I thought those who aren't familiar with a pledge drive might like to
know a bit about how last night went.

Four of us met for lunch, or an early dinner, depending upon one's
point of view. We all found ourselves nervous, though it was
difficult to figure out why. Perhaps it was because this would be a
format with which we weren't familiar; perhaps it was because we'd be
required to take pledges, which we'd never done before; and perhaps
it was because we knew that we would be in a much more intimate
situation with the guys. I suspect it was a combination of the three -
we knew that we'd be responsible for important information while in
reasonably close proximity to the guys. I know that when I'm close to
them, all common sense and intelligent thought seems to go out the
window.

We were fortunate enough to be able to greet them as they arrived at
the station, and they were very cordial, if a little reserved. Finbar
was wearing a hot pink shirt, and I have to say that he needs to wear
less blue, and more pink. He looked sensational! The only one who
wasn't reserved was Sean, whom I think we've all adopted as our own.
If he thanked us once for coming to work, he thanked us ten times.

Our first job was to open all of their CDs so they could autograph
them. The cellophane wrapping isn't bad, but having to take off those
sticky things that seal the jewel cases was a real pain. However, we
set up an assembly line, and got them all done in record time.

They gave us some brief training in how to take pledges on the
computers, and Eileen Ric and I really started to sweat. The whole
process seemed overwhelming, but once we started for real, it turned
out to be not too difficult. Eileen and I took seats in the first row
of telephones because it was easier to see the computer keys. What we
didn't count on was the fact that the guys stood directly in front of
us when they sang. Every time they started to sing, my phone rang,
and I couldn't hear a word the caller was saying. However, when I
told him that he was hearing the Tenors live, he seemed very happy to
listen to the music.

We were threatened with our lives if we approached the guys before
their last performance. I guess the thought is that they go into
performance mode, and don't want to be bothered. So it was delightful
when it turned out that they approached us. Anthony was constantly
turning around to tease us, and Karl seemed more than happy to
exchange pleasantries. Finbar kept teasing Eileen with "Riccardelli
Pizza," and when I had my hand raised to get some assistance, he was
most helpful in telling me that, "The bathroom is over there." They
were so relaxed, and so funny. I do think they could easily do their
own comedy routine.

At nine o'clock, after they were finished, we were all given a break
so that we could get some pictures. And they were there long enough
so that each person could have an individual picture taken with them.
They were so generous, and were wonderful in the sense that they
never gave anyone the impression that they were in a rush.

I would do this again in a heartbeat. What a pleasure it was to spend
a bit of time with them in a format other than a formal M&G.

Sue Owen

Click here to see Sue's WLIW Studio pictures.