Putting in some miles: Citrix, Walmart, Schwab & Beltone

As much as I love to travel,  sometimes those 6am flights and 3 hour layovers take a toll. Back in the home office for a couple of weeks at the start of summer - recouping from a cold I picked up in Arkansas (Thanks AJ!) -   and glad to have had a cluster of creative & challenging productions the last couple of months.

May started out with a local production for Citrix at Moscone Center in SF.  One of those "Let's rehearse the demos before the show and save the executive rehearsals for showtime!" Using Creative  Technology's (CT) Kayak 350 HD switcher, most of the show content was delivered to web in an HD Pip (picture in picture) window. The 16x9 camera image cropped to a verticle slice. Kudos to my TD, Bob Hines who had his hands full with all the different sources to the PIP windows.  Watch a bit in HD - click on the above photo.

Then it was off  to the airport: Directing a "Talk to Chuck" Schwab Town Hall Meeting in Washington for Ten Cue Productions.  A late start the 1st morning gave me a chance to take a run (slow jog actually) around the National Mall and White house.

The evening show was hosted by Bill Griffeth, CNBC anchor and host of Power Lunch. Click the photo to watch the webcast.

Back home to do the laundry then off to Fayetteville, AR for the Walmart Shareholder's conference.

Similar to last year there were two nights of concerts - free to the public and two days of meetings. And, as last year, there were many stars on the program.  Jamie Foxx hosted the show with appearance by Josh Grobin, LeeDeWyze (American Idol winner), Mariah Carey & Mary J. Blidge. That's Mariah on the 30 ft high LED screens (below) which could be configured in a number of different layouts.

Another trip back home to do the laundry (and see the family), then a flight to Chicago to direct a Beltone dealers meeting for CT. The City was hopping as the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup and I was hopping mad because I was doing a show while the US Soccer team was taking on England. I actually got to see the last half hour of the game live. Here's hoping Team USA makes it to the next round!

Off to Seattle at the end of the month for my next gig & birthday!  Cheers,

Jim