Sleepless in Nebraska

On a somewhat related post to yesterday's, there are a couple of great events coming up locally.  The first is tomorrow's Open Mic On The Bricks in downtown North Platte.  The second is a "Kick Off the Summer" benefit concert at the Rodeo Arena in Sutherland.

So what does this have to do with insomnia?  It's a hazard everyone who plans events faces.

I ran into my friend who is planning the benefit concert at the store this afternoon.  Right now she is thinking it's not too fun to plan events.  I can feel her pain!  Any event is stressful to plan, especially in the last few days when you wonder if things are going to come together or now, but a major outdoor event in west central Nebraska in June can be especially fraught with fear.

So, let me tell you a little about the concert.  It is Saturday June 6th, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the Sutherland Rodeo Arena.  The cost is $5.00 per person or $15.00 per family.  They are serving hamburger and hot dog meals starting at 6:00 p.m.  If the weather turns nasty, the event will be held at the Sutherland High School.  This is an alcohol free event.

"Heart On Your Sleeve" is a great group of young people (and I'm talking young!) who are very talented and have been playing together for a number of years.  They are well worth a listen, even if it may not be exactly your genre of music.  I guarantee (see me at the concert for the fine print) that it won't melt your eardrums.

"Lincoln Highway" is a cover band specializing in great Rock classics.  

My friend isn't a professional event planner.  She is involved with a cause that she cares passionately about, ARC.  She wants to do something great for her community and raise a few bucks and maybe some awareness along the way.  She is going out on a limb and and stretching the envelope of her comfort zone.  Wow!

So, as I said yesterday GO AND DO!  Do I have to shout?  GO AND DO! Unless you have a really good excuse, plan on being at the concert.  Don't like the brand of music being played?  Stretch the envelope of your comfort zone as well.  It's a perfect time.  A great show on TV Saturday night?  Really... reruns will come around, and there's always DVR. OK, I will admit to having a certain reluctance when it comes to missing out on the new episode of Deadliest Catch on Tuesday nights, (yeah, I haven't been to a Rail Fest meeting since the new season began) BUT I did host a House Concert on a Tuesday just a few weeks ago.  So how's that for a sacrifice?

Besides all of the details that need to be planned and everything that can go wrong, the biggest worry of an event planner is that no one will come.  This is where you come in.  Just go and do, and you'll eliminate that anxiety, have a lot of fun, meet new friends and do something great for your community.

So the next event I want to tell you about is the Open Mic on the Bricks.  The people behind this great event are old hands at event planning.  Sharon Owen of A to Z Books in North Platte hosts an Open Mic night at the book store every second Friday and fourth Saturday. She always gets a great lineup of poets, comedians (usually one and the same) musicians and performers.  The emcee who brings the event to life is George Lauby, whom you can read every week in the North Platte Bulletin (or online at www.northplattebulletin.com).  These two have teamed up to expand the event to outdoors on the historic brick streets of downtown North Platte.

Details: Tomorrow on the corner of Dewey and 5th streets, starting at 3:00 p.m. Bring your own lawn chairs. There is no charge, but donations will be gratefully accepted.  One of the finest local bands, Blue Swing will be the headliner at 5:00 p.m., and other great scheduled performances will be interspersed with amateur, but by no means un-entertaining, talent.

Just because they have been doing this for years doesn't mean that Sharon and George are getting a lot of sleep tonight.  They are worried about the weather, the talent, whether or not people will show up, and a million other details.  As I said, you can take a load off their minds just by showing up and having a good time.

Thanks for stopping by.  If you are reading this at 3:00 p.m. central time on Saturday May 30, stop what you're doing and get out to the open mic.  This blog will be there later! The coffee can be brewed at any time.