Well, we're officially opened at the Rio (after playing here forever). Once again my Road Penn is mostly a report on the perfect people we have working around us. Everyone was perfect. Just amazing. All are above and beyond as SOP. Some friends came in. It wasn't a big emotional thing that needed everyone, but a few friends that thought it would be fun came in. I watched Colin, his partner, Bob, and Dino eat dinner before the show. It's always fun to see them. We had been making changes to the show like crazy, and polishing everything up. We went in in good shape. We added the P&T Cards to the Wizard Trick, but that was about it for really new stuff.

The show was packed. Every ticket was out. Mickey and Kelli were taking pictures of people on the "Wheel of Death" so their pictures would be in the program. Robin Leach was there with a Playboy Playmate, so the celebrity status of the evening was assured.

Jonesy played like a crazy monkey before the show and I stumbled a bit on bass, but I don't think anyone really noticed much. The show went very well. Pretty much by the numbers, but there was some excitement, we were a bit jacked and it was a good crowd. It was nice to have that place filled. I ripped the whole back out of my pants during Knife, but I had clean and colorful underwear on, so it was okay. Backstage there was a pit crew set up. At least four people were all over me, unbuckled everything, took my shoes, off and I had my pants changed faster than a race car getting new tires. We didn't need to go that fast, we had plenty of time, but it was fun to show off how fast we could do a change. That was about it for excitement. But, the crowd liked it, it seemed successful.

Spicoli, Krasher, and Glenn were all around and I always like when the three of them are working together. It makes me feel like our jobs are being watched over. The Rio seemed way behind us. They gave us a beautiful set of suites for the party and Glenn and Krasher really made it a great party. Glenn really makes it perfect. We had special cakes and cards made out of chocolate. We had great food and chocolate covered crickets for the "Teller Challenge." It was all beautiful. Jonesy had put a GREAT band together. Morrie was playing bass. I wanted to sit in, but the combination of having to follow Morrie AND touch his perfect bass scared me. I walked around in my usual opening night daze and tried to do what I was supposed to do. I posed for pictures and smiled and shook hands. I was surprised that this party seemed to be a little bit for us. The Broadway parties were all for investors and press, but there actually were real friends at this and really good music and food. I was in a daze, but, for the first time I had some fun too. Mike Close was killing doing magic. He did a trick with our new decks that destroyed me. Just killed me. So, we had our name in ice and videos playing our new commercials over and over. It was all very beautiful and people really seeming to be enjoying themselves. It was really nice. Man, the band sounded great. Jonesy just amazes me. He's such a good friend, but he was in a suite, keeping the band together and paying like a freak. It's amazing how talented my friends are. It was a good party, I mean it wasn't nude cornstarch, but within the bounds of Rio sanity it was a fine party.

Well, let's hope that this is the start of a very successful run. Krasher told me the day before, "This really is Glenn's party." He might have been just trying to deflect blame in case it sucked, but it really did seem like Glenn had done his job beyond perfectly. Everyone was right and beautiful and everyone was happy. I've said it before, and I'll say it again here I'm sure - we work with great people.

Penn

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