Yesterday was Mother’s Day, and it also happened to be the last day of the 2015 LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER season. Each year I have driven to see some other shows, not only because I like hearing the stories live but also because I like to see how other cities do things (every city, while having to stick to certain national guidelines, creates a show that reflects their community), and it’s a way for me to support my fellow producers and meet up (on their own turf) with some of the teams I’ve coached as the LTYM National New Cities Mentor.
This year, Jim was slightly astonished when I told him that I intended for 2015 to be the year I’d break personal records. I’m exhausted, but I did it!
I thought it would be fun to summarize my LTYM travels in numbers. None of the following stats include my own Chicago show.
Number of shows I saw this year: 5, including the book launch/reading event
NYC, Detroit, Valparaiso (NWIndiana), St. Joseph (SWMichigan), Madison
Miles traveled by plane, round trip: 1622
Miles traveled by car, round trips: 1280
Readings enjoyed live: 54
Types of venues: 5
Bookstore (NYC), Rock concert hall (Detroit), Opera House (NWIndiana), High School Auditorium (SWMichigan), Former movie theater and vaudeville house (Madison)
Shows I saw that were produced by people I mentored in 2014: 1
Metro Detroit: The Angelas (Angela Amman and Angela Youngblood)
Shows I saw that were produced by people I mentored in 2015: 1
SWMichigan: Kim, Meagan, and Beth
Shows I saw that were produced by people who mentored ME in 2012: 1
Madison: Ann Imig
Note: was also mentored in 2012 by Deb Rox and Stephanie Precourt! Still am!
Fellow show-runners I got to hug: Lots
2 in Detroit, 1 in NWIndiana, 3 in SWMichigan, 3 in Madison, and so many in Brooklyn. There were so many show-runners at the book launch in NYC that I can’t count/mention names because I’m sure I’d leave someone out!
Cities I visited that are personally significant: 2
Detroit is Jim’s hometown; D lives and works in Madison
Opportunities I took to have non-LTYM fun in conjunction with my LTYM travels: 5
NYC–Extended visit with my sistuh-from-anuthuh-muthuh in Jersey; Detroit–met with The Angelas for breakfast; NWIndiana–post-show silliness with Official LTYM Chicago photographer Brandi of Balee Images; SWMichigan–finally visited Redamak’s and ate a Velveeta Cheeseburger; Madison–hung out with older son
Nights spent in a hotel: 2
NYC and Detroit
Friends or family members who accompanied me to the shows: 10
Liz in NYC; Melissa in Detroit; Tracey, Erin, Pamela, Kathleen, and Brandi in NWIndiana; Jim in SWMichigan; Jim and D in Madison. Counted Jim twice because he’s FANTASTIC for going with me to two shows.
Times I did a near-perfect rap-along with Debbie Harry on “Rapture”: 2
In the car after the NWIndiana show
Number of additional shows I wish I could have seen this season: 33
Number of days until the first show of LTYM 2016: 347
Don’t mention this to Ann.
And that’s a wrap! Take a bow, everyone…well done!
11 Comments
Liz
It’s been a busy season, for sure! Best takeaway for me this year (as a LTYM fan) the love, respect and support you have for each other is really inspiring and quite catchy 🙂 Also, DD has tight bathroom laws…in Brooklyn. Nice job, LTYM!
Melisa Wells
We should boycott DD. Wait, that’s crazy talk. Never mind.
Stephanie Precourt
Oh my goodness. OH MY GOODNESS. This is so awesome. You are LTYM Superwoman!!!!!!
Steph
Melisa Wells
No, YOU ARE!
Ann
You have officially out-LTYM’d me. This is EPIC and I love you. Especially that last line.
Melisa Wells
Thank you, and you were pretty LTYM-y this year too, just in more bookish ways. xoxoxo
Elaine A.
You amaze me, in so many ways. I think you need to come south next year! 😉
Melisa Wells
Thank you, and you never know where I’ll show up in 2016! 😉
jana
Wow. You really rocked this year. Jeez. Showoff.
Melisa Wells
Best comment ever, and a perfect example of Stephanie Precourt’s new term, “Complinsult”. LOL
Momo
You are a champ! What a wonderful season. Take a bow, my dear, for your hard work, dedication, and for inspiring us to keep telling our stories.