I didn't think anything could beat the craziness of opening day at the Edmonton Fringe Festival, but my East Coast roots have decided to prove me wrong. So here's what happened on opening day for me at the Atlantic Fringe Festival in Halifax (NS). 11:00 p.m. in Calgary - Talk to Edmonton billet. Have him update the show program and send it Staples in Halifax to print. Staples can't print my flyers so my ex-billet resizes everything and gets an order sent. If he was around I could kiss him.
Midnight in Calgary - I board my second of 3 flights to Halifax
Sometime in the wee hours - I feel a scratchiness in my throat, possibly due to all this recycled air I'm breathing, and pop a Tylenol Cold Nighttime, hoping it will also let me sleep on the plane.
Sometime later in the wee hours - I can't sleep and watch Star Trek Into the Darkness instead.
5:30 a.m. - Land in Ottawa and decide to have breakfast at the airport.
6:30 a.m. - Worst breakfast ever. They still haven't brought me my coffee and the eggs came out cold.
7:30 a.m. - Board a plane to Halifax.
10:15 a.m. - Arrive in Halifax and take some kind of fancy limo taxi to the hotel. How did I end up in a fancy limo taxi? I don't know. Too sleep deprived and just walked into the first thing I saw that said "taxi".
11:00 a.m. - Check into the hotel. Hotel was not expecting me at this time, but nice clerk gives me a room to crash in for now.
11:30 a.m. - Shower & nap. I could sleep forever right now.
2:30 p.m. - Get up & put on show makeup. Get ready to go to the theatre.
3:00 p.m. - Change rooms at the hotel. There was a mix-up with my room, but it worked out in my favour. I seem to have a better room than originally planned.
3:30 p.m. - Get in taxi with show gear, go to Staples to get programs and flyers. Worry I might not have enough painters tape for the show floor, but Staples doesn't sell any. Ah well, I should be ok. Remember I still need popcorn! Call Mom. Mommy, can you get me some popcorn?
3:45 p.m. - Taxi takes me to liquor store to get the prop bottle... and my post-show drink, of course.
4:00 p.m. - Tech. My technician loves my prompt book. Yay!
4:15 p.m. - Run out of tape while setting up the floor. FUCK!
4:30 p.m. - Set lighting & sound levels. My technician also lets me have a bite of his poutine because all Fringe techs are have "being awesome" as a job requirement.
5:30 p.m. - Run to Canadian Tire for more tape, while my technician reads the script and makes notes. It's started raining. Great.
6:00 p.m. - Stop at Wendy's because I remember I haven't eaten anything since the crappy breakfast. Much on fries while running in the rain.
6:15 p.m. - Finish taping the floor. Panic because I have to do a media call at 7 p.m. Was planning on walking over, but it's a 20 min walk and my costume will get wet.
6:20 p.m. - Mom shows up with popcorn. SAVED! Family gives me a ride to the Neptune Theatre so I can do the media call/promo of the show.
7:15 p.m. - On stage in roller derby gear doing a promo for the cameras & a packed house of artists and supporters.
7:20 p.m. - Family has been driving around the block and picks me up.
7:30 p.m. - Arrive at my venue and get ready to do the show.
7:45 p.m. - Did we actually pull this off? High-fives with the technician. Backstage dance party to pre-show music.
8:00 p.m. - Roller Derby Saved My Soul opens at the Atlantic Fringe Festival.
9:00 p.m. - I need a drink.
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Roller Derby Saved My Soul plays until September 8th at the Atlantic Fringe Festival. Opening night was reviewed very positively by TWISI Theatre Blog and the Halifax Coast. Get your tickets now! Tickets also available at the door if no longer available online.