As usual writing these are not my Forte, but I'll try to get my impressions down as best I can. Since I only have an account and post here (hehe only patience for one central location...or is that attention span) feel free to copy this over to other fan forums if you feel they would like this.
First off I like to arrive hours early. In this case around 7AM, once I navigated the annoying network of one way streets that is downtown Sacramento and found a decent parking garage (Ohhhh weekend rates are so much better) I took care of an hour long obligation. I killed some time waiting for deVeers irish pub to open fro brunch by walking around the convention center. I noticed that one of the buses was already there, I assume the crew had left Reno and came directly to setup with the equipment. The last time I was at deveers it was in the evening, noisy and the bustle of the city at night. At 9am it was quiet and I was able to eat breakfast at my own pace. I wandered into old Sacramento...lets see if i can get the pictures and video to fit right.
The ziggurat...Fans of The Mentalist probably don't realize this is where the CBI was meant to be located (from window views)
Good thing no one from the show saw this place.
ChooChoo Video
On to the Venue. First things first...a change from the usual venue. The Community Center Theater has a much better sound than the Memorial Auditorium, where they usually play. A performance hall rather than A cavernous multipurpose room.
Once they let us into the Lobby we milled around...more and more of us until it seemed like we were Sardines ready to burst the tin, Save the curious bubbles around the two moonlighting program vendors. At last movement and on to my seat. Now I got lucky when I bought my ticket....I hadn't had any money for this until about two weeks ago. I was smack dab in the middle of the eighth orchestra row, which for this theater is almost ideal seating. The pit area where I assume the M&G people were is not that good with the edge of the stage blocking a lot of the view. So here closer isn't necessarily better. On photos....the Ushers were death on anyone snapping a photo even before the show with people taking selfies I did manage to get an audience view of the stage before they started going after people.
There are a number of things that I've always had fun with in the show. I don't think that Ray's Bodhrain gag is ever gonna get old for me, he just has too much fun with it. I'm pretty sure Máiréad N turned away suddenly during the intro of Téir Abhaile Riú to avoid cracking up. Orinoco always gets a cheer the second any can recognize that it is up. The guys goofing around during their numbers. Marveling on how Anthony can pipe and negotiate steps at the same time while looking straight ahead. From that side of the stage all seemed well.
On my side of the stage...welllllll. People were still finding their seats during Newgrange....even though flash photography is forbidden it's still distracting to see this side of a smartphone light up (which is why the ushers were quite busy). The worst for me is right in the Middle of Nella Fantasia two people decide to try for the two empty seats next to me. Now, I'm right in the middle of the row which means they had to crawl over everyone to the right of me. I'm pretty sure I saw my "what the heck" look being mirrored onstage. Then the two proceed to natter for the rest of the show. I was seriously tempted to pull out my phone to attract an Ushers attention.
Made it to the end and briefly spoke to Ray after the incredibly cute scene with him and this little girl. He was off to a pub before a 14 Hour bus ride. Once I reoriented myself to figure out where I had parked, it was off to my car. Of Course figuring out how to navigate the one way streets partially blocked by construction is another story.
