After a few minutes, Teddy returned and suggested that we go into the dressing room to see Taylor. The dressing room, which also counted as "backstage," was a room right next to the stage. You could enter it from the floor, but it also had a door leading directly onstage.
The walls were painted a garish blue and red, with a dark red floor. One side had an opening that led to a decent-quality bathroom and shower (bands don't have showers on their buses so they either shower at the venues or rent hotel rooms. Yay hygiene) and a storage space. Along one wall ran a counter that had snack food on it. Cases of water bottles were stacked like monoliths against the wall. Its only furnishing was a couch, which was buried underneath clothes and suitcases.
Taylor was killing time there, so I started asking him all sorts of questions about touring and performing. He told me stories of him falling off of the stage, running around in the audience, splattering blood all over the place in London because a guitar string went through his finger...the usual. I learned more about the process of setting up in a venue, interacting with the other bands, and what the typical day looked like on tour. On the wall was what they call a day sheet, which had the itinerary for the day of the show, information about the venue, and how to find various transportation and places around the venue (it had where the nearest Starbucks was - glad to see their priorities were in order). It also had the time by which they had to be back on the bus to drive to their next location. On this one, it was two a.m., which was unusually early. I was also introduced to Taylor's band members, which he had hired for the tour, and his tech, who helped him with his guitars and setting up. They were all friendly, and they all looked exactly how I imagined they might (people in bands just have a certain look about them, you know? Or is that just me?)
However, there was some very pressing information that I was especially eager to learn about: the mysterious and elusive glitter and tights. Teddy had told me earlier that Taylor had a unique performance and went crazy onstage in order to make a lasting impression. Taylor didn't strike me as the kind of person whom I'd be afraid of due to extreme wardrobe peculiarities, and I was anxious to find out if it was as strange as it sounded.
"So Teddy told me something about you wearing glitter and tights?" I said to Taylor skeptically.
"Yeah!" he replied, "But actually, they're leggings."
I laughed. "Oh, sorry, leggings then." Because leggings were much more acceptable than tights? Is there even a difference?
"I had ordered some new ones that had lights built into them," he said, "but they weren't ready in time. So I had to go with some that I've worn before, but that was for shows in the US so no one has seen them here. Here, I'll show them to you."
Amused, I watched him open his suitcase, not quite knowing what to expect - something crazy, I presumed. I wasn't disappointed.
He brandished these neon-colored, striped, leopard-print leggings that looked way too tiny for his tall frame. They were simultaneously hilarious and awesome. Teddy hadn't been lying: Taylor did want to make an impression.
"Wow," was all I could say. "You wear those?"
"Yep. I even have a backup pair." He showed me those too, and they were equally neon and leopard-print-y. Then he showed me the rest of his wardrobe, which consisted of some cool high-tops, a neon tank top (bonus trivia: tank tops are called "vests" in the UK), and a large green letter jacket. I wondered if it all fit together (spoiler: it did.)
"So what about the glitter?" I was almost too afraid to ask.
"Ah, yes." He heaved a carry-on suitcase onto the couch and unzipped it. It was literally filled with dozens of canisters of spray-on glitter. Nothing else. Just glitter.
"Do you have enough glitter there?" I said.
"This is for the whole tour. I use about three cans a night."
Glitter and tights - sorry, leggings. I was skeptical that anyone, especially Taylor, could pull it off, and now I was definitely looking forward to seeing him perform.
While I was talking to him, the first band had started to perform. Not wanting to stay in everyone's way - for the dressing room had gotten a little crowded with band members - Ellen and I went back outside to the merch table with Teddy and stayed there for the rest of the show, periodically giving Teddy a hard time for not selling anything (it was a tough crowd.)
Yes. Yes he was. Somehow. I don't even know. The picture doesn't even do it justice, mostly because you can't see the glitter. But it was there, I promise.
I'm so grateful that I had such an opportunity to both hang out with a friend away from home and learn more about the band/touring scene. Thank you to Teddy for inviting me along, and to Taylor for putting up with all of my questions, as well as performing a very entertaining show. I admit, I walked away with a CJD shirt and a CD - I guess Teddy did his job after all!
I'm going to go write some more on Freeflight now... (haven't read any of it yet? You're in luck - the link is conveniently at the top of the page! WOW!)