I had long planned to write a review here, marvel about the magic of that unforgettable night of farewell, and the joy of meeting so many friends.
But, life got in the way, I had to extend my trip for personal reasons and returned to complete frenzy at work, so here we are, some 6 weeks after Amsterdam that I finally have a moment to sit down and think clearly:
Reports in previous pages said it all so nicely, so did photos and YouTube uploads, so I’d like to write a recap of another of that night – the T’s Project – many people are to be properly thanked:
It started as an email brainstorming and became a race against the clock of Les Deux Blondes.
That’s the nick name I gave Christelle and I on one of our many late night coordination calls
We made T’s to everyone at UHTC, that means all members of band ,crew and management. Every single one of them. And our dedicated mods, of course.
Keeping it all a secret meant pulling out all of our detective capabilities in tracking down as many Forum concert goers as possible, contacting them, listing sizes and collecting funds, as well as making sure we have a complete list of UHTC members and pray to the lord we guesstimated their T sizes correctly.
Finding a trusted printing house that will provide a quality job in reasonable price in unreasonable timing wasn’t trivial.
Thank the lord once again for Israelis formerly living in Amsterdam, it took 2 phone calls to spread the word and I got a recommendation from a friend of a friend of a friend, who has previously used this provider and was satisfied .
And you bet that when 2 ladies are taking care of an apparel project we made sure this place carries separate male and female cuts. No unisex for us!
Then it was placing the order and hoping boxes get in time to Christelle’s hotel, thankfully located close to the Ziggo Dome.
Phew was an understatement when they did..
Christelle did an amazing job labeling all t’s and we added a card with all of the project participant’s names.
Credit due department:
‘Closing Time – No No No’ caption idea was Wendy’s (Mabeanie1)
Design by my talented friend Oren Shavit who volunteered to design it for free (yes, he got a T!)
Thanks Beatriz for help in chasing people and Maarten for great help with delivery logistics.
Thanks to Albert, Marie and MaryB for helping in carrying and mailing the T’s to mods in Europe and the U.S.
Grand thanks goes to Marilyn Ambach, former UHTC Production Assistant who was in Amsterdam, for not only helping in getting the T’s backstage unnoticed, but also for so beautifully arraying them on the table at the dining room just in time for dinner to look like this for UHTC:
- http://bit.ly/1faR01I
We were happy to read on Leif’s blog that it was liked by everyone at UHTC and see this evidence by the Webb Sisters:
- http://on.fb.me/16vSCke
Those who took group photos of us with the T's - it would be awesome if you post them
For those who were not in Amsterdam and wish to produce themselves a T:
Happy to send you the files (Oren designed for print on black or white T) – please PM me your email address with subject line: Closing Time T logos.
At the beginning of the concert, LC said “Friends, this is the last concert in Europe, I don't think we'll be back.... for a while”
This bares a hidden hope for many. If we’re fortunate for it to happen, I’ll see you on the next tour. If not, we’ve been immensely fortunate for the past five years and I take this opportunity to thank Jarkko and the mods for the labor of love done here. I made so many new friends from all over the world, I look forward to seeing you down the road and to keeping in touch over these pages.
Roll on glorious World Tour ending in Oz and NZ. I’ll be following it avidly online.
Hugs from Tel Aviv,
--Sharon
#LeonardCohen #Amsterdam #UHTC
