|
|
Post by Libby on Mar 6, 2012 6:16:08 GMT
 Martin D Is this photo in the program one we haven't seen before? It doesn't look familiar. Or is it one from that very glamorous shoot with the black and white photos? It's hard to tell upside down! So, scans would be very much appreciated when the tour is done, if possible.  |
|
Steve H
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team / Official Site Photographer & Videographer
Posts: 1,756
|
Post by Steve H on Mar 6, 2012 8:45:43 GMT
Great photos, everybody! I'm especially liking the close-ups of the dresses! Now, it really is too bad Hayley forgot her ring at home, because Steve got quite a few good close-ups of her ring hand! Are you going to any more concerts this time, Steve? i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif Hi Libby, I will be at Southend Tomorrow, Hayley has promised me a photograph of her ring. I will also try and get a good photo of those lovely shoes Hayley wears with the red dress. Front row seats at Southend so it should not be a problem. Kind Regards Steve  |
|
Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
Posts: 7,699
|
Post by Dave on Mar 6, 2012 11:11:31 GMT
I actually prefer shots to be a reasonable distance from her face. Hi Libby, I am sure some others would agree with you there and it is of course very much down to personal preference, one of those things where there is no right and no wrong! And I think this must be the biggest collection of interesting Hayley expressions all at one concert signing! You may well be right, we had plenty of time too, the signing queue snaked right across the concert hall foyer and disappeared out of sight, as befits this completely sold-out concert. The atmosphere there was marvellously relaxed, with no interference whatsoever from theatre staff or Hayley's entourage and certainly not from Hayley herself who seemed completely at ease throughout. I do not think that many artists, their tour management and theatre staff would be anywhere near so so helpful to the fans - even towards the end, approaching midnight! I suspect that this is because it's exactly how the Hayley we know has told them she wants it. Thank you, Hayley!  Cheers, Dave |
|
|
|
Post by grant on Mar 6, 2012 12:25:30 GMT
You may well be right, we had plenty of time too, the signing queue snaked right across the concert hall foyer and disappeared out of sight, as befits this completely sold-out concert. The atmosphere there was marvellously relaxed, with no interference whatsoever from theatre staff or Hayley's entourage and certainly not from Hayley herself who seemed completely at ease throughout.
I do not think that many artists, their tour management and theatre staff would be anywhere near so so helpful to the fans - even towards the end, approaching midnight! I suspect that this is because it's exactly how the Hayley we know has told them she wants it. Thank you, Hayley!
Cheers, Dave Hi Dave and everyone I can confirm that this was the case for the two previous concerts at The Sage and Rhyl Pavilion - I think it is important to mention also that all the front of house staff at Rhyl are volunteers, although at those concerts we were away just after 11pm. You may know more than I do but, I would think that the time for signing sessions after each concert have been pre-arranged as part of the contract with each venue, whereas previously they have been arranged on the day dependant upon time constraints; the willingness of the venue and how Hayley was feeling on the day. It would be interesting to know how much time has been allowed for contractually if this is the case. If these signings have been included as part of the tour to enable Hayley to reconnect with her UK fans, then I would think they're working perfectly. Best wishes Grant |
|
|
|
Post by martindn on Mar 6, 2012 12:27:31 GMT
I think we should record our thanks to the theatre staff, who were wonderfully patient and invariably helpful. As Dave says, they played an important part in making the signing the wonderful happy time that it was for all of us who were there.
I heard one of the ladies say that she remembered Hayley appearing there with Katherine Jenkins. I told her I remembered it too, it was the very first time I ever saw Hayley.
Martin D
|
|
|
|
Post by grant on Mar 6, 2012 12:43:14 GMT
I think we should record our thanks to the theatre staff, who were wonderfully patient and invariably helpful. As Dave says, they played an important part in making the signing the wonderful happy time that it was for all of us who were there.
I heard one of the ladies say that she remembered Hayley appearing there with Katherine Jenkins. I told her I remembered it too, it was the very first time I ever saw Hayley.
Martin D Absolutely Martin. I also made a point of mentioning it in my report. I remember the lady saying about the 2004 Pure tour. Something no one has mentioned yet - and I forgot about it until this morning - was that during the signing someone played Hayley's "World In Union" even Hayley noticed Best wishes Grant |
|
Martin
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team
Posts: 3,339
|
Post by Martin on Mar 6, 2012 12:54:02 GMT
|
|
Steve H
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team / Official Site Photographer & Videographer
Posts: 1,756
|
Post by Steve H on Mar 6, 2012 18:53:25 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by keithp on Mar 6, 2012 20:20:25 GMT
Well now that I have the laptop rather than phone I can write a little more easily. Just about wound down after Sunday night now, because of 2 days back in the office, but the memories of the show and signing session are still clear as anything in my mind.
I'm sorry I didn't catch up with other members of the forum although we saw plenty of you. Mum is now a little nervous in big crowds so I tend not to leave her on her own in a venue. We were sat in the 6th row and saw plenty of the guys/gals down the front. We then joined the 'signing' queue after the show. We were there for about an hour and there were still plenty behind us. I think I have only stood in one 'signing' queue like it and that was the first time I met Katherine Jenkins at St Davids Hall in Cardiff back in 2005 and again we waited about an hour but the queue continued behind us.
I can only repeat the thanks to Hayley for doing this and the staff at the Derngate for accepting the extra work in very good spirits.
It was nice to catch up with Gianluca too andit was fun trying to spell out names for him to sign our programmes.
Wish I'd been able to catch more than one show as Hayley was in such good form but sadly, Northampton was the only one I could fit in on this tour. Hopefully it won't be too long before the next one.
|
|
|
|
Post by keithp on Mar 6, 2012 20:22:41 GMT
I heard one of the ladies say that she remembered Hayley appearing there with Katherine Jenkins. I told her I remembered it too, it was the very first time I ever saw Hayley. Martin D I remember it well. That night was the first time I had seen Hayley or Katherine live. I can't believe how many times I have managed to see both of them perform in the 8 years since then |
|
|
|
Post by grant on Mar 6, 2012 20:42:03 GMT
Hello everyone Found a few more "expressions" from the Northampton signing Best wishes Grant |
|
|
|
Post by Libby on Mar 7, 2012 4:49:49 GMT
Great photos, everybody! I'm especially liking the close-ups of the dresses! Now, it really is too bad Hayley forgot her ring at home, because Steve got quite a few good close-ups of her ring hand! Are you going to any more concerts this time, Steve? i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif Hi Libby, I will be at Southend Tomorrow, Hayley has promised me a photograph of her ring. I will also try and get a good photo of those lovely shoes Hayley wears with the red dress. Front row seats at Southend so it should not be a problem. Kind Regards Steve I will look forward to it, then! |
|
|
|
Post by postscript on Mar 7, 2012 10:12:15 GMT
I think we should record our thanks to the theatre staff, who were wonderfully patient and invariably helpful. As Dave says, they played an important part in making the signing the wonderful happy time that it was for all of us who were there.
I heard one of the ladies say that she remembered Hayley appearing there with Katherine Jenkins. I told her I remembered it too, it was the very first time I ever saw Hayley.
Martin D Absolutely Martin. I also made a point of mentioning it in my report. I remember the lady saying about the 2004 Pure tour. Something no one has mentioned yet - and I forgot about it until this morning - was that during the signing someone played Hayley's "World In Union" even Hayley noticed Best wishes Grant This is a good response. I think many made a contribution to the theatre's fund, I did, as a 'thank you' to the staff's patience in handling such a crowd of people wanting to be with her. Peter S. |
|
|
|
Post by postscript on Mar 7, 2012 11:49:47 GMT
FIRST AND SECOND MOVEMENTS
The first movement was rather slow and lugubrious, with very heavy pizzicato leading into heavy drum rolls from the timps, as I ploughed my way through torrential rain at a paltry but consistent fifty miles an hour snarl for twenty miles of M1, due to major road works. I think that distance pushes the limit of concentration without inducement to deep sleep on a road designed for 70+!
My hotel was on economy measures, which boded ill, being cold, musty and decidedly empty. The concierge was definitely in economy mode, her thinking was geared to her job description programming which did not allow her brain to engage with customers until their allotted arrival time. “I am not expecting you!” “You may not but hopefully the hotel is.” “Oh no, not at all, I will call the manager. We don’t receive before three anyone.” I waved the printed out acceptance of emailed booking. “Cancel the manager. I have all under control. You are not supposed to be here, it is not yet three.” “I know but in passing I hoped I might be able to leave my case, rather than have it in the car in a car park and as I may not be back until midnight is there a porter or could I have a key?” “I will see if your room is ready, that may be possible. Aah yes, you are lucky.” “Yes, that is what I was hoping for, it does happen.”
I was duly booked in and finding my room in a sort of annexe where again all heating apparently only comes on at specific minimal times I drove into Northampton, at which point the rain decided to get heavier. There is a serious point here. Are we doing enough about conserving our resources? Was the hotel merely being realistic about economy, in its case to ensure profit but in principle was it not merely being prudent? It makes one think about world depleting resources and climate warming.
Not wanting to walk in the rain I decided to drive round to regain my Northampton orientation and feeling somewhat cold and a trifle out of sorts I dived into a Morrisons shopping car park, looking for a sandwich but decided to have a late lunch. Having escaped the family rush of tiny monsters (mostly) I in fact enjoyed a superbly presented roast beef Sunday lunch, at a cheaper than Wetherspoon’s price, in a cafeteria masquerading as an indoor play area for tiny tots.
Warmed and sustained and finding the car park right by the theatre was free on Sundays I decided I should check the theatre in case anyone was still hanging around. I was astounded to find a full grouping still expecting Hayley to arrive, seeking shelter in several doorways and under a canopy. Its the first time I can recall we have departed without seeing her arrival even if she has only waved and dashed inside. It was rather foolish of us since we had all agreed we mustn’t hold her up in the intense cold and wet! Having been intrigued by her twitter “Ooooops!” from which we deduced she had either dropped her engagement ring on the taxi floor, or had left it behind and had only just realised (correct), we trotted off to the Moon On The Square at four.
Whenever two or more HWIers are aiming for the same concert, it is important that they meet up. It is HWI’s version of drinkypoos at the opera and there is no doubt that the resultant bonhomie that immediately wells up, in a mood to share our camaraderie with the world at large, is an important aspect of Hayley herself. Somehow we sense her presence amongst our exchanges of what has happened to us since we last conversed and Hayley’s gracious selflessness seems to be a part of our socialising, especially when welcoming members from foreign fields.
Since I had already eaten a main meal I contented myself with a dessert, the first option being no longer available, which was most disappointing. It had been a Bramley apple, pear and raspberry crumble which sounded most interesting.
After a pleasant whiling away of a couple of hours, one or two disappearing to respective hotels to change and return or meet us there, we returned to the theatre. The overture had been played: our gathering together, buying of programmes and then turning to file into the auditorium. There was just the hushed noise of a full auditorium settling in anticipation. The noisy quiet between the orchestra completing the overture and the readiness for the lights to dim and the proceedings to commence. Once more we were engaging with Hayley. I looked round the auditorium. We had a solid house. It was packed to the rafters. Lady, the stage, the audience, the evening are all yours.
Peter S.
|
|
|
|
Post by postscript on Mar 7, 2012 11:53:47 GMT
None the less Dave your eagle photo shoot is a lovely picture.
Peter S.
|
|
