Ron White

About a month and a half had gone by since I had been to work at YCPAC.  In early November I had been accepted to begin working in the optometrists office in the Walmart that I am employed at part time.  Therefore I was forced to cut back some of my time at YCPAC and during the holidays I was forced to cut back completely.  I didn't mind so much since jumping between the two was becoming increasingly more difficult.

After the holidays ended and my time at Walmart had slackened up a little, I was able to rejoin my friends at YCPAC for a few shows a month.  My first show back, I guess you could call it my triumphant return, was on January 10th when we hosted Ron White.  Not only was I thrilled to be back, but my friends and co-workers were elated to see me.  They really are a great group of people and they make me feel very special.

That night was a sold out show.  Being my first show in over a month, I wasn't quite sure what to expect to be doing.  You can imagine my surprise, and joy, when I was asked to resume my duties as lighting director. The advance for the evening contained very simple lighting instructions: stage lit red for the opening act with two following spotlights and a light blue stage for Ron with two following spotlights.  The only other request was for one light to shine from a completely black stage down onto a stool where Ron's glass and bottle of scotch sat.  Nothing for me that night was too difficult to do, but it was nice to have a slightly subdued lighting set for my return.  Although, only a month off is not enough to forget too much.  It was like riding a bike.

As for the performance, it was hilarious.  The opener, which I can't remember his name, was wonderful and not too full of what I call 'shock' humor. 'Shock' humor is the type that a lot of comedians use anymore.  It's when you realize that you're only laughing because you're shocked that anyone in public would speak those words.  I more appreciate it when someone can make you laugh simply because what they say is actually funny and, for the most part, clean.

Ron White Publicity Photo

Ron White was hilarious.  Before he went on stage, but after the opener, the house and stage went completely dark.  In the darkness, our stage manager ran out and placed to bottle of scotch and an empty glass on the stool.  When Ron was ready backstage, the only light that I brought up was the one that illuminated the stool.  As soon as it was visible, the crowd went berserk.  Then, as Ron walked onto the stage, I brought up the blue stage lights that I had set.  Nice and easy, and yet enough to bring the crowd to their feet.

Usually, from what I have seen, Ron is full of 'shock' humor, so I wasn't too excited to see him live.  I do have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by his act for the night because it was full of good humor about things that I naturally found funny.  Not the entire act of course, but most of it.

All in all, it was a great way to return and it left me excited to return for my next show, which thankfully was only a couple of weeks away.

Thanks for reading.

'Til next time,

Matthew