Penguin encounter

So, gigs introduce me to some of the most interesting people, and they also take me to some of the most interesting places.

Last night I went to play for a reception, and the details that I was given beforehand were pretty limited. All I knew was that I was supposed to show up at “Security Gate 3” at Sea World at about 6:45. I get to the gate, and the security guard said that I was supposed to drive under the “Kraken” roller coaster, hang a left, and park next to the big white building. He said, “you’re playing at penguin encounter.” I get to the correct parking lot and walk inside.

Penguin encounter is simply a one-room, long building. There is one wall that is completely glass, and it’s just cram full of penguins. Right next to it there is one of those moving walkways that they have in airports. Between this and the other wall there is a slightly higher area for people that want to take a little more time and simply watch the penguins instead of trotting/sliding past them. This is where they set us up. They placed tables in a long line in this section, and they put our trio in the middle of it, facing the penguins.

Yes, I got to sit there and watch penguins dive and swim and play as I played background music.