That’s right folks… it’s MOVIE NIGHT!! Tonight we have a trip down memory lane (at least for me 
)
In 1979, I had the privilege and pleasure of booking the first major concert ever sponsored by SUNY Potsdam. The challenge with booking big name acts on relatively small campuses (with small arenas… in this case the gymnasium) is to find a band that is passing through your area at the right time and at the right price; there is just not enough of a draw to be booked as a destination stop on a tour. In our case, we were essentially an overnight stop between Syracuse and Montreal, so we at least had some options.
After a summer long search, we got lucky. The Little River Band would be passing through Potsdam right after the Thanksgiving break and their new album, First Under the Wire, (an album is something like a CD for you youngens) was climbing the charts fast. Since they weren’t yet considered a major headliner, they were within striking distance of our budget. Long story short… the album hit #1 just before they came to town and the concert was sold out within hours of the tickets going on sale.
If I’m not careful this post is going to turn into a long trip down memory lane, but I’d like to share one quick anecdote. I had hired members of our ROTC to handle backstage security for the concert. One critical post was the hallway that led to the dressing rooms for the bands. I gave one young man very clear instructions: No one is to pass this point unless they are with the band. I then left to check on various pre-concert issues. When I returned, my ever-diligent security guard would not let me pass; as he explained, I said no one could pass that point if they were not with the band. My best laugh of the night. Fortunately, all that was required for me to get back to the dressing room was to modify his orders. I am confident he became a fine officer in our Armed Services.
I think I learned more from planning and preparing for that concert than in any 10 classes I took in college. As an aside, The Little River Band was the nicest, most professional group of musicians I worked with during my time in college… a real class act.
So tonight, in honor of that special night nearly 27 years ago, a virtual concert courtesy of the nice folks who posted these clips on YouTube… The Little River Band:
“Lonesome Loser”
“Help is on It’s Way”
“It’s a Long Way There”
“Reminiscing”
Thank you.. and good night!
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