Backstage at Ruth Eckerd Hall
Meet & Greet and Eat with the Stars
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Never in a million years would I have imagined that I would cook for a Bat out of Hell, the Queen of Soul, a Rhinestone Cowboy, a Backwoods Barbie, American Idol winners or a Beatle. But, as coordinator of backstage hospitality at Ruth Eckerd Hall, a 2,180-seat concert venue in Clearwater, Florida, I have done all of that - and a lot more. This book is drawn from my experience catering to stars that have performed at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Peter Noone (you may know him as “Herman” of Herman’s Hermits, the 1960s British Invasion group) calls it “Ruthie’s Place.” I like that name because it suggests the comfortable, make-yourself-at-home atmosphere I work so hard to create for the performers and their crews. After months on tour, these road warriors look forward to a warm greeting, good food, and a comfortable place to hang out. That’s why the personalized welcome and home cooking they get at “Ruthie’s Place” hits the spot. Ruth Eckerd Hall was built with funds donated by a group of private investors. Jack Eckerd, founder of the Eckerd Drug Store chain and a resident of Clearwater, bought the naming rights for the auditorium so he could dedicate it to his wife Ruth. It was his way of giving back to the community that had given him his start in 1952 when he opened his first Eckerd Drug Store in downtown Clearwater. I started working at Ruth Eckerd Hall in 2003. That’s when I learned that backstage catering is a lot of hard work. The show goes on at night, but the catering starts early in the morning. The equipment trucks and crew buses arrive at “O-Dark-Thirty,” and we have to be there to greet the drivers and roadies with hot coffee and breakfast. Melissa Etheridge (paraphrasing Napoleon) put it best when she said that a rock tour “marches on the stomachs of its road crew.” The hospitality at some venues is pretty uninteresting: warmed-up, pre-packaged food served on paper plates with plastic flatware. When I started at Ruth Eckerd Hall, I wanted to do something different. I wanted the roadies and the artists to realize they had arrived at a special venue. I figured three things were important: the food, the atmosphere, and the service. I decided I would make them all special.
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About the Book
What show brings out fans dressed in raincoats? What singer is a Golden Gloves Champion? Who was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? What sexy superstar was knighted by Queen Elizabeth? You will learn all this and much more as you go Backstage at Ruth Eckerd Hall, your all-access pass behind the scenes at this Clearwater, Florida performing arts center. Author Sally Milano takes you on an entertaining journey behind the curtain, sharing the inside “dish” on the personalities, desires and quirks of the stars. If you have ever wondered what it takes to “cater” to the performers, she has all the answers. Bill Cosby, Liza Minnelli, Kid Rock and George Carlin are just a few of the celebrities you will come to know. Sally shares personal stories and favorite recipes that will entertain you and make your mouth water. You will feel like you are there as you Meet & Greet and Eat with the Stars.
About the Author
Sally Holler Milano is a native Floridian. She was born in St. Petersburg and grew up in Clearwater. Sally has spent most of her life in the hospitality business. For 10 years she ran the Suncoast Courthouse,a very popular racquetball and fitness club. Leaving the Sunshine State, she moved to the mountains of North Carolina, to manage a bed & breakfast. When her husband’s job took her to Egypt, she served as the unofficial event planner for parties at the U. S. Embassy. After she returned to the Tampa Bay area, she started “It’s Your Party,” a highly successful event planning company that featured thematic decorating. Sally began working backstage at Ruth Eckerd Hall in 2003. In this book she gives the reader a glimpse of life backstage and shares some of the recipes that have made Ruth Eckerd Hall a favorite venue for performers who tour the country.