It was a cold day in November 2005. I had just woken up from a lucid dream. That day I didn't think much of it, I had been in a month long depression over a guy that I liked who had made me many promises. He at the time though wasn't even calling me.
I dreamt that I was at a taping of a VH1 special for my favorite band Rush. I was sitting at the end of the third row of bleachers. The guitar player, Alex Lifeson, and the bass player, Geddy Lee, were talking on a black couch. When they finished talking they walked over to a small stage where their instruments were set up. Neil Peart, the drummer, was sitting behind the drum kit. Before they started playing, Alex tapped his guitar tech on the shoulder. He handed him a card board box in the shape of a small guitar. Alex then pointed to me. The guitar tech handed me the box and Rush started playing. As I opened up the box, I noticed scissors, thread, material, stuffing and a lament of Rushs r30 Party Dragon.
My first encounter with the dragon was on the Vapor Trails tour in 2002. He was a larger than life red dragon that appeared on the screen when Rush opened the second set with "One Little Victory." As the dragon lit a cigar with his breath, it was apparent that he was ready to take on the world. In the middle of the song, something happened; the dragon was knocked down and reduced to waving a surrender flag. He flew away. By the end of the song, he was back with a vengeance and lit up the stage like a bonfire. The dragon had conquered his demons. Sitting only five feet from the stage, I not only saw but felt the power of this awesome creature.
The next time I saw the dragon it was May 31, 2004 on Rushs 30th Anniversary tour. The dragon was back in the same fashion. At the end of the concert, I noticed a t-shirt too adorable to pass up. It was the same scary dragon toned down quite a bit. This time he had a 30th Anniversary party hat, a Rush t-shirt, a noise maker in his mouth, and a piece of cake in one hand. On the 30th Anniversary tour he was just ready to have a good time. I bought the t-shirt and took it home. I remarked to my friend Brian, the very next day, I wish Rush would make a doll out of this dragon. He said yes, the dragon is cute.
I didn't think much of it after that, at least not until that cold day in November 2005. I was with my best friend, Rose, the day after I had the dream. I had an antihistamine hangover. I was so groggy that I could barely keep my eyes open. I told Rose about my dream and that I wanted a party dragon. She said to me, "Maybe you should make the dragon yourself." My mood brightened. Rose told me to send two letters to Rushs management, Anthem Entertainment; one asking about the rights to make a prototype doll based on Rushs party dragon and the second one with a prototype and product details.
I took a leap of faith and followed her lead. I sent the first letter out on November 15, 2005 as registered mail from where I live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Toronto, Canada. Anthem received the letter eight days later.
Could I meet the challenge to design and sew a stuffed animal? This dragon was fairly detailed. I knew I had an artistic hand, but could I design and sew a stuffed animal? This was something that I had never done before. My mom suggested that I use manila file folders to design the dragon. I first made a sketch of the dragon on a 12 x 18 piece of paper. I bought tracing paper and started transferring different pieces onto file folders. Designing a stuffed animal was a lesson in abstraction. This process made my mind work in ways it never had before. I often cut out gestalt figures. The mind exercise was enough in and of itself to raise my self-esteem and lift my depression.
I received a reply in email from Anthem on November 23, 2005. Their Vice President wanted to know more about my idea. A week and a half later, after much trial and error, I actually had a working pattern. I determined after practicing sewing with my Aunt Jan that sewing the doll would be a task beyond my skill level. I decided to hire a seamstress. Rose, put me in touch with Linda, the seamstress who had sewed her brides maids dresses. I met with Linda and within a month I had a dragon. Right before Christmas, I sent the dragon off with a list of a few ideas to Rushs management.
For two months, I waited and received no reply. Finally, in March I emailed the Vice President of Anthem asking what her thoughts were about my project. She replied that it was a great idea but it would require too many rights to create the dragon as I had proposed. I was discouraged for about a week.
Then I created a myspace account, www.myspace.com/more2moremusic . My sole purpose for the account was to promote the dragon. As luck would have it, Rushs guitar player, Alex Lifeson, had recently set up a myspace account also. I was lucky enough to be able to email him and have him reply. I told Alex that he was my guitar hero and asked him what he thought about my dragon. He said, Heroes are sandwiches. Im just a guy who plays guitar and got really, really lucky. He ended with I love the dragon. I was encouraged. I asked for online support and several of my internet friends left positive comments on my board about the dragon. I was very grateful for their support.
Two weeks later in April, I called and spoke to the Vice President of Anthem. In her opinion the doll was too precious for Rush, but she would send the idea to her merchandising company Showtech. I thanked her and waited patiently.
Another month passed and it was now May. I called the President of Showtech several times during that month. He never returned my calls. I wrote him a letter asking to meet with him to discuss the dragon. He finally replied in email stating that he had received my package from Anthem but was not interested. I had hit another dead end.
It was now June and I was about to give up but fate wouldn't let me. An online friend, Megan, who actually had been in a Rush video when she was in high school, suggested that I set up an online petition. So I wrote one up at www.ipetitions.com/petition/Rushpartydragon/. I put posts up on my myspace account and several Rush bulletin boards about my idea and petition. A few people signed my petition(again I was grateful), but in irony the people who didnt sign it are the ones who actually made my idea work.
I put a post up on www.t-n-m-s.com . This is the website for Rush fans in Europe. My post simply explained my idea of wanting to make the dragon on the r30 t-shirt into a doll. The Europeans tore my idea to shreds. However, in the process of doing so, my post generated much interest. To paraphrase PT Barnum, attention good or bad is still attention, apathy is the worst thing that can happen. Ashley Davidson, one of the Eucon(Rush convention in Europe) organizers, asked me to donate a doll for a charity auction to be held on September 9, 2006. I gladly accepted the request to donate a doll. The proceeds will benefit a local hospital in England.
I am in the process of creating a new doll. I redesigned the head to look more like the original dragon. I bought red stretch satin and had a scale pattern silk screened on it. Jamie Cumberledge of the Art Spot in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania designed and silk screened the pattern. This dragon will have far more detail and look more like the party dragon on the r30 t-shirt. Linda Lacek from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania will sew the doll into existence.
I am sure this journey was divinely inspired. As I am sure it is not over. I thank the heavens above for helping me make a charitable contribution to those in need.
Here it is February. Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond my control(illness in Linda's family) my project was not completed in time to donate to the charity auction in England last Septmeber. I had just received the doll a few days ago. I believe that this doll was made to be a charitable item. I will pursue this avenue and give back to God what was given to me.
Ashley Davidson from the Eucon convention in England has asked me to donate the doll to this year's charity auction. I am working on round 3, as the third time is a charm, this upcoming party dragon doll should be the most spectacular yet.
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