Gracie & Lacy's Charleston Adventures

Judy Garland sang it well, "Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning" or anytime for that matter!  Once I laid eyes on Charleston, I knew we had clocked our time doing mid-west winters.  The time had come...we were ready to relocate to a sunnier home-base for our traveling sister act, "Gracie & Lacy."

Lacy and I came to Charleston, SC to scope out the lay-of-the-land during a spring vacation.  In the words of the Charleston, SC CVB: "Everything you've heard is true - now start packing."  And that's just what we did!  We hurried home to St. Louis, MO, packed our bags and were living in the lowcountry a month later.

Whether you're seriously planning to move to Charleston, or whether you're on vacation...innocently toying with the idea...here's a tip: If you happen to find an unoccupied dwelling place while house hunting, you'd better snag it up quick.  In fact, you've got about 30min. to get back to your hotel and make up your mind. If you don't....DING! TIME'S UP. Someone else has already beat you to it.  We were lucky because, we found a happy place to live the very last day of our vacation.  And due to the nature of our entertainment company, Gracie & Lacy, our highest priority was closet space for the vintage costumes! As luck would have it...our back room has an entire wall of closets.  Hooray!

Well, needless to say, we love Charleston!  And this blog post includes all of our favorite spots to eat, shop, walk, sight-see, eat and then eat some more.  FYI: When you visit Charleston, eating becomes your favorite past time. This is why you'll want to check out the Charleston Swing Dance Association - to burn off all those calories! See Gracie & Lacy snapshot (right). This was our "last hurrah," shall we say...before returning to St. Louis to pack our bags, load our costumes and move down south.

Now, back to the topic of southern food.  Here are some places you must try if you are to have the full Charleston experience!  Also, take a look out at the list below of our favorite Charleston destinations.

My favorite bird down south...the egret.

THE HOMINY GRILL
Please don't judge, but this place serves the best bacon & sausage in the universe.  Oh, yes, you must also try their famous grits.  If you want coconut cake, just buy it at breakfast.  If you come back later in the afternoon like we did, it will be gone.

THE GLASS ONION
I ordered dinner here after I left a tapas restaurant with my stomach still growling. Ahh, the Glass Onion...the land of fried chicken and buttermilk.  Get the buttermilk with the chicken, you won't be sorry.  Also, put your name on the list for fried chicken about a week in advance (yes, it's that popular).

KING STREET SHOPPING
Walk the cobblestone streets, tour a historic church, ride in a horse-drawn carriage, but by all means, go shopping on King Street.

THE CHARLESTON MUSEUM
Make time for this museum.... then you will be able to tell your friends that you visited the first museum in America!  Legend has it that George Gershwin was inspired to write the score for the musical, "Porgy & Bess" on Folly Beach. Among many other relics and incredible pieces of history, the very piano upon which George Gershwin composed "Porgy & Bess" is on display at this museum.

THE DOCK STREET THEATRE
Catch a show at the historic Dock Street Theatre.  This theatre is known as the first theatre in America.  It is beautifully restored and is open to the public for tours.

RAINBOW ROW
Get a cup of coffee and take a stroll by way of the historic pastel houses on East Bay Street, known as Rainbow Row (below left).  Try not to covet the well-watered, un-neglected, vibrant flowers in the window boxes. While you're heading east, extend your walk along the East Battery.  Upon arrival, take in the fresh air, the breathtaking houses (below right), and walk through Battery Park.

Rainbow Row

Historic House on East Battery

Fundraising Ideas For Theatre & Special Events

Fundraising For Our Musical Theatre Company:

Below are some fundraiser ideas that we gleaned from our theatre days in St. Louis! Many of these fundraising plans can be adapted for meeting and event planners in conjunction with charity galas and corporate events.

Before Lacy and I began touring full-time as Gracie & Lacy, we ran a theatre company in St. Louis, MO called Broadway on the Driveway. Once upon a time...when we were eight and ten years old we went to see a show on the Goldenrod Showboat.  Mesmerized, we hung a bed-sheet curtain across our garage door, creating our own driveway theatre.  With a cast of 15 people under age 12, we directed and produced our first musical. The driveway shows grew exponentially until traffic jams and two hundred patrons in lawn chairs prompted a friendly visit from the local police.  It was time for broadway to move off the driveway...and find another venue.

Singing In The Rain, 2006

After a few years of producing in churches and schools, we decided to make the leap and secure an expensively sparkling performing arts center for our upcoming musical, "Singing in the Rain." The show would cost $10,000 to produce and the production would be presented free-of-charge. Never mind the fundraising...at least we knew how we were going to make it rain!

Over time, our annual musicals expanded to a volunteer team of 150, with a cast of 90, an orchestra of 20, a full production team, two-turtle doves, and a partridge in a pair tree. Six musicals later, the production costs were six times greater (and climbing!).
Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore. Let the fundraising begin!

The Scheidegger Center, 2012

APPLY FOR GRANTS:
-Check Out: Young Singers Foundation
-Grant for projects benefitting young people

CHARGE A TECH FEE:
-Cast & volunteer tech fees cover technical needs
-Secures commitment level of volunteers/cast

SELL STATIC SLIDE ADS:
-Our most successful fundraiser
-Slides run before/after show, during int.

Satin & cardboard Christmas presents

-Slides save exponentially on printing costs
-Put business contact info in printed program

PRE-SHOW RECEPTION:
-Our 2nd most successful fundraiser
-Sell tickets to a special pre-show
-Reserved seating, dessert, meet the cast, etc.
-Popular with: Seniors, church groups, tour buses

CHRISTMAS SHOW:
-Build enthusiasm w/Christmas show fundraiser
-Feature talent in variety show (min. rehearsal)

-Dessert theatre style or theatrical venue
-Ticketed event

SWING DANCE:
-Rent a ballroom and throw a swing dance
-Offer a free lesson before the dance
-Charge entrance fee
-Accept donations for catered refreshments
-Award prizes: dance contest, costume contest

DONATION BOXES:
-Make donation receptacles available in theatre lobby
-Make mention of their location in program

ASK FOR GIFTS IN KIND:

The Gateway City Big Band, 2006

-Ask your supporters for gifts-in-kind
-List the items folks can sponsor: backdrops, royalties, venue
-Make list of items folks can donate: fabric, lumber

GIVE YOUR EVENT A CATCHY NAME
We called our swing dance fundraiser for
"Singing in the Rain" "SPRINGING FOR THE RAIN"


A FEW MORE TIPS...
-Vendors may have special rates for charity events

Springing For The Rain, 2006

-Less expensive to rent linens than purchase & launder
-Venues may require flame retardant pipe and drape

Below is one of my favorite pics from the last broadway musical we produced in St. Louis.  Today, Lacy and I perform full-time as Gracie & Lacy based on the east coast in Charleston, SC.  Our vintage hollywood-era touring show travels nation-wide...if you catch our show, you might just notice a re-purposed costume from our St. Louis musicals!  For instance...I'm costumed as a toy soldier tap dancer (right) wearing HAROLD HILL'S band leader hat (pictured left).  Check out: GracieAndLacy.com

The Music Man, 2012

Gracie's Dance: GracieAndLacy.Com

The World Is A Stage...The Stage Is A World Of Special Event Planners!

Sweet Adelines International

As a touring entertainer for the Gracie & Lacy show, I've had the opportunity to watch the creative master-minds who toil behind the scenes, fashioning ordinary corporate events and functions into works of art. The special event coordinators, meeting planners & designers are the ones who connect the dots at these stunning events.  From the moment they open the doors and strike up the band, I love watching guests enter a hall filled to the brim with style and ambiance.  Here are some fabulous ideas we've gleaned from event planners over the years. 

We had the opportunity to perform at the The Sweet Adelines International Conventions in Orlando, FL and Indianapolis, IN.  Both times, the production team was wise to choose royal blue drape: as you can imagine blue pipe and drape goes a long way for choruses of 100+ women!  The Sweet Adeleines had hundreds of performers that weekend and royal blue made every single costume "pop" under the lights.

We performed at a charity gala for Children's Flight of Hope in Raleigh, NC and were happily immersed in their 1940's vintage-themed affair.  I wanted to take home this adorable ticket window (below left). Rumor has it that a Martha Stewart designer blitzed the airplane hanger with gorgeous antique decor, glitzy chandeliers, and oh yeah - an air plane! (below right) The planning committee pulled out all the stops AND managed  to raise $250,000 to further their mission.

Children's Flight Of Hope Vintage Decor!

Children's Flight Of Hope Show

America's largest Veteran's Day celebration occurs in Branson, MO every year during their annual Veterans Week! One of my favorite Branson venues for special events is Chateaux on the Lake.  We did a Veterans tribute show there for Grand Crowne Resorts.  On that trip we learned:  always submit high-res photos for PR.  you never know how big someone is planning to blow it up (see pic to right)!

Opener for Grand Crowne: "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"

Grand Crowne Resorts Promo Display

Savannah, IL PAC appearance

For all Vintage Hollywood themed extravaganzas, a starry-night backdrop is the way to go. The Alan & Adrianne St. George Center For the Arts showcased a fiberoptic backdrop that was programmed to change colors to coincide with the show.  This type of drop can also be rented for a ballroom or convention hall setting.  The color changing option dramatically enhances mood lighting and themed decor in the room. During the show (pictured left), we shared the stage with several magicians and illusionists (thank God they didn't make our act disappear!).  At lunch, I asked the gentlemen next to me, "What do you do?" "I've been a hypnotist for 20 years" was the reply.  "Oh, that's nice" I said.

Churchill Downs Appearance

Now if you've never worked on an event for the Kentucky Derby, you're in for a real surprise.  You almost don't need a stage manager because. . . the horses run the show.  Every time the horses enter the paddock, the music must stop (so you don't spook the horses...or take away any of their thunder). 

The tech director at Churchill Downs told us that once he contracted a band to play 4 hours - and the horses came out so many times, the band played a total of 20 minutes for the entire night!

Note to self:  next time I perform under the stars at Churchill Downs after dark in chilly mid-November, I'm so going to wear my vintage mink stole! (right).

Lastly, all corporate meeting planners know that you must not leave your puppy unattended during the big night - or something like this (below right) will occur.  Our service puppy, Bliss, got a little restless when Christmas shows became the theme during the holiday season!  Bliss is all grown up and serves a Veteran in St. Louis, MO as a balance dog!  She actually attended two of our Gracie & Lacy shows when we were performing back in STL.

Corporate Entertainment / PACs

www.GracieAndLacy.com

info@GracieAndLacy.com

Our puppy...during the "big night"