It's All Good, Baby!

All Good Music Festival, Marvin's Mountain Top - Masontown, WV July 10-13, 2008 (the Year of the Rat)

I don't know how well you can make it out from the picture, but I have outlined where I spent the majority of my time at All Good (the rest of the area is all camping and vending!) - I was super busy with Rex Foundation activities this weekend. It was exhausting, but well worth it. I also made a few new friends (shocking, right? shy as I am...) ran into more people I have known before, and learned to have a greater appreciation for the Bloody Mary (thanks, Evan)! All in all, it was really a super positive experience.

I can say that the good folks at Walther Productions were truly supportive of what Rex was trying to accomplish, and they really helped us to be successful. I had three main activities; Rex Presented a Q&A Collaboration with John Schofield, John Medeski and Adam Dietch; The Rex Jam with The Bridge; and I coordinated and staffed the beer service in the VIP "Sky Lounge." It was a lot of work, but also a good time & well worth the efforts.

The Sky Lounge was a new addition to the VIP program this year. Credit should go to Todd for his superb craftsmanship. The sight-line from the lounge was excellent - directly across from the two main stages, at the top of the hill. The sound was also pretty good up there. Even though I spent most of my time behind the beer taps, it was almost hard to call it "work." I could as I could hear all the music and rock out while serving beer. The most difficult time was during DSO. They sounded great, and I really wanted to sink into the music, but really couldn't. Other than that, it was a fine time. I had a great crew working with me... so special thanks go to Jen, Chuck, Darrell, Butch and Amy. You guys are the best! The VIPs were just as great. Such generosity I have rarely seen in my life. Many of them were surprised to discover that all the tips were going to Rex Foundation, but once they realized it, they seemed to tip even more! In fact, the last day - Jess, a woman who we'd been serving all weekend, who had been tipping well all weekend, came over to me, handed me a $50 bill and said, "I think what you're doing is amazing." I almost burst into tears. It was beautiful. It was like going back to all the good, fun, parts of my bar tending days, and really - none of the bad ones. Some of the VIPs left a stronger impression than others - but I think we all left there with something of a warm fuzzy feeling towards one another.

Friday afternoon I was to present a special Q&A Collaboration with Schofield, Medeski and Dietch. Brett (my point person at All Good) came to collect me from the Sky Lounge and shuttle me over to the Ropeadope stage where I met the manager Mario - who immediately became my new best friend. What a great guy - absolutely accommodating and really intent on helping me with anything I needed. (Plus - we realized that he lives about 10 blocks from where I lived in Brooklyn before I started this grand adventure.) I start to walk to the stage, and who is standing on the back part of the stage, but Gabby - a friend from NY. I was surprised at first, but then I remembered she had been working with MMW for a few months. It was great to see a friendly, familiar face before I went to speak to the crowd. ..ok, the crowd was pretty small, but still... I felt very welcomed on stage, as Schofield offered me his microphone to use. (such a gentleman). I did my speech - a truncated version of the Rex Jam speech - and we set out into the crowd to collect money. About half-way through the program, Schofield reminded the crowd that we were out there collecting and that they should dig into their pockets... I was so appreciative, and I never really got a chance to thank him sufficiently. I think I'll see them again at the Vibes...so I'll have to be sure to do that. Jen and I pulled in about $300 during the collection on Friday afternoon. Not too bad for a small crowd. On a side note, during the set, there was this guy who talked the band into letting him on stage - he was such a riot. Of course, you can check out part of his Ross Rap on You Tube (and you should).

On Saturday, we had the Rex Jam with the Baltimore-based band, The Bridge. I had been unsuccessful in getting in touch with them, and I was a little concerned because they were doing a special 20 minute set wholly dedicated to the Rex Jam. Again, Brett shuttled me down to the Main Stage area, where I finally did connect with the guys in the band as well as Mook - the stage manager in that area. Once again - everyone was great. I was more comfortable doing my presentation there, perhaps it's because I had Friday as a "practice run".... I do know that the crowd was really responsive so that also helped. During my presentation, the band heard me talking about the Jerry Jams CDs we are giving away (yours with a $20 donation, while supplies last!) and so they changed their set at the last minute, and opened with a great version of "Get Out of My Life" in honor of Jerry. I was really excited about that for a few reasons... 1) I simply enjoy the song and 2) it was so validating to know that people are actually listening to what I'm saying. So - we only had about 20 minutes (maybe less) to collect, but I had 9 people circulating. In that time we rasied around $1600. Not quite the $3000 we raised at High Sierra, but we also had limited time to collect. I was very pleased.

I really have to say something about my volunteers at this point.... i would have to say that THEY ROCK! I know how I feel about doing this work with Rex. Rex has been part of my consciousness for such a long time - I started seeing the Dead in '85, so Rex was always a given. To be doing this work for them is really great for me. What I love even more is that my volunteers, many of whom are probably too young to really remember anything about Rex Benefits and Grateful Dead Tour, are equally as excited when we do well. I just love it. In the end, combining the collections during the Q&A on Friday, the Rex Jam on Saturday, and the beer Tips - we raised well over $3000. Plus, Walther Productions is going to kick in part of the profits from each keg we sold, so I don't know what the final tally is, but I'm really proud of the work we did this weekend.

So - one last thing - it seems we always travel in the same circles, and this leads us to see the same people over and over again.... some sooner than others. I was in the dispatch trailer leaving a message for a friend of Theresa's who was going to try to help us with the Rex Jam, when I said my name to the person sitting behind the desk. The guy on the phone turned and looked at me and said, "Elyce?" I said, "Yes" - he said, "Donny." I said, "Holy moley" (ok, it wasn't "moley" but....). There before me stood Donny Emerick, who I was friends with at UNH. That's the 2nd UNH person I've run into this summer - I can't wait to find out who will be next!

It's a small world (but I'm glad I don't have to paint it).