Family Friday at El Dorado Park

It was Family Friday at El Dorado Park.

It was great to see regular concert attendees the Stark Family after an entire winter:

Dad and Mom join shy Bob for a picture:

Uncle Joe and Aunt Charlo were just back from Alaska:

Mom & Dad's friends Dolores and Dick are also faithful concert goers:

Dear family friend Beverly has been attending concerts for decades:

Patti's man Jonathan was subbing in on oboe tonight:

Here is riser crew member Justin with his bride of 3 weeks Rachael:

My brother Ken greets Mom upon his arrival after work:

Ken is also an employee of the City of Long Beach in Public Works:

This is Ken's boss, the City Engineer, and his lovely wife:

Bob doing the sound check before the concert:

The view from my chair:

Me in my chair:

My flute student Emilie enjoyed the concert:

Week one is history.

Join us next week for "An American Salute".

See you in the park!

What a Difference a Week Makes

This was the view from the sound board during the Muni Band Mock Set Up last Thursday at Marine Stadium:

This was the same view tonight:

Last week:

This week:

Last week:

This week:

Clarinetist Leah brought her four week old daughter:

These folks attend every single concert of the season:

The jazz band set:

Tomorrow we'll be at El Dorado Park.

Please join us.

You'll be glad you did!

If It's Wednesday It Must Be Los Cerritos Park

Wednesdays find the Municipal Band at Los Cerritos Park.

It was great to see Betty and Ed again:

(Betty has supplied me with some fantastic recipes!)

Here's Bob attaching a light to the speaker stack:

The crowd gathers before the concert:

Patti waits patiently for the down beat:

The trumpets are featured down front for "Buglers Holiday":

We had our own lenslinger, Diandra Jay from the Press Telegram, this evening:

Here she is talking to the kids dancing in front of the speakers:

Here's Diandra's shot from the Press Telegram:

Patti's son Aaron joined the throng:

China and Eileen hide their so-called (and non-existent)"chicken necks":

Eileen's husband Chris chaperons Clancy:

Tomorrow, Marine Stadium.

Y'all come down now, hear?

Strike Up the Muni Band!

"Summer begins when the music starts!"

We played our first concert of the 2007 summer season at Whaley Park this evening.

Here's the flute section:

This was the view from my chair:

Bob was at his post at the sound board:

We had a C-17 fly by in the middle of the concert.

We yielded to the plane and waited for it to pass:

The wonderful Sherwood Sledge sang the blues:

A great time was had by all.

Please join us for an evening of outstanding music in the parks of Long Beach.

When you do, please say hi.

I'll be looking for you!

Muni Band Mock Set Up

It takes a lot of equipment and man power to turn the parks of Long Beach into concert venues.

On the first day of summer, the first of the equipment trucks rumbled into Marine Stadium.

It was time for the annual "Mock Set Up", a day for teaching new crew members how to assemble the concert site for each Municipal Band concert.

The Mock Set Up takes place at Marine Stadium because the ground is level and paved.

Wait until they get to the slopes of Los Cerritos Park!

The speaker stacks need to be positioned by the sound crew:

The riser crew is in charge of the heavy lifting:

One by one, the risers are off loaded and positioned:

The chairs and stands are moved into position:

We each get our own mic:

Why does this remind me of River Dance?

Team work:

Once the trucks are unloaded, they serve as a backdrop:

Here's the view from Bob's sound board:

This is the monitor board, positioned to the side of the band:

Class, it's time for Generator 101:

Ahhh! The pause that refreshes!

This is where the trumpets will sit:

Here is the view from the band stand:

Now that it's all set up, it's time to tear it down!

This will be repeated 35 more times in the parks of Long Beach.

Be there or be square!