An ARTISTRY Exclusive Behind the Scenes: The Life of a Miss America Tour Manager – Karen Nocella!
Category: Artistry, Miss America, Miss America 2010
by Kate Jakobcic
Q) How would you describe a day in the life of a Miss America tour manager?
A) Well, my day actually starts the night before. I review the next day’s itinerary, make sure all our arrangements are confirmed, and I brief Miss America on the next day’s event(s). The first thing I do when I wake up is remind myself what day it is and what city I am in… LOL! I make sure I’m ready to go a half hour in advance, just in case Miss America needs assistance with anything. On the way to the event, I review details of the event again with Miss America. Once we arrive at the event, I begin to take photos, and make notes to use that help for future planning purposes and also can be used for our travel blogs. Following the event, we head back to the hotel, have dinner and then it’s back to my hotel room where I write reports, file photos, take care of expense reports and then review the next day’s event. Travel days are a whole other animal.
Q) What’s the most exciting part about being a tour manager? What’s the hardest?
A) The most exciting part is going to places and meeting people I would never had the opportunity to meet otherwise. The hardest aspect for me is being away from home for 6 months out of the year, 30 days at a time.
Q) Where are your top three favorite cities that you have visited and why?
A) That’s a tough one, but if I had to pick three.
* Washington DC. I love all the history and all government buildings which I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy behind the scenes tours. I visited the White House, The Capitol, met President Obama (twice), sat in both Nancy Pelosi and John Boehner’s office and had some interesting conversations with them!
* Stuttgart, Germany. Katie Stam, Miss America 2009, and I spent a week there as a special guest of the military. Not only did Miss America visit several military bases, but she was given tours of the country side and a couple of quaint little towns along with a tour of a castle. The views and the scenery were all spectacular, it was a trip of a lifetime that neither of us will ever forget.
* Indianapolis, Indiana. I went there a few times with Katie Stam. I liked that it is a big city with a small town feel. I especially loved being there during the Indy 500! Katie was part of the 500 festivities and was to sing prior to start of the race and to be part of the celebrity lap where eight celebrities are each driven around the track on the back of a convertible. As Katie’s lap was about to commence, they threw me in the front seat of her convertible to serve as her security. Although the cheers were for Katie, it was quite a thrill to be driven on the Brickyard’s track immediately before the start of the Indy 500, in front of a couple hundred-thousand fans no less! It was so exciting you couldn’t help but feel the electricity! I wanted to yell, jump up and down and wave to the fans but I managed to restrain myself.
Q) Being on the road you must have your fair share of eating out. Where have been some of your most delicious meals?
A) Emeril’s in New Orleans is one of my favorites and I’d have to say the menu at the Jackson County Fair, Brownstown, Indiana. I can still taste the sweet corn, green beans and big-boy tomatoes!
Q) Hotel of preference?
A) You can never go wrong at the Westins and Marriotts.
Q) Who is the most interesting person you have met along your journey?
A) I’ve had the honor of meeting hundreds of interesting people including President Obama and HRH Prince Edward, but honestly I’d have to say Donnie Osmond was a thrill for me. When I first took the job I joked that I only took the job so I could meet my childhood heartthrob (Osmond). As luck would have it during my first year, Kirsten Haglund, Miss America 2008, was invited to attend the Donnie and Marie show in Las Vegas and I was also invited. After the show we were whisked backstage. The room filled up quickly with various fans, and as Kirsten went to speak to some folks she knew, I sat quietly by myself observing a group of fans in the room. Suddenly, the group left and revealed Donnie sitting in the chair directly across from me. I then realized we were the only two in the room! I was reduced to a 12 yr old girl and I muttered, “Great show.” Lucky for me, I was holding the crown box. He actually got excited and asked to see the crown! From there, we sat and had a very nice long conversation about our lives. He was a great guy and a very down to earth person.
Q) Have you worked with previous Miss Americas?
A) I’ve been the Tour Manager for three Miss Americas – Kirsten Haglund, Katie Stam and Miss America 2010 Caressa Cameron. All three have a special place in my heart.
Q) What is your favorite memory of being on the road with Miss America?
A) Well, that’s hard to say. There were so many special moments that I was able to share with these three Miss Americas during their year of service. One that makes me laugh though… I actually hate to fly but have gotten use to it. On this particular trip we had to go on this big old prop plane. I was sooo nervous. There was only four people on the flight, and as we were air born I was holding bare knuckles down on the seat. Katie taps me on the shoulder, and as I turn and look at her like a deer in headlights, she starts singing really in a really corny voice, “bed knobs and broom sticks…” Needless to say, we both burst out laughing!!
