OK, we don’t exactly rate a monster tour bus stocked with beverages and blue M&M’s, but it still feels like a party when TTBOOK goes on the road. Last week we recorded live on stage in a National Historic Landmark: the Turner Hall Ballroom in downtown Milwaukee, WI. Who knew making radio on a stage could be so much fun? “Live from Milwaukee: Making Waves” is the 4th road show we’ve done, and we’re starting to get our philosophy down.
First step: Get to town early and spend a day getting to know the place. Find a local guide or two, explore a few different communities and learn some local history. Take lots of photos. Second step: Find the universal in the unique particulars. What makes the Milwaukee (or St. Louis, or Salt Lake City) experience distinctive -- but also relevant to someone who lives 2,000 miles away? For Milwaukee, we decided it’s the Great Lakes -- the largest body of freshwater on an increasingly dry and thirsty planet. What happens when the rest of the country wants it? Third step: Showtime! Guests join us on stage for live interviews, readings and performances; local musicians rock live music breaks while sound designer/engineer Joe Hardtke grooves with his headphones on, and multi-media/digital producer Mark Riechers cues videos, photo galleries, animations and all the other cool stuff he stayed up late making.
And the next day? Back to the studio -- revived, refreshed and re-inspired.
Where should we go next?
—Anne