It is my experience that when you are doing something you really love everything just falls into place and you feel like you are on fire. Its an indescribable feeling that should be cherished as it comes around less frequently than one would hope. That is exactly how I felt this past weekend when I had the opportunity to work for Michael Goulian at the RI National Guard Air Show in Quonset, RI.
I arrived the night before the air show started at around 11pm (straight from the Nantucket ACE Camp) with absolutely no idea of what to expect. It turned out to be one of the most amazing weekends of my life. I arrived on site with Karin (Michael’s lovely wife) early Saturday morning to get the chalet set up. Every performing team or participant at the air show is allotted a section of the VIP area to host guests, which is known as a chalet. This little fenced in tent city was located right on the taxiway and was punctuated by Goulian Aerosport’s truck from F1 Hospitality. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this truck included amenities such as two lavatories, a meeting room, a/c, wifi, running water, fridges and satellite TV (which all came in handy throughout the weekend).
Saturday was dedicated to hosting around 50 current and potential sponsors (although a lot of the other performers and teams spent time hanging out at our chalet), and Sunday was spent socializing with friends and family. I spent both days working hard and meeting many of the industry’s most talented people. It was an interesting experience to see the working side of an air show as opposed to being a spectator. The thing that surprised me the most was the strong sense of camaraderie between the teams and individual performers. They genuinely cared for each other’s wellbeing and would help one another in any way possible. It was like being welcomed into the largest group of best friends I have ever seen. Even being the “newbie” (as the crew chief liked to call me) it was made sure that I was well taken care of, was having a good time and had a chance to meet everyone. It was an overwhelming and exciting weekend full of star-struck and speechless moments.
By the end of the day Sunday when all of the spectators were filing out through the gates the air show participants and workers were ready to relax and have some fun. For me, however, it was time to pack up and hit the road. Like Karin so wisely said “Always leave the party when you’re having fun.” It was one of those moments that you wish you could hold on to forever. As I drove away from the “survivor’s party” at the base on I knew it would a weekend I would never forget.
Click here for pictures : )
