She Went to a Lionel Richie Concert While in Vegas

Yes, I'll tell all about the Barry Manilow concert, too, but she wants to go in chronological order. (and I think she wants to jot down notes so I don't leave anything out about Barry...you know how obsessed she is)

First, while my fantasy author, Sandy Lender, was in Vegas, she didn't spend every waking moment working. She also had time to play. The CONEXPO-CON/AGG trade show closed each evening and the attendees were to leave the trade show floor. Those attendees possessing press badges or exhibitor badges could stick around because they were still working, but the events they attended were designed to hold their interest. Food was usually involved. Copious amounts of alcohol were consumed. Believe me, if you want the trade press to show up at an evening event at CONEXPO, put "open bar" on the invitation and they'll appear in droves.

An equipment company called Terex wanted not only members of the trade press, but its customers, suppliers, dealers and potential clients to attend its Thursday night event. So members of management rented a ballroom at The Mirage, hired a cover band and dancers, set up several open bars and food stations, and bought a plethora of silly hats and plastic jewelry (some of which flashed) for guests to wear, and booked Lionel Richie to play on the main stage.

Sandy was overjoyed. When else does she get to wear a plastic flashing tiara while dancing to a song called Brick House? It was quite the scene... Luckily, she wasn't the only one. What I found most surprising about the evening was the fact that she'd spent Tuesday, Wednesday and the day Thursday walking around the 2.2-million square feet of the trade show (yes, that's how large it was) and yet she was able to stand the four or five feet in front of the stage to enjoy the concert. When one of the couples she attended the concert with had to leave, she went to the dancefloor area to "boogie." (I'm assuming that means "dance.") Now how does a person with feet that sore dance around for two hours?

Well, I'll fill you in on the Barry Manilow concert tomorrow, or whenever I can get the computer back from her again. She's typing like a fiend trying to get caught up with the magazine and e-mails and blogging. She's preparing her giveaways and flyers for the Naples Press Club Authors and Books Festival April 5-6, and she's got a meme and a contest going over at www.todaythedragonwins.blogspot.com so she has plenty to keep her busy.

Tags: fantasy author, Sandy Lender, Lionel Richie, Terex