In about the middle of January, 2010, I was on Lime wire researching some Disney songs. "A Christmas Fantasy Parade" came up, I listened to it, listened to it again, and again, and again. It was safe to say by that time that Winter Light! 2010! had begun.
It seems weird, but I get my best ideas when I do yard work. So as I'm mowing the yards and trimming everything, I have my ipod in listening to Christmas music, and what songs I could use in the show. Being in the yard while doing this, I can easily imagine where everything goes, and what new props I can incorporate in. I did this through August. And then I got the news that we were moving.
I knew this could be a great thing, or a horrible thing. I didn't care what house we chose, as long as I see potential in the front yard to do a show. The houses we were looking at did not have this potential. I started to lose hope in this year's show, but I know that either way it would be a challenge for me to have a new landscape, and it would only improve my technique and imagination. Either way I would have new things to work with, unlike the old house where I have done a show for the past three years and the landscape was getting old.
One day, our real-estate agent told us about this house on Blythe. We went to look at it, and I stood in the front yard most of the time. I knew this was the one. (The floor plan was just an added bonus! My room isn't much larger, but the vaulted ceilings make it cool.) Sure enough, everything worked out and we chose this house.
We moved in in the beginning of September. The fair followed shortly after that. I knew that I didn't have much time to plan a Christmas and Halloween show. I got the paper and colored pencils out, and started working on it whenever I could. I listened to "A Christmas Fantasy Parade" over and over, while looking out the front window. I walked around the yard, counted the bushes, and got on the roof. I knew that I could do something with this house.
It's the last few days of September, and I know that I have to get started. So I put my rope light around the flowerbed. I was surprised to find that the rope light, which has candy cane looking stakes that I made attached to it, fit perfectly. This was the first sign to my neighbors that we aren't normal.
The wall followed shortly after that, and it was a challenge. I blew many fuses in it, it got tangled, but it worked. I started getting the rest of the lights out of storage, and getting them out of the bins and organizing them into the garage. My mom isn't happy that from September through the beginning of November she can't park in the garage. Oh well.
Halloween hit, and that show turned out great also. My Madam Leota effect turned out better than expected. (Yes, it was complete with flying cards, pumpkins, and flickering candles!)
You will definitely see it in this show also, along with some more effects that I've worked out. (This year, I'm revisiting the popular "Haunted Mansion Holiday: The Nightmare Before Christmas" soundtrack. I worked with it a few years ago, but I would like to make it better this year.)
After Halloween, I had to get some major progress done with Winter Light!. I finished the bushes, put the C-9's up, icicles up, strobes up, chimney, fence, and everything else.
There was just one problem- This took me until less than a week from Thanksgiving. The show starts Thanksgiving night, and I still have hours and hours of programming. (Plus school..)
So I spent every free moment programming it, and finished programming it a few hours before the show started. I didn't even have time to watch it before. (I usually watch it at midnight, so the neighbors don't see it until opening night also.)
Thanksgiving. Opening night. About 50 people there and waiting. Neighbors coming out wondering what the heck is going on. My clock hit 6pm, and I waited the few seconds before "It's A Small World Holiday" (intro song) began playing. The strobes hit at the end, and the "Wows" began. (I'm the only one in Bakersfield that has the strobes. They are common, but I haven't seen any other displays this year that used them.)
I have to say, this year was incredible. For such short notice, quick planning, and rushed programming, it turned out amazing and was one of my best years. I'm not giving any ideas for this year's show away just yet, but I promise you it will be better. I'm working on a few things, and researching some stuff, to really make it different than any other display. (The music, of course, will remain a secret until you come see the show, or until it ends.)
Thank you to everyone who came out and saw it. I enjoyed visiting with you, and going to Starbucks 5 nights out of the week for 2 months. :D
I get a lot of questions from everyone. But one question I got this year a couple of times was "Why do you do this?". Yes, it is fun, entertaining, and cool. But a friend of mine in Arizona who does a display also summed it up best-
"Last night I had a man come up to me and said he brought his father to see my display/show on Christmas night and it was all his father kept talking about. The man went on to say he was back to see the show again and he brought all of his relatives to see the show in honor of his father. It was in honor of his father because he had passed away on Christmas night and the family had gathered for his memorial. They came to pay tribute to him by watching my lights – which he had loved. He finished by saying his mother had passed a few years earlier and he was sure his father and mother were arm in arm watching the show from heaven.
Yes, I became a bit emotional as he told me the story. This is why we do lights…because of the impact it makes, the smiles it brings, and the joy that people take from it. We make memories and some memories do last forever." -Dave
Thank you everyone for the support. I'm looking forward to seeing this year's display.
Speaking of this year.... I only have 324 days until Thanksgiving.. Which means I only have about 290 days until I start setting up!
I'm behind already! :O
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