Avian Gamers Network

Well, as strange gigs go this weekend took the cake.

Looooonnng story short. I got a last minute gig working for a group back in Chicago called Redmoon Theatre (redmoon.org I think). They are always doing crazy gigs for crazy people and this one I guess they have been doing annually for several years.

Sam Zell is the 216th richest man in the world and he lives in Chicago. Every year for the past 5 years he has been holding these super secret birthday bashes and each year there has been a huge headlinner performer. Year one with Aretha Franklin and James Brown, Y2 I forgot, Y3 Beth Midler and the Beach Boys where anither year.

Each year the press tries to figure out the location and headliner and this year was the same press frenzy thankfully the scoop was not to be had!

how it works:
To ensure super-surprise Sam Zell goes to crazy efforts to conseal the event. All guests meet at a location downtown, they are then ID checked against a list and given a T-shirt EVERYONE has to wear. They then board a caravan of luxury buses (600 people). This caravan then has a full police escort that does not stop until it reaches the destination (this year was a military Hanger with Hum-Vees and stuff outside).

Redmoon (the troop I was working for as a Stage Manager) did about 1hour of 'walk around' entertainment. then BOOM, lights go down, Boom, lights up and ELTON JOHN is on stage with his Grand Piano!
HOLY FRIGGEN GOD!

So there I was 10 feet from Elton John as he did a show for 600 people! Talk about crazy. After about 2-3 songs the crowd mellowed down and just stood or sat on the 5 steps spanning the length of the stage (30feet) and listened to Elton John completely rock the house. It was like having him in your living room.
He played for about 1 hour 30 minutes and then we did another 15 minutes of entertainment before joining the party.
For what I heard the total cost of the party was around 6-7 MILLION!

To get a better idea of who Sam Zell is a simple google will offer the answers.

needless to say I was one hung-over monkey as I boarded a plane on Sunday to return to the set.
Its Tuesday now and I am back in Chicago for maybe a week. I didn't take photos but a bunch of my friends from Redmoon had digital cameras and I will post some as I get them.

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Moge

Sweet jebus! I suppose I can accept you not playing SWG for other things.

That pretty cool...


/understatement off

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- Wiegraf Terrik
SWG: Human Commando/Pistoleer
WoW: Dwarvish Rogue (Herbalism/Alchemy)
EQII: Alazin, High Elf Wizard

Former Section 4 Director

"Please, if anyone were to play Obi-Wan it would be me, with the 'Luke, Luke save me' and the lightsabers going 'Vvvwiinnngg, vvwinggg, vvvWING!' -- Professor Frink

WOW

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"Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides." - Thomas Paine, Common Sense

I'm pretty sure of these 5-7 millions 4 were for Elton John lol.

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Sluggy Dev'lya-Master Smuggler-Politician
Former Mayor of Avian City

Man, I would do stuff like that, too if I had 100s of millions

the future's so bright, I gotta wear shades

Jason, THE best reason not to play SWG - overly exciting RL .

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Retired Weaponsmith

Very nice.

You making any contacts in these circles?

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Dalaran: Arindel - Frost Mage (Mining/Alchemy)
Dalaran: Roran - Paladin (Weaponsmith/Blacksmith)
Dalaran: Baine - Rogue

Sluggy: I asked what the man act got and I was told 500k. If you saw the decoration and the fact the Sushi-Wabi and Wolfgang Puck did the catering you could easily see where the other 5.5Mil went.

Matija: Sam Zell does not have 100's of Millions. he has several Billions

Arindel: Music is a world unto its own. Eltons 'people' did the sound check and he just came in for the show and left.
BTW He wore a blue Zootsuit with wide white embrodered cuffs.

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Moge

I have no similar excuse for playing SWG lately.

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Dr. Golga Bolg
SWTOR - Golga
Rift - Gnarlwood: Golgar Golgantua Golgate - Retired
WoW - Dalaran: Bolg Golga Virrok All Retired
SWG - Golga Bolg - Doctor (Resident) Retired
Eve - Edge Finn - Limbo
Section 2 - (Former) Director
What am I playing now?: The waiting game

But at least you're alive! I, for one, was beginning to worry!

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Liro
"The english language is not a wedding gown, it doesn't get better the more lace you add. It is instead a thong. Less is more." From /.
I need to remind myself of this regularly.

Awesome. Now where's my Maxwell St polish sausage sandwich...lol

That was cool.

Yeah, Golga...where ya been????

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