Pros and Con(vention)s

Every once in awhile we get to perform in a non-traditional venue. I like the term “non-traditional venue”, it’s so descriptive, isn’t it? It could mean anything from Aunt Addy’s drawing room to a Pot Belly’s to a college lecture hall and quite a few more that I can think of and performed in or at.

In this case, I’m talking about the AHR Expo 2012 coming up Monday through Wednesday for Taco, Inc. at McCormick Place. Now you might think that’s a strange place for an a cappella quartet to sing, but it’s a great time and a great gig. We get to interact with people all day, sing for them, talk to them and just be fun and a bit goofy and we get to stretch too. We re-lyric a song and we dress in themed costumes and work the booth. We meet and greet and talk with people and then we sing for them, which is usually a surprise to the people. And the most unexpected thing is, it’s really intimate. Every performance is new and different and in the moment. It can’t be any other way, in a cavernous convention hall. The point of focus is ever changing and it’s a fun challenge to keep that focus.

What will we be dressed like this year, you ask? Well, I’ll try and get some pictures and maybe a tweet or two while at the convention. and if I don’t get any while at the convention, I’ll post some after the convention.

Better yet, if you find yourself at the convention, come and take a picture with us, we’ll be at  Taco, Inc. booth, booth 5400 and hard to miss.

Here’s a video of what last year’s Expo was like. And this year promises to be just as fun.

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Oh, one last thing.  I don’t really have an Aunt Addy and I don’t know anyone who has, so I’ve never sung in her drawing room. Just wanted to let you know.

Is it too early for Christmas?

Not if you’re Arthur Christmas!

For the Holiday season, 4-AM returns to our roots with The Merry Maskers Carolers singing holiday carols and having a great time getting into the spirit.

Well, last Saturday, November 12th,  at Woodfield Mall was the earliest I’ve ever caroled. But it was all a part of the 12 Days of Arthur Christmas, a new holiday film from Sony Pictures and we were caroling and having pictures taken with anyone who asked. There were Arthur Christmas activity books for the first 100 kids to visit Santa in the Ice Palace, a speed wrapping contest and prize wheel in the Grand Court of the mall. Oh, I almost forgot the cookie decorating there as well. I think they may have been tipped off ahead of time, because I didn’t get to decorate any cookies…Which is probably better for everyone all around, now that I think about it.

It was a great time. There were lots of smiles and wide eyed kids, replete with cookie frosting all over their faces, pictures taken, flying wrapping paper and people singing along. I guess it’s never too early for Christmas.

But here’s a not so secret ‘Secret’.

If you go to the 12 Days of Arthur Christmas Calendar and choose Chicago, IL from the drop down list and you look at the 11th Day of Arthur Christmas, you’ll see this:

O COME ALL YE CAROLERS
Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago | River Walk
401 N. Wabash Ave. | Chicago, IL 60611 | 2:00PM-4:00PM
Spot the ARTHUR CHRISTMAS Carolers for your chance to learn a Christmas carol and receive a prize

…And I bet that if you look hard enough and long enough on the internet (are you done looking yet?), you just might be able to find a picture of the Carolers you’ll be looking for Tuesday.

Happy Holidays and Good Hunting from 4-AM!

A kind word and a good cause

Coming up in about a week and a half as of this writing, we’re going to be performing in a benefit for the TownSquare Players of Woodstock, IL.

We are also featured in an article titled Professional Quartet at Benefit for TownSquare Players online that talks about the benefit and our role in it.

You can check our calendar for all the details and if you’re free August 5th or 6th, come out and enjoy a night of songs from Musicals including 4-AM. We hope to see you there!