The Harry Potter Alliance

By Matt Maggiacomo

October 1, 2009

Whomp The House Tour 3: I Am A Dork

It’s times like these that I realize what a huge dork I am.

After having lunch with my father today, I immediately snapped into action, rolling and taping a few remaining t-shirts, putting the finishing touches on my (heavily organized) merch packing, setting up an example merch table in my living room so I have a plan of action going into tomorrow night’s show, and generally getting all of my loose ducks in a row. My personal bag has been packed for four days now (no joke), so I’m officially packed for tour — nearly two days before I actually leave Rhode Island. Further solidifying my status as a huge dork, I moved everything into the kitchen (which is the room that’s located nearest to my apartment’s main entrance) and stacked it up neatly so that it’ll be ready to pack into the rental car on Saturday morning.

Despite having this major jump start on fall tour, I’m still sitting here in my living room wracking my brains for things I’ve forgotten to do. I have a To Do list in front of me, but it’s not enough to comfort me. I’m sure that over the course of the next 36 hours, I will pace my apartment at least seven or eight times and scan every room for that one essential item I’ve forgotten to pack. Toothbrush? Check. Toothpaste? Check. Underpants?! Check! It’s all there, all ready, waiting for its journey across America. But that won’t stop me from worrying.

I am really, really excited. I love touring. I love knowing that over the course of the next month and a half, I will play 40 shows and raise money for the HPA and see all of my Harry Potter friends I’ve been missing since July. I love knowing that each show will be a celebration — of our boy HP, of our community, of friendships old and new, of music and fun and life. I love knowing that I’ll come home feeling a sense of accomplishment, and also a sense of relief because it’s impossible to take the comfort of your own bed for granted when you often go six weeks without sleeping in it. I love knowing that I’ll be traveling those same highways again and experiencing the awesomeness of our country’s diversity and beauty.

There isn’t much more to say except this: See you soon!

Days Left Until Tour: ONE!
T-shirts Screen Printed: 200
Tote Bags Screen Printed: 100
CDs Burned and Assembled: 150