Super Bowl 44 Half Time Show: The Big Day!

Hope Bruens of Cart PHR 4 outside of Sun Life Stadium

If you have been reading my blog you already know that we've worked for about 2 weeks rehearsing for "the big day" and I really could not believe that it actually came -- and went -- so quickly! Below is how the day shaped up for me and some details about the show and the overall experience:

First, I just want to say that if you all ever get a chance to sign up for the next Super Bowl half time crew, either when it's in South Florida again or if you feel like traveling to Dallas in 2011, it's an experience that's worthwhile. 

On Super Bowl Sunday my reporting time was 3 pm. I was to drive to Nova Southeastern University to park in the garage so they could bus us over to the stadium...ugh. We knew it would be a long, long wait. I was a little nervous about the weather. It was beautiful and sunny but a little cold. Especially if we were to stand around outside where the wind kicks up. I decided to wear a long sleeved Nike running shirt for warmth along with a fleece and brought a leather jacket with gloves. Better safe than sorry -- and was I right. It turned out to be quite brisk once the sun set and many of my crew/cart mates were really cold. 

They gave each of us upon check in a black long sleeved t-shirt with the Half Time show logo on the front and The Who logo on the sleeve. They are just OK and I decided to get a small so it would not fit too loose. I felt a little silly bringing all of my layers with me but was very glad later on. We, of course, were offered (another) box lunch to eat at 3 pm which was odd -- was it lunch or dinner? I had just wolfed down a pb&j on my way so I didn't eat the sandwich -- not that I could have anyway after eating them for the past 2 weeks at rehearsals! I just ate the chips and cookies.

My group found each other quickly in the huge college basketball gym that they sat us all in. We had all of us half time crew folks along with the pre-show kids and I think the band people that were also in the pre-show. I haven't seen the entire pre-show and game yet since I missed most of it being in it. They, of course, were the first to be bussed to the stadium.

We waited -- and waited some more, then finally at about 4:30 (we had to all be there at 3 pm!) we were told to file out to get on the buses. Now some of my crew mates and I thought we'd for sure be on those rental coach buses but oh no, we were taken by police escort on Miami-Dade school buses! Yes, big yellow school buses with about 10 police escorts that blocked traffic in all directions to let us through. We even went through red lights the way you do when you are in a funeral procession! To see the Turnpike blocked off for our lowly little yellow buses was quite a trip. I am sure that those drivers were like "who the heck are in those buses!?!?!?" Of course seeing the AK47 on some of the police around the stadium was a bit scary. We just aren't used to that here in America, are we? I remember seeing much more of that in both Mexico and Greece, but it's odd to see it here in the US.

We disembarked our dozen buses and walked -- right with the regular crowd -- into the stadium through the metal detectors. After one of our stage crew fellows boasted about getting his flask through security we saw him being "escorted" by the police right back out a little later. Not that he was on my cart thankfully but I assume that his drinking was a little out of control and they were -- for obvious reasons -- not allowing him to participate in the half time show set up. That could really be dangerous for him and his fellow crew/cart mates if he did something strange!

We were told to just stand around in a holding area by the stadium staging tent. Again, we all waited and talked - we were all a little nervous but excited. The most exciting part of waiting in this location is that the Air Force jets that did the fly over came directly over our heads -- they were not really over the stadium as I am sure it looked like on TV. They were off to the side and cranked up their after burners as they flew over. That was really cool...they were almost touching each other. We then heard both Queen Latifah and Carrie Underwood sing, of course not being able to actually view them, from outside. We did see some actress that one of my cart mates recognized walking with her Fendi purse and Sephora bag - I remember looking at her and thinking that instead of working here bundled in my black shirt pushing a cart I sure would love to be wearing those high heeled boots, carrying my Fendi purse with my new Sephora stuff --- oh well, such is my life...maybe when I am reincarnated things will be different :)

We then moved our cart to the area where we rehearsed which is lined up outside of the tunnel that leads to the field. We took a ton of pictures of both the actual  instruments that The Who were going to play -- which were loaded up on the center stage parts -- and the outside of the stadium. We waited, tried to watch the game from the far away small TV's and checked and rechecked our cart. We were fortunate enough for the time to fly and before long we were pushing our cart out and into the stadium -- it was time!

The excitement for all of us was huge -- remember, we had rehearsed for this one moment for 2 weeks.   As we were running through the tunnel and onto the field everyone in the tunnel were cheering for us, that felt great! Thank you everyone who happened to be standing in that tunnel! I saw, in the moment that I had running past a number of uniformed people -- thanks to all of them. They made us all feel great.

Once out on the field I was surprised about how very quiet it was. You can't believe how noise dampening that grass is -- with 75,000 people in the stands it was almost serene. A very strange thing. You could hear people talking next to you. I expected it to be loud. We wheeled the cart into our rehearsed position perfectly! Then quickly "peeled off" and went to the sidelines while the whale tail guys took off the strobe light and positioned it on the ground between carts.

I sat on the 20 yard line right on the sidelines with nobody in front of me to watch the show! Some of my crew mates ran over to the front (we were towards the back) but I had a good enough view and also was nervous about being in position for the exit in time. The show was terrific. I had a number of people tell me that The Who was terrible on TV but from where I sat they were great -- Daltry's voice was a little rough in spots but overall I loved it. I'd love to hear what you all think...and yes, Pete Townshend did sound off. We completely loved it!

We successfully wheeled our cart off of the field and waited some more at the staging tent. Funny, but I was almost sad that it was over so quickly.  But I really was tired and getting really hungry by this time. We waited, and waited some more -- took more photo's and celebrated a very successful show set up and exit -- our jobs!

Steve our cart leader was not around too much so we were sure that he was off watching the game and (we hope) having a few beers! He worked hard and we really enjoyed having him as our leader. Now he's off to LA to work his Nick Cage movie! You go Steve!

We boarded the buses again and headed back to the university to eat pizza and watch the private DVD of the set-up and break-down of the stage...but a number of us, me included, just couldn't hold out that late. It was already like 10 pm and we watched the post-game (thankfully only Patrick worked on that stage set-up!) for a while in the gym, ate our pizza and walked out to our cars. Again a little anti-climactic for us after such an intense project! 

To my fellow cart mates and new friends I have to say that this was one memorable experience! I am sure that we will have a Cart PHR 4 get together one of these days....now, who wants to go on a road trip to Dallas to work on Super Bowl 45 next year, I heard that The Eagles are playing...any takers? Ha, ha.....

During THE WHO half time show at Super Bowl 44 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, FL

Taken from the 20 yard line on the field

Super Bowl Rehearsal Day 7: THE WHO REHEARSAL IN STADIUM

YES! THIS IS IT, (sorry I am shouting but this is friggin' exciting!) I get to set up the stage and watch The Who perform from a relatively close distance inside Sun Life stadium.

Let me document this evening's rehearsal experience from the beginning...I'll try not to bore anyone, but really want to make sure you guys are living through this with me:

In the beginning...(sorry, wrong way to start)...we were asked on day 6 to try to come last night, big rehearsal day, at 3 pm and had to arrive by 5 pm. I understood that we would see The Who rehearse a few extra times if we arrived early but if you knew my work/home/life schedule you would certainly understand why I got there at 4:30 and didn't make it at 3 pm.

After I parked in my usual spot (so I can find it at the end of the night in that huge Sun Life stadium lot!) I saw a crew mate talking on his cell and after waving and walking past I hear "don't rush down here for rehearsal..." and stop and turn back around. He was on the phone with another crew mate telling him that unless you were there exactly at 3 pm then there is nothing to do but wait until the 5 pm time slot. Bummer...this crew mate of mine arrived at about 3:30 and apparently was not able to get into the stadium to assist. I wish the organizers had made that clearer for all of us that rushed down to help out -- and of course get a little more listening time with The Who!

Anyway another crew mate came at about the same time and we talked for a while since we had to wait anyway to get into the stadium. We checked in at the same white tent, received wristbands and were escorted to the stadium. I totally ignored/bypassed the lunch boxes. I think if I had to eat another horrible soggy sandwich for dinner one more night I would scream...sooooo that meant going hungry (but Steve, our roadie came to my rescue, more on that later).

Funny, but I finally remembered to bring "Jennifer" our cart's mascot: a mule (or donkey or ass..really). I decked her out with our cart number: PHR 4 (not that should not mean anything to anyone but fellow cart mates but the "PH" stands for pyrotechnics and the "R" is for radial -- once you see the show Sunday you will totally understand!) and her name: "Jennifer". If you read my day 1 blog you will remember that a number of us told our first roadie/cart leader that  all our names were Jennifer. Well, we do have 2 Jennifer's so it only seemed appropriate. Our mascot is a little ass, no really, and sits proudly inside the cart. She tips over a lot but we always right her -- our little ass is just as proud as she can be. Postings of photo's will be later and she has some good poses!

We were escorted through the metal detectors and, despite being told to NOT bring our cell phones in since we are not supposed to photograph or record The Who/the show, we all brought ours. I honestly was hoping that I would not have to take Jennifer, our little ass, out of my pocket (yes, I had on cargo pants so my bulging pockets would not be weird looking)...now that would be embarrassing and I don't get embarrassed easily at all. But for some odd reason I would have really been embarrassed by Jennifer the mule/donkey/ass in my pocket. You laugh do you!

All our cell phones made it through - whew! And we were seated in the first few rows on the side of the field. Our stage (I am kind of getting attached to this huge thing) was assembled by the 3 pm volunteers and glowing like a Christmas tree! It was a thing of beauty to behold even in the daylight.

Then after some speaking by our fearless leaders we saw stage hands come out and mock playing/standing where The Who will be. They ran through the songs twice. It was strange and funny to see motley roadies playing air guitar and mock drumming and singing on stage, but this gave the camera crew a great way to fully know when to shot and from what angle. It looked like the stage hands mocking The Who were close in height to each member of the band -- so the cameras, once adjusted could kind of know where they need to be shooting.

After the mock band, Roger, Pete, Pete's brother Simon, Zack Starky- Ringo's son, and a bass player who I am not sure who it was (I'm sure if you looked it up on the internet you can find out who is playing bass guitar at the show) came on stage. The first 2 times they played sounded -- and looked -- mostly pre-recorded and they were lip syncing. I think that was for timing. The stage was glowing (just wait until you see this!) with it's $3 million dollars of LED lights...yes, $3 million just in lights which we all handle time and time again...and the lasers. No fireworks yet though so we really had no idea what we were in for!

We filed out of the stands, which too quite a while since we had to all go down a two person walkway, and went to our cart leaders who then took us to our carts outside the stadium. Really, those hallways are  huge if you have never been underneath a large stadium. We, on cue of course, ran through getting the carts out on the field and into position.

The next rehearsal was even better. Some of the fireworks went off - and just about scared me to death since I am just so close to them, the fog machine fired up and some parts of the stage -- OUR part started to flame. The lights of the stadium were wild and there is a part of the show where attendee cell phones are used, in unison with guides telling you what to do...no more information or I'll have to kill you, but I promise it's better than the old school lighter thing. Then we pulled it all back out...and...waited...and...waited...

The final rehearsal was completely full on as it will be on Sunday and I can assure you that you will not be at all disappointed!

To get to the part about Steve, a great guy and our cart leader, feeding me -- he very nicely offered to go to the food tent which he said was a great spread (but of course us volunteers never seem to get the "spread" but we get a heck of a lot of boxed soggy stuff). He and another fellow cart mate brought us candy - wonderful frozen candy....mmmmm. It was the best. I had a bag of peanut M&M's and that was dinner. Thanks Steve, you are the best!

This will be a show NOT to be missed and I cannot wait to tell you what happens behind the scenes.....to sum rehearsal day 7 -- our last rehearsal:

- A private performance by The Who for us
- A nervous and short Cap talk
- A great time with my crew mates who I really enjoy hanging with
- Great pictures taken by Steve, our roadie who I also enjoy hanging with (he's headed to LA to work on a Nick Cage movie set until July, what a life!)
- A great time in general...there is talk that next year, when the Super Bowl is in Texas, that we'll all take a road trip there and work it again...yes, it's that fun.

Not sure you'll SEE me during the half time show but rest assured I WILL be on the field with everyone watching The Who from about as close as you could be...now the question of the day is do I wear the ear plugs they gave us or not?

Pictures, fun quotes and Jennifer coming at ya...after this great show...catch you then ;)

Super Bowl Rehearsal Day 6: Almost There, Tears and Exhaustion

The rehearsal on Wednesday evening was not nearly as strange or horrific as day 5 when the center stage collapsed on 4 people -- thankfully!

The evening started out as always -- no need to bore you with the details of the check-in, box lunch (they has some new choices tonight) and the bleachers. I am sure you all are getting tired of hearing about all that.

We did get another speech from Cap. This time it was not about trains, but about pigs and farming. That seems to be another story line that Cap likes...and the story is always one that tries to motivate all of us. Once unique thing that happened last night was that Cap told us that someone, after the horrific collapse on day 5, went up to him and told him that he seemed insensitive to what had happened. So, in typical Cap fashion, he took his cap off (yes, he wears a baseball cap that says "CAP" on it, go figure) and shed some tears. Yes, this made me -- and my fellow crew mates -- a bit uncomfortable. We are really still not sure that it was genuine. But even so, the thought was there...and life goes on.

Cap wanted us last night to "get back on the bike" and focus. He wants up to move forward of course with our jobs (that he is getting for free of course) and make sure that we are safe and motivated. He of course tossed in there that tonight, rehearsal day 7, will include a number of rehearsal run-throughs with The Who. This will be great. Of course the fact that Pete Townsend was tried for kiddie porn on his computer is still a bit of a downer (and we know that people will be protesting outside the stadium) but even if they are scum in real lift they sure do play great. Plus my memories of High School parties and listening to The Who will come flooding back -- I just love this band's music even if I don't respect them in their regular lives. And Roger Daltry really has a great voice at his advanced age. I hear that Zack Starsky will be on drums (Ringo Star's son) and that's really kind of cool. He is talented and I am a Beatles fan also -- who isn't?

We did our actual set up 3 times last night so I am completely exhausted. Not much down time for us but I did end up taking a break by sitting and laying down under our cart on the equipment shelf. My back has a little kink in it due to standing for 3 hours every night, and the running with the 2,500 lb. cart. Certainly anyone who is not in OK shape would have to quit this job, it's very physically demanding. My shoulders are bruised from hitting the structure when I run and push.

We has some great runs last night and Cap congratulated us all on doing a fine job. I just hope that we can keep up this pace tonight and of course on Sunday. We are all supposed to try to get there early today -- 3 pm if possible to help line up all of the carts with the stage hands. Of course they tempt us all by saying that we'll see The Who rehearse about 4 times if we get there early and if we are there by the latest time, 5 pm, then we'll see them rehearse 2 times.

The best thing about tonight's rehearsal -- besides seeing The Who -- is that we get to see the ENTIRE half time show as you will see it on Sunday. Fireworks, lights, full music set and all. This is a complete, as it will be on Sunday, dress rehearsal!

After these long nights (and long days waking up early for work) I am hoping that I feel that it was all worthwhile. Of course running the stage carts onto the field on Sunday with 75,000 fans in the seats, The Who in the wings and another 90 million watching "our stage" on TV will be the pinnacle of this entire adventure...

Look for the day 7 blog on Friday...should be a great one!

PS - YES! I do plan to try and get Roger, Zack and (maybe) Pete's autographs...I'll let you know :)

Super Bowl Rehearsal Day 5:The Collapse

Day 5 was last night and as I am sure that most of your saw on the news, one of the main sections of the stage completely collapsed. No I am not hurt thankfully, but 4 of my fellow half time show volunteers are -- and that's very sad...this is how this very strange day shaped up....

First I knew it was a bad omen when my daughter sent me a text at 11 am telling me that she's sick and needs to be picked up. Now, normally I would be OK with stopping all that I do and help my children but you have no idea (or maybe you do) of ALL that I am doing right now. I have no time to spare and realized that when I caught myself texting while using the restroom and doing work for clients while at stop lights. Yes, crazy I tell you.

Next I realized that my late afternoon client meeting would require a better outfit than a half time show rehearsal outfit -- which is normally a warm up suit or jeans -- so I had to plan a "car change". This is not something that I have done in like 20 years when I used to go out on a friend's boat after work all summer. Then stupidly I downed a huge diet coke right before hitting the Turnpike to Miami and hit a huge traffic jam which was because a car that had caught on fire -- and I passed the only rest stop from Boca to Sun Life stadium while talking on the phone (of course). Hmmmm, that means car change for sure (I finally had the bright idea of stopping at the rest stop and changing but that came and went...literally) and it also means that I have to use a -- drum roll please -- port-a-potty. Yikes! I haven't used one since I had to at SunFest last year and that was the only other time in about 5 years, thankfully. Oh well, things could get worse -- and they do, just wait.

So after pulling in to our special gate at the stadium I make a beeline for the farthest parking space possible where there is no traffic. Changing in the car was not too big a deal, so glad that I lost all that weight last year though...my clothes actually are loose fitting now. After no line upon check in I promptly headed to the -- drum roll please -- port-a-potty bank that they set up for all of us. I tried to select the one that looked least used, a real trick from the outside, and did just OK. After holding my breath for the entire time and almost passing out, I thought that if they can put people in space, make an artificial heart, invent the Ipad (what a ridiculous name, right?! Must have been a guy to not really get that this is one name to stay away from!), then why the heck can't we develop a better portable toilet system than just a huge hole where you can view all of the "stuff" (you know exactly what I mean here). There has to be someone out there that can work on this...please for goodness sakes!

OK, the washing stations were good so at least I felt somewhat less polluted. I selected another box lunch - roast beef - and sat down again in an open spot on the bleachers. My crew mate Dave saw me and got his box and joined me.

Cap just had to speak, in length, again and it was another train story. I am seeing a theme here and know that he wants us to act like a train that keep pace with each other -- and is really pounding it into our head. The great thing is that my concept of cutting the whale-tails all down in width was done. They were all now eight inches narrower. This will make our docking and sliding up and down so much easier. Cap didn't mention that a volunteer suggested this idea, which I am sure they thought about earlier, but oh well - we both know who had the idea ;) And no this had nothing to do with the collapse of the center stage.

The center stage parts had been loaded up with The Who's equipment. A drum set, speakers, and other tarped items. This is really what, we think, caused the topple of the piece. It was terrible top heavy and the practice field is not that level. We heard that they hit a storm drain, which had been marked with bright orange spray paint, but our roadie said that they didn't. We think that the weight was too much for the little wheels. Yes, I have another suggestion for Cap but am not sure that last night, amid the turmoil (and I am certain headaches for him and his team) it was the appropriate time to tell him my latest idea. I told Steve, our union roadie, and he agreed: Larger wheels. They really need to weld on a larger castor and wheel to handle the load and height. Simple engineering logic here. Those tiny wheels that our whale tails have just don't work for the tall top heavy carts. Our pieces are long and wide with the weight  on a bottom shelf - low center of gravity. Those are tall, top heavy and really need more stability on the bottom. Sounds kind of simple, right? Let's hope they fixed them today.

We were called my cart again and my team was already out in front of the bleachers by the time that Marcus called us -- only he skipped us and we joked that he doesn't like our cart. We quickly walked with Steve to our cart and -- not surprisingly -- stood around. I had my son find a mascot for us which is quite appropriately a mule. But, I forgot it in all of the craziness of the day.

Rehearsal began and we assembled in the practice field. Surprisingly it was not that wet or cold. Just a little muggy and really a nice night...until the horrible accident happened. We had just completed one rehearsal and the radials were out and we were all waiting on the center to make it out of the practice field so we could do yet another run. As we all were watching them move across the practice field a center piece fell completely forward, screams were heard and most of us started running to help the wounded. Very quickly, in like 5 seconds, they pulled the stage up and off of anyone who was hit by a part. We received an update that the 4 injured are home from the hospital and will be fine. Not sure what their injuries were but tonight I should find out more. When this happened my heart stopped, I felt very sick (that may have been the bad, soggy roast beef sandwich) and just prayed that they were not completely crushed under that thing. Tears began but I held back after getting close and seeing that the injured were moving their legs and were not bent at odd angles or bleeding - whew! Many people that were near were just so upset and kind of flipping out. The entire fleet of Sun Life stadium emergency vehicles came in: a couple of ambulances, fire trucks, police, fire rescue, etc. It was a field of flashing lights. By this time they told us via the mic to get into the bleachers and out of the way. They then said a helicopter will be air lifting the four people to the hospital and not to be scared since it is landing right near us. That was quite a sight to see - I just would love to see the inside of that helicopter with it's emergency equipment, etc.  -- as a spectator and NOT someone who needs to ride in the thing to the hospital mind you. Those pilots and helicopter doctors and nurses are hero's I tell you! Paramedics are hero's also. Don't get me going on how much I respect people doing that emergency work - and I think I can't sleep at night! One of my ex-bosses, who I love (Ann!), told me once: "It's OK, you're not saving lives here"...geeze if I really were then I would be a basket case. I get upset if one small thing doesn't work the way that I planned out for my clients, so I can't imagine actually saving lives!

When that huge event passed we were told to return to our carts and to help line them up outside the practice field. Of course they were calling for all people that witnessed it close and many pictures, etc. were being taken. I am sure that this will be a huge liability thing for at least a year. Our roadie said that it was "bad karma" and that he wonders if The Who would want to go up on that stage now - with all of it's bad karma. We'll see how this all works out. We did hear The Who rehearse already so that's a good thing.

The end of the night was sad. We all just kind of moped to our cars and thought that perhaps the next night, tonight, will be a bit happier -- and more successful. A staggering fact is that the largest Super Bowl half time stage to date has been 6,000 square feet -- our stage is 16,000 square feet. Now just imagine that we not only have something almost triple in size but we have 4 times more pieces and just the same amount of time:
5 minutes and 54 seconds to get the entire 16,000 sq. ft. set up and then another 5 minutes and 54 seconds to get it all broken down -- including time it takes to get it in and out of the field.
That's a little mind boggling, don't you agree?

I'm off (again) to Sun Life stadium and really not looking forward to another box lunch. Just tonight and then tomorrow is dress rehearsal with The Who. Ahhhh, yes, this too will all pay off in the end I hope. I also am making great new friends and business contacts. The production company: White Cherry Productions, is huge and multi-faceted, it's all good.

Now we just have to pray that there are no more accidents...look for my day 6 update tomorrow!