getting in. It's always fun to have a new pool adventure, especially at a fancy resort pool. They've got this large wade in area that leads to the bigger pool so there was fun for all ages and abilities. We stayed until the girls were ready to go home. It was one of those perfect summer days when you do something out of your regular day schedule and just decide to pack snacks and throw the humdrum to the wind.

And who can resist goggle-faced babies?

The only downside is that Ryan was working. And really, the pass was only good for two people (luckily they didn't count June), so he couldn't have come anyway. It's just sad that his office is about a quarter mile from where we were and there we were soaking up the sun and he was living the working man's life up in his office.

Sinatra

A few weeks ago I got an exciting phone call. The principal harpist for the LV philharmonic needed a sub for a show she was doing on the Strip and wanted to know if I was available. When you move to a new place, you meet some harpists and then it's just kind of a waiting game until one day all the other subs are busy and you get called in. It's not that you can't do it, it's just that they don't know you that well and they have their usual people they work with. Then, if you can do the gig well, you're on their radar for future jobs. I had met this harpist before and she is good friends with another good harpist friend of mine, but I had never played for her. So, like I said, I was really excited to get called because it was really a good foot in the door for me.

The show is/was a Frank Sinatra show at the Palazzo. Now the music wasn't difficult but the show has been playing five nights a week since January, so they obviously weren't having any rehearsals for me to try playing with them. I sat on the stage two nights with a copy of my music to watch the show and I also had a recording from the show that I practiced with at home, but that was it. Even though it was pretty simple stuff, I was really diligent about being prepared. I didn't want one note, one pedal change, or one rhythm to catch me off guard.

The really cool thing about the show is that they wanted it to the most authentic Frank Sinatra show ever. They put it on this year because he would be turning 100 this December. The man who sings knew Sinatra and an impersonator. He goes through almost two hours of make-up to look like Sinatra and he totally does. The conductor/pianist was Sinatra's personal music director and pianist for ten years, and half of the orchestra was Sinatra's original band that played with him. Apparently they even flew some of the musicians in who were living elsewhere in an attempt to get as many original people as possible. The lead sheets are the real deal, the ones they used for Sinatra. Some of the harp parts are nearly hand-written and have lots of different harpists' markings on them. It is so COOL! 

I was excited and intimidated to work with such amazing musicians. The conductor's name is Vinnie Falcone, which might be the most mafia-sounding name I've ever heard in real life and he's pretty famous. One minute he's conducting, then he's playing the music, then he stands up and conducts by just snapping the fingers in one hand. The main harpist was telling me that every night he plays things differently on the piano, just following the chord progressions. The drummer is Tommy Check and he has no music either, no lead sheets, nothing, just a list of songs. One time while I was watching, the singer just looked at Vinnie and said a random song and they started performing it, drums came in, and then they looked at the bassist, who is also quite well-known, and he jump up off his stool and started playing too. It's just incredible. The other harpist said that they do that a lot - just add in random songs in the spur of the moment and those main guys can just play with no music.

I played on the 24th and am going to play again this coming week. It went really, really well and I was so glad I'd practiced and put the time in to feel comfortable with the music and to have fun. The harpist texted me the next day and said she had heard great reports about me and that everyone will love to have me play with them again. I felt pretty good about how I played, but I was so pleased to hear it from her too. She thanked me for being concientious about the music and taking good care of the job. It was a really big high to play in such a setting with such an ensemble and to be part of something to exciting and professional. I'm also excited to have earned the trust of the principal harpist so that she will call me for future jobs.

Getting ready for the show.

View of the back side of the curtain as everyone is taking their seats.

As a side note, I really feel like being a musician would be a great job for a mom or dad if two parents needed or wanted to work or if you were a single parent. Curtain is at 8:00 most nights and I left at 6:30 to get there an hour early. So I was home with the girls all day, had dinner, helped bathe them, and left as Ryan was finishing the bedtime routine. I was home around 10:00 or 10:15 so it wasn't a super late night either. I mean, you wouldn't be able to support yourself from this gig alone, but if you were also teaching and doing a few weddings or other events a month it would be a comfortable income and you could really be there for your kids.