Well it seems that I have been missing in action on updating my blog, but I'm back.   As I sit here and try to put into words what it has been like to be out of work for over a year due to Covid, I am actually at a loss for words.
To be totally honest it really sucks to be away from my love and passion of directing live shows and concerts.  I did however direct the International Emmy Awards (virtual) in November 2020.  Directing that show made me realize how much I missed working.  I don't think I will ever be happy in retirement. 

2020 started out to be an amazing year as I was busier than ever and loving life.  After I directed "Keep Memory Alive" is Las Vegas the pandemic took full effect and shut everything down.  I was now semi retired.   The only positive part of this ordeal is that I am collecting unemployment so financially all is good.

In late August our entertainment community lost a giant in our industry.  Dan Parisi was probably one of the most influential producers in the business.  He died suddenly in California due to a massive heart attack.  It was devestating to all that knew him.  There was a tribute paid to him by Madison Square Garden. (below)

It's been 8 months since Dan passed and it still seems sureal.   R.I.P. Dan

There is not much more to report as all is good on the home front and both Cindy and I have had our shots so were just waiting for things to open up and re-start our lives and I promise to update this blog within six months.  

Stay safe and healthy!!!

Well it has been awhile since my last post but honestly it was a good year for work and not so good for personal issues.  

Ok - personal issues first

Our Grandson Luke is amazing and getting to the point as I write this of walkting and showing his personality which I must say is always a BIG smile and not much complaining,   He is in pre-school and doing very well there. We MISS HIM DEARLY.  It's not great being so far away and not being there to celebrate all his growing firsts, but my daughter in law keeps those photos coming and we do SKYPE when we can. 

My son Matthew and Daughter-in-law are doing ok, just not sure about my son's career as a US Marine although he was just promoted to Gunny Sgt.  In the Marine Corp that is quite the accomplishment.  My daughter in law is working hard and they are both doing well as new parents.  But there are growing pains there as we all know.

My wife and I are doing great and I'm still amazed how much closer we get every year.  Life is GOOD!  Cindy works hard but always makes time for us an I think that is one key to a very successful marriage is ALWAYS make time for each other. 

On the work front, it's been status quo although as you can see by the photo, I had the opportunity to spend a weed at the USTA on Arthur Ashe stadium with Kevin Spacey as he performed his one man show about the life of Clarence Darrow.  It was a great event and YES he is a nice guy.  Very professional and to be honest Kevin is one of my favorite actors and this was one of those AHHHH moments.  Looking forward to hitting the road once again with Jingle Ball!

Just turned 69 and to be honest I still am feeling great and must say that you do start to think about the road ahead.  But I am convinced that if you keep your mind sharp and your body strong, that as you get older you enjoy more of what life has to offer.  REMEMBER - ENJOY YOUR LIFE as you cannot take it with you wherev ever that my be....

This month we celebrate 1 year in our newly purchased condo down in Cape Coral and loving it.  We did upgrade our kitchen and we enjoy our time there.  Great friends, food and weather.   What else do you need......

Looking forward to our yearly News Years Eve bash as the party has grown to around 20 now. 

Well its time to wrap this session but I promise to write more than once a year.  As the world gets crazy and unpredictable lets all just keep in mind our purpose here is to contribute to this amazing life we have......stay safe!

2016 Was a year of surprises and MORE surprises........

It's been a year since my last update and sitting here today on December 30, 2016 I can safely say it's been on hell of a year!

Our year started as they have in the past.   January was spent in Florida to relax after a 3 week long tour with IHearts Jingle Ball.   The holidays were fun with our family but it was nice to get to Florida for some sun and relaxation.  Joining a boat club was one of the best things we have decided to do as we now are starting to get out on the water to enjoy what Florida has to offer.   We have met many friends in Cape Coral and are blessed to be able to share and enjoy our time with them.

Things became a bit dicey in March.   March 29th to be exact.   In a NYC hotel alone, I woke up to a strange feeling of disorientation.   NOT ABLE TO SPEAK, I knew things were not normal and to my surprise after a visit to Mt. Sinai emergency room, I was told I may have had a stroke.  After much testing and the trusted MRI, it was confirmed that I did in deed suffer a stroke with no long lasting effects.   Test after test and MORE tests, confirmed that the cause of the stroke was a somewhat of a mystery becuause all results were negative.  So the good was that I had nothing wrong with me and the bad was the cause.  After worring myself sick I finally came to the realization that I had NO control over what just happened and it was time to live my life again as a normal and healthy person. By my side the whole time was Cindy who was a rock during the enitre ordeal.  Without her I can honestly say, my life would be empty.  AS I have stated earlier, Cindy IS MY WORLD.

On the upside of 2016 was the news that I was going to FINALLY become a grandfather.   My son Matthew and his wife Shelby were due in November...  More on that later.

The rest of my year turned out to be great for business and great for our social lives.  We sold our 2 bedroom condo in Cape Coral and moved 1 level up in our building to a larger 3 bedroom.  Spent a week in 1000 Islands NY with our dear friends the Copies, who rented an island and let me just say it was amazing, although I was in agony with a back issue.   In late August we checked off a bucket list item by taking a Mediteranian Cruise from Athens to Barcelona.   The only thing I can say about this cruise was WOW!

November 25, 2016 at 6:42 AM LUKE ANTHONY PAGANO entered this world and let me just mention it was one of the best days of my life.  He is beautiful, healthy and I'm in love.......

We spent Thanksgiving and Christmas with Luke and there is nothing like being a grandparent.


Well, it's time to sign off but before we end this year, let me just say that work is fun, but I have NOTHINGm without wife Cindy, Luke my grandson and our family at my side.  Thank you all for being there for me and lets MOVE ON TO 2017!

I cannot believe another year is ending, but the memories of this year will be AMAZING!  

This was a summer of doing nothing but enjoying the Florida sunshine with Cindy.  We drove to our condo and spent 2 months enjoying our southern home.   Cindy did have to fly up north on business but all in all it was a relaxing and quiet summer.

Now it's back to work and upcoming I have:   Princess Grace, IHeart, The Emmy's and many many more of fun and exciting events.   Stay tuned!

Cindy needed to go to Paris on business and surprised me with a ticket.   We spent 5 wonderful days there with trips to Normandy, the Eiffel Tower, Moulin Rouge, and a dinner on the Siene River.

A Trip to remember!

Thank you Baby!

Well another year has passed with amazing success.  All my shows for 2014 went off without a hitch and life with Cindy just gets better and better.  My only regret is that my son Staff Sargent Matthew Pagano and his wife Shelby left Scranton PA after 3 years for his new duty station back in California as a Chief Legal.  I did get a chance to visit with them in October to celebrate their 2nd wedding anniversary and got to spend a few days while on a gig in Los Angeles.  They have a great townhouse and seem to be back in the California swing of things.   However I will miss terribly, but will give me an excuse to fly to California to see them......   

The 2014 Jingle Ball tour was 3 weeks in 9 cites and to call it a home run is an understatement.   They showed a profit and packed the arenas.  Looks like next year we will add another city (Dallas) so December 2015 will be busy.

As for the New Year I have been in this amazing industry for 35 years and counting.  Time has flown by as I cannot even imagine the amount of shows and events I have been involved in.  As I said, the main reason I am in this business is that THEY LET ME IN TO PLAY!  I am totally blessed to be able to do what I do with the talented people I work with.

After Christmas Cindy and I drove to DC to attend a play at the Kennedy Center with the writer and executive producer of THE GIFT OF NOTHING.  Patrick McDonnell who is the cartoonist of Mutts had his character come to live in this enjoyable 1 hour play.  Thank you Patrick and Karen for the opportunity.

After DC we drove down to Cape Coral Florida for some fun in the sun and enjoyed our little get together with friends at our condo on New Years Eve.   I had a lot of food and drink so we ended and started the year off right.  We are here until the end of January, than it's another year of great things ahead for work and to be with my incredible wife Cindy.   LOVE YOU BABY!!!!!!!

We wish you a very Safe, Healthy and Prosperous year!  

Happy New Year!

It was one busy summer as we arrived on the 3rd of July in Cape Coral to not only celebrate the 4th of July but to redo our condo's kitchen and a few other items.......

Here is the photo of our finished kitchen.  It took all of July but well worth the time and effort.   I can cook now and feel like I'm home.

July was also busy as I headed up north for a live webcast of the "Under The Sun Tour"..  This show featured Uncle Kracker, Smash Mouth, Sugar Ray and Blues Traveler.   It streamed to 39 countries around the world and the rumor is, was viewed by over 10 million........

I had to return to Seattle for another AMAZON event and Cindy decided to join me and we took an Alaskan cruise out of Seattle and spent the next week, boating, taking a helicopter to a glacier for some dog sledding and a train ride through the Yukon.   AMAZING to say the least.   Will go back as it was one of the prettiest places I have ever seen.

Well, it's the end of August and we are headed back to New Jersey with a stop in Savanna overnight.  Glad it's over but sorry to leave our newly remolded condo, BUT WORK CALLS.............  CIAO!

Its been a few months since my last post and WHAT A RIDE!

January in Florida was not the best of weather but it was still nice to be there with Cindy and relax for a little while.

Work in February was good but in March it all exploded.   I was basically booked from March to July (lots of floating dates) to work on 3 new product launches and 2 All Hands meetings for AMAZON.

The reason I have the Space Needle as a photo is that I have been here so often I feel likes it's my 3rd home.  LOL

As of this date we have has 1 successful All Hands Meeting and our first major launch of FIRE TV.  The product is amazing and if you have not seen or heard of it.   You MUST!

I am also trying to re-do my kitchen in Florida as we really need new cabinets, so have decided that with new cabinets, comes, appliances and GRANITE!  With that said, I have started that process with hopes of it being finished the end of July, so that there is real playtime and downtime before the fall.

On a personal note, my son Matthew was promoted to Staff Sargent and is heading back to California with his wife Shelby to their new duty early May.  Although we were fairly close to his PA duty station, I wish we would have seen more of each other.  Will miss them but my plan is to visit in June and October as my work should take me there and December for a short trip over the holidays.

Well I think that is a good update and will try to post sooner than later.   All I know is THANK YOU DPS and AMAZON!

Met some very cool people during this period:   Michael Keaton who is not only funny but a terrific person and Daniel del los Reyes with the Zac Brown Band.  I worked with Daniel a few times over the years and it was nice to reconnet.