Preparing for a 4 month tour: What's involved

As we come closer to the departure date for the 3-4 month show tour of 14 states and Canada the amount of things to "get done" are increasing like a fully loaded freight train with no brakes on a very steep down hill grade .
The tasks must be down to assure safety as well as professionalism.
The goal is to have everything down a few days before the departure date to prevent that crazy last minute rush that all of us have experienced and hate. But who is fooling who? The truth is when you have seven kids, animals and a show there is no stopping that last minute rush. With my history of forgetfulness the chances of such a situation is almost guaranteed!
So the first rule of hand is prioritize.
In our case we set the purchase of the RV as the first priority. Anyone who has searched for a car, boat or RV knows what it takes. You visit dealerships, the internet, Craigslist, E-bay, private owners, car ad papers, etc. That is usually just for the research to determine what you want and need. After that has been determined you have to go through the hoops again to actually narrow down the purchase. And perhaps again to finally decide and make the purchase.
I jumped through the hoops again and again then when I think I found THE one I asked the private owner to bring in 4 hours from his home to mine (my bank wanted to get a gander at it). Turned out the kind man selling the RV didn't mention the lichen growing on the bumpers and the rubber roof. He also didn't notice the warped outer wall and soft inner wall, evidence of water damage. The soft spots on the roof was further proof. Then there were a few things like the world's noisiest generator, missing knobs on appliances, etc. that sealed the deal wasn't going to happen. As an act of kindness I gave him $200 and sent him home. I should mention my mechanic pointed out a bent part of the underframe from a tire-blowout and a burnt smell in the transmission fluid.
Pre-approved our search continued. Fortunately the day before the bad RV experience my wife and I stopped by a dealership on the way home from a doctor visit for our son in SF. They had one that was perfect for our needs. But at the time we had no idea this would be the one we would buy. It was $3000 more than my pre-approved loan and I explained that to the sales guy when we came back the day after the bad RV. He was fine with it and we bought it for $3000 less than the other one would have cost after taxes and such.
So it was back home to the bank with the papers and then back to the dealership with the banks papers. (Did I mention the dealership was 2 hours form our home?)
On this trip out we brought the young ones with us and since we were close to the Jelly Belly factory we turned the business trip of buying an RV into a family outing at the same time. The kids were stoked to play in the RV....being able to go to the Jelly Belly factory was just icing on the cake.

Two weeks later the RV is home with us and I am on the roof re-rubberizing it. I had no idea what that meant until I bought an RV. Gotta keep the rubber roof supple or you get water damage...and lichen! Being a used RV there were a lot of little things to do to make it our own and modernized. Like a new radio that plays CDs, MP3s, allows interface with ipods and other devices, and a ton of other things my kids will figure out and teach me. it even came with a remote.

That done it was time to get the chase vehicle, our Ford 15 passenger van, serviced. $575 dollars later it is good to go. Next the RV will go in and get a once over to assure the engine, transmission and suspension is in top notch order. That's next week.

In the mean time, banners and pipe for hanging have been ordered, text books and home school supplies ordered, new sound equipment for the new routines (especially the singing parts) have been ordered , sales supplies have been ordered. Everyday two or more packages arrive via the USPS, UPS, and Fed-Ex.

The costumes have been made but the parts that wear out like socks, shoes, ribbons, belts, etc have all got to be replaced or stocked up on. That includes make up, body sprays, and the stuff that makes us look and smell good on stage.

The travel cages, and containers that will be home to the cockatoo, doves, rabbits, snakes, and children......all need to be prepared, purchased or repaired.

Since we video blog everything new batteries, tapes, lights, lenses, clamps, etc have been bought and tested or stored, as in the tapes and batteries.

Cynthia is off to college so her stuff will travel with us until she separates from the show in August. She's all ready! that makes one of us.

Supplies for cooking and travel in the RV still need to be taken care of. Which also means new sleeping back for some of the cast and crew.

Contracts, publicity, marketing, press releases, hotel and RV park arrangements, and all the paperwork that makes things happen also need to be done. That includes tax and travel paperwork for Canada. the birds and the dog get their own passports in the form of travel papers from the vet. The snakes and bunnies don't....odd!

If you are still reading this you are a gluten for punishment. Because i am tired just thinking about all the needs of this trip.

Having a disabled son there are a few hundred needs of his that will need to be met. Like tie downs for his wheel chair installed. His bath chair and special equipment will need to be somehow loaded into the RV or Van. And since he wears special order diapers he will need those stored somewhere as well.

Did I mention the larger box trailer also has to go down and have it brakes inspected, it's bearings greased, and all it's other electrical and mechanical parts checked? The little box trailer had that down to it a couple of weeks back when I noticed once wheel was smoking and impossibly hot when we got back for a SoCal trip. The bearings burned out and took the hub with it and the axle. When they lifted it up the tire slid off with out loosing a nut. Some angel must of held it on that last 100 miles home.

To make sure I don't forget to pay a bill and loose my good credit score, my home, or my van I have made a list of when every bill is due. Also I have arranged as many bills to be paid on line as I can.

Today we secured a fine Christian lady and her daughter to house sit our home and keep the lawn, dog, cockatiel and bunnies alive. That was going to be a major worry but praise God things fell into place nicely.

The point is that setting up a tour is costly, time consuming, hectic and stressful. But it is worth it. We get to visit every corner of the Country, try new foods, meet new people, hear cool accents, visit historic places, and the list goes on. There is no way of telling if there will be any profit from a financial perspective but from and educational and on a personal level these tours are the greatest things on earth.