The MoTabs On Tour

One of the three planes taking the choir to the Mid-West

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is on the move!

I asked my friend Don, a choir member, if he'd be so kind to send some behind-the-scenes photos of this week's tour, and he was good enough to snap a few shots along the way.  Thank you, Don.

5 a.m. at Salt Lake City Airport

Here's Don (above) at Salt Lake City International getting ready to leave.  His wife dropped him off and commented on how he was doing fairly well for only having 3 hours of sleep!

It takes several planes to accommodate this huge group and many of their spouses.  This one pictured at the top of this post, just happened to be a Delta plane.

Oooh, Yum.

I love breakfast. I can eat it any time of day. For those of you who complain about Airplane Food, get a load of the fantastic spread the Choir members got on their flight from Utah to Ohio!

Looks pretty good.

So onward we go.  First stop, Columbus, Ohio!

The performance arena in Columbus, Ohio

Choir members were whisked from their plane to the arena where they were to perform.  They spent all day, and the performance evening there.

Columbus stage

It's an incredible logistical nightmare, I'm sure, to arrange for all these people's needs!  Choir members get at least one meal a day provided for them, sometimes three.  When meals are not provided, they receive a per diem so they can forage for themselves.

It looks like a tasty meal was catered for them in Ohio!

From Ohio's performance, it was right onto buses for a journey to Indianapolis, Indiana!  Choir members and their entourage didn't see a hotel room until they reached Indianapolis.  It made for a very long first day!  But then, Day 2 was a rest day so everyone could get a breather.

Ever wonder how they all look so great onstage?

Their costumes are packed into several  - okay, three - semi-trailers and hauled to their concert destinations.

Here's the men's side

Here is the women's side

I never knew this!

The amount of work going into preparing for a tour, and then moving hundreds of performers is staggering!

On to the next venue!

The bus company shown above, has bused the Choir around on many tours.  It takes 10-12 buses to carry this group!  (That alone boggles my mind!)

According to my friend, a number of the drivers have been with every tour and love "touring" with the Choir!  They greet them like old friends.

Isn't that terrific?  (Well, they are, after all, and incredibly nice group of people.)

Happy Trails to all the Tabernacle Choir members as they continue their tour!

Enjoy the concerts, oh ye of the Mid-West!

And: Have a great weekend, everybody!

Photos courtesy of D. Love