...18 years ago...

Wake at 10 - I manage to lie in bed until 11:15 or so. Last one to shower this morning. Comfortable bed but hot. We leave Morgantown by noon and drive North to PA. Eat at "Denny's" then on to State College, PA for a show at Penn State University. Arrive about 5:30-6. Find hall and hang out - go to radio station while Dave R. Joe, and Dan set up. We do a taped interview and station ID's. Back to hall - huge gym-like room. Do a sound check - awful acoustics but we'll deal. We eat a "Pedro's" fast food mexican joint - OK tacos.

We practically memorized the Denny's menu because we ate there so much over the years. It was an easy choice since it served "Rock & Roll Breakfast" (that's breakfast anytime of the day).

Back to the hall - people have started to arrive - lots! I do set lists - first band starts at 8 and play for a half hour - awful. We set up and play at 9:15. We only had a $600 dollar guarantee because we thought it would be a free concert - NO - they charged $4 at the door. We had no bonus situation. 700 people showed up! We made the 600 and the promoter walked away with $2200! Shit! Everybody like us regardless of the crappy sound. Dave R. sold all the shirts we had left. Over $300 in T-Shirts so that's a plus. We could have easily sold 300-400 shirts if we had them.

Sometimes we did play shows where we sold so many shirts that we made more in merchandise than in door money. Then next problem we encountered is when you play venues that charge you to sell your merchandise. Some places insist you give them a percentage of the money you make on the T-Shirts. That's why shirt prices get high because for the band to make any money over the cost of manufacturing the shirt, they have to charge $16-$20 bucks (or more!).

We pack up. Meet lots of people. Meet some former students of Dad's and some kids from the "Media Center" who knew my mom. Saw Matt Thorn and Jeff Bonakemper the old Harleysville days. Lots of parties going on but we decide to drive to Philly tonight. We leave and it's only 10:30PM. Drive south on Route 322 - hit the turnpike and take that into Philadelphia. Arrive home at 2:45 - almost our "normal" bedtime now! It's nice to be "home" - lots to do this week.

My father was a high school teacher and some of his students went on to college here at Penn State. The Media Center at my high school was where the local cable company had their community TV station. Back in those days local cable companies had to provide local access to the airwaves. The school held TV studio classes and we made our own TV shows. My mother was in charge of the station for a few years. Sadly - the school board stopped funding it and I think it has sat dormant and locked up for the past 10 years. We'll be home for 5 days now and then begin again on October 4th. Stay tuned.