Rain was in the forecast, but I was not gonna let that slow me down. I had already been to Ralphs to get $81 worth of Mad Munch supplies for the St. Paddy's Day Festival, so I was fully invested.
The day before, we spent most of the afternoon & evening constructing a series of tents to create a circus, "big top" type of atmosphere to combat against the upcoming storm. There were about six of us (mostly members of the bands who agreed to play the event) who worked laboriously to tarp over the majority of the large balcony behind my apartment facing Dusty Rhodes Park.
Early the next morning, I drove my truck out to San Carlos to pick up one of the musicians & fill up the truck bed with a PA system, speakers, & plenty of DJ equipment. When I returned home, the other two acts had already arrived & we were doing our best to set up amidst 20-30 mph winds.
Meanwhile, my roommate spent his morning smoking reefer & telling me how bad the storm was gonna be. "You guys are gonna get washed out. There's a tidal wave coming," he said.
"Yeah, sure," I thought. But, I was in too deep now. Too much was on the line, the bands were depending on us to put on their show.
Kate did well to spread the word & brought with her a crowd (not to mention, a six-foot inflatable Leprechaun). It was a lot of girls who had been to the second Taste-Test Party & a few more. Without them, I don't think the party would have been much of one.
The music went on without a hitch & while the rain & wind howled violently at times & people got soaked, it only added to the fun. "This reminds me of Bonnaroo!" someone looking on said to me.
Best of all, the concert-goers were hungry for a hot meal on such a cold day. I even made a little bit of extra money & people still talk about that party. It was certainly worth all of the extra effort that those who did help me put in.
It really does take a village, so don't try to do it all by yourself.
