Puddle Jumpers

So I’m sitting in the hotel ballroom, listening to the fine details of selling insurance and customer support, building a better agency, and emerging market opportunities. ZZZZzzzzzzz.
I’m waiting for the Morning Business session to end so we can start setting up for the Doobie Brothers. Will these people ever stop talking?

So yesterday Mel and I decided the time had come to see some of the sights of Paradise Island, so we put on our bathing suits and headed to the water park. We started with the Inner tube river ride. They have a 2-3 km winding route through the park that drifts past beaches, into caves, and through rapids. It then ends with a ride up a conveyor belt ride up to the top of the Power Tower, where you can then ride down through a choice of waterslides, all without getting off your tube.

We then went and tried out the Leap of Faith in the Mayan Temple, which is a 50′ vertical waterslide that ends in a tunnel through a shark tank. I got a little worried as I went down, and could feel my body lifting off the slide as I tumbled down the virtual freefall of the slide. Highly recommended. I can’t wait to pitch Phil off that one in the next day or two.

Mal and I then wandered over to the ocean and went for a dip in the salt chuck, which was cool, refreshing, and very salty. but very relaxing. We then decided we had enough time for one more run through the river before we had to change, and go to work. On our way back to the rooms, we decided that we had officially gotten too much sun. This morning verified that yes we have gone from pasty, to red with pasty bits.

After a quick shower and some food, we returned to the room to set up the last few bits for tonight’s opening session. We did a little bit of decor lighting in the First year members Reception, and set up the last of the follow spots, and stood by to do the show. The last ten minutes prior to doors were a bit hectic as the Video guys were still desperately trying to get it all working, and then we needed to move the lift, put a spot into it, and be up and ready before doors. We almost made it. The lift died, so we got it to the nearest wall, and threw everything into it, and was ready about ten minutes after doors. Our job as Spot Operators was to pick up the entrance of the First time attendee of the conference that were led in by a local Bahamian Group, lots of Brass, and whistles, and Dancing. Once they came in, it was time for dinner, and we were done. I stuck around and took a few shots of the event. It was very high energy.

So I will post again tomorrow and let you know how the show with the Doobie Brothers went.

Till then,

Neil, deluged in Puddles

Hi Everyone, Neil here again.

So we are all set up now for the show. Just a few little tweaks as the week progresses. Which means we have a little more time for sightseeing, and exploring. Mel and I went and checked out the Water park yesterday, and it looks pretty cool. There is a canal you can float in on an inner tube that takes you UP to the top of the slides, and a lazy river run and Drag racing slides with time clocks. So in a few minutes we’re gonna go check it all out.
Here’s a couple more shots of the area

This is the Power Tower Slide that is a 50′ drop into a tunnel through a pool full of these guys

This is the Innertube slide building. Also good fun

I will post more once we’ve tried all this stuff out.

Talk to you later.

Neil. Slider into puddles.

Greetings, Neil here.

I’m still in the Bahamas, I’m sitting in a cafe near the hotel with free WiFi. not only does the hotel charge for their wireless, but it’s really unrelible as well.

We’ve just finished the load in, or are at what I would call in my other life “substantial completion” we’ve focused all the lights, and got all the set decor lights working. So tomorrow we do a little cleanup, and we’re done. The Lighting department is in really good shape. so is the Audio Department. the carpenters have been setting everyone back for the last three days, and we’re getting a little worried about the Video crew. There are eight very expensive, and complicated projectors in the show, and they brought two spares just in case… Well as I was leaving tonight they were in the process of swaping out the second spare, so they are now flying without a net. I hope it all holds together for them.

Mel and I took an extended Dinner break tonight and went for a wander around the resort. We found an exhibit called “The Dig”, and it’s built around the concept of what an archeological dig of the rediscovered Atlantis would look like. It’s full of Very cool tunnels and some of the most amazing aquariums I’ve ever seen. It’s pretty cool. Pictures will follow soon I promise.

We’re planning tomorrow to check out the water slide that leads into a tunnel underneath the shark tank. Should be a few kicks, I’ll let you know how it works out.

Thats all for now,

Talk to you soon.

Neil, Waiting for time to find the puddles.