Experience the Music - Indianapolis

I’ve spent the entire weekend in Indianapolis for the LGBA/Pride of Indy Experience the Music event. I don’t know if any of the Indy folks read this, but they put on a stellar event.

I arrived into Indy around 3:00PM and Aaron was in the airport ready to pick me up. He took me to the hotel and I got settled in. I did get a nice surprise though; Gwen from BandTogether was going to be staying with Lisa and me. I really like Gwen. She’s hip, she’s forward, and she has no shame. Pretty much everything I look for in a roomie.


Shortly thereafter, Kevin from Houston Pride Band showed up at my door and after a little Cosby show on television and some gossip about HPB. We then hooked up with one of the conductors, Brian from New York Big Apple Corps and we headed over the Music for All/Bands of America headquarters to register for the event.

Indy Pride Band president Shelly was greeting people at the door and handing out welcome packets. I helped her out for a while, greeting everyone as they came in and After getting caught-up we sat down for sectional rehearsal. The music was pretty difficult, but it did us some good to read through it prior to the big rehearsal on Saturday.



After sectionals, we hung around for a while and had a small reception in the Bands of America office. You could tell, everyone was geared up for a fun and exciting weekend. After a little co-mingling, we went to the Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner around the corner.
By this time, it was closing in on Midnight and you can see that I was starting to fade.


Saturday morning, everyone met at Southport High School for rehearsal. From 9AM until 6PM we played. You could tell everyone was getting quite tired by the time we were done.
After rehearsal, we went for a quick dinner with Shelly, Travis and Laura at Pizzeria Uno and then back to the hotel to get ready for the social event.
Laura and Shelly picked us up and off to The Metro bar for some liquid refreshment. After goofing off for a while, Gwen, Kevin and I decided it was time for us to turn in. We hitched a ride back to the hotel with Roller Derby Princess Snide Piper. After a quick shower, Gwen and I started talking and, I hate to say it, I fell asleep while Gwen was talking. Sorry Gwen!


Today had us up early and at dress rehearsal at 9AM. After running some of the music, we broke for lunch and went to the hotel to change. The concert started at 2PM and went very well. Like every other musician, I’m normally more critical of myself (and others) but I think the audience enjoyed it and we were all glad to have pulled it off.

Now time to start thinking of next year’s Experience the Music event… wonder where it will be.