Gary J Brunclik has left the building

 

As I close out my NorCal adventure, I want to reflect on the great people I have met and worked with along the way.

 

I have been extremely lucky and blessed to have spent the past six years supporting the arts of northern California in a different capacity than I have in the past. Not a different role, but rather different dialects of entertainment I have been lucky to experience. Although all of them fall under my role as production or project manager, however it was a departure from touring or production company support.

                                                                                                                          

In Carmel by the Sea, California I want to acknowledge some people who made my job easy and gave me a great source of support. Nicola Reilly of the Monterey Symphony Orchestra, Jane Rosch of the EG Conference, Doug Mueller PM for the Carmel Bach Festival, numerous members of IATSE 611 including Doug Mueller, Andrew Hurchalla, Pat Fitzsimmons, Craig Lowe, Chris Stabler, and whomever I have forgotten as of this writing. Tia Brown of The Dance Center, last, and by leaps and bounds not the least, Carol Richmond of Carmel Academy of Performing Arts (CAPA) who without her support and guidance in the subsequent years has been immeasurable. Carol is the nicest and kindest person I met in Carmel, completely contrary to a statement expressed by management at the Sunset Center who deemed it important to call her the B word. She is truly a friend. Gracious enough to show me and my partner the beauty of Strasbourg France and was instrumental in helping me navigate through the perils and politics of Carmel.

 

Moving on the next years in Livermore, California I had the opportunity to upgrade a theater PA and control with L’Acoustics with Yamaha control and Dante networking at a cost savings of 60k and over $30K in other expenses. This matters in the non-profit world as they have limited resources and lack the experience in implementing such a system.  Using resources and contacts I’ve had in the industry to save 30k on PA upgrade to increase sound quality two-fold from the antiquated Meyer CQ-1 boxes. Thank you to Patrick Coughlin from US Audio for helping to achieve this goal. 

 

The level of professionalism backstage cooperation between BOH and FOH was raised significantly. Thank you, Scott Kenison, for allowing me to institute VenueOps, and getting everyone trained on how to get concise information in one place making the operations much smoother between departments. Instituting WorkforceGo for scheduling and labor reporting made it easier for administration to see and track.  I completely changed the dynamic of that theater, and the result was so many notes of thanks and support from staff and co-workers and letters of recommendation from clients to the mayor of the city of Livermore.

 

The thanks here go to: John Marchand, Current Mayor of Livermore, Lara Weber and Jim Hartmann of the Livermore Amador Symphony, Brian Olkowski of Tri-Valley Theater Company, Erie Mills and Bonnie Schmidt of the Livermore Opera, Carol Moore and Kathy Young of the Tri-Valley Non Profit Alliance, the many artists who came through our doors and are memorialized on the walls backstage at the theater. Of the staff: Scott Johnson, the best TD I could ever ask for, Erica Engel my right hand and indispensable assistant, Rachel Anderson, Pam Harvey (Pamdemonium) Benja Thompson, Alex Edwards, Juan Garza, Carol Edwards, Ann Rice, Anne Giancola, Julio Gomez, Seth Benton, Ney Hoata, Lindsey Miles, Joshua Ze-Buenafe, and all the volunteers who without you, the place wouldn’t run. 

 

A very special thanks to someone who has been with me from day 1 in this experience Jim Douglas of Primetime Entertainment and Backline Source who has been a friend, employer, confidant and resource of immeasurable laughs and vision. Also his daughters Hannah and Haley who were instrumental after my departure from the theater.

 

Another most special of thanks to my partner Kellie Quinn whose strong support, unbelievable guidance through the tumultuous waters of workmen’s comp and the subsequent fallout and safety lessons and education have had an immense impact on my career.

 

Through this adventure I got to work in different dialects of which I am grateful for the indoctrination and learning I achieved along the way. Albeit, I am quite finished with "The Nutcracker and 14 straight days of the dancing sugar plum music forever etched in my brain. During this time my focus was on safety and being certified in event safety (and my crews) was instrumental in this path. Working with the orchestral, operatic, dance, theatrical aspects of theater was most fulfilling, and I am grateful to all who put up with this rock and roller, dealt with my rough edges and helped to smooth out those rough edges.

 

So, as I close the door on this theater  (The Bankhead) experience in northern California, I am grateful and extend my thanks to the people who helped me adapt. 

 

I am also quite grateful and lucky to get back to where I belong and doing what I am best at. The concert end of major music festivals with artists of high caliber. For that I am grateful to my brother, Gregg Brunclik most of all, for his unwavering love when I made it extremely tough, his sons Max and Bryan for their support, and the staff of Clearwing Productions for giving me the opportunity to contribute and finish my career where it started.

 

Goodbye NorCal and thank you, thank you, thank you

Gary J Brunclik has left the building