What a glorious day it was, and many thanks on behalf of Alexandra and myself for those that were on hand during our wedding ceremony. Each of you there hold a special place in our heart, and to all those who couldn’t be there, you are even more important to me. Blessings to you… A new chapter in both our lives has just started, and Alexandra and I will join hands and in the adventure that awaits.

My mother and father, Tony & Sondra Burke

My new extended mother and father (in-laws) Danny and Mary Thomas

Meet our Wedding Party

Standing in front of Hogwarts Express

Inside Honeydukes Candy Store

Enjoying some ice cold Butterbeer, available only at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Hogwarts Castle, such a spectacular view

Hogsmeade, the pinnacle of shops, dining and fun

Standing outside of Poseidon’s Fury in the Lost Continent of Islands of Adventure

For more pictures, click here to visit my official Flickr page.

Look for full videos and photos up on the official Blue Man Group Insiders Facebook next week. If you haven’t clicked the like button on the page, please do so and stay up to date with me Alex as we begin our many travels together between now and Summer 2011 for Blue Man Group. It’s going to be an amazing ride, and we’re inviting you to hop along with us for the fun and excitement.

Here are some fun facts about the newest Norwegian cruise ship EPIC.
* Gross Tonnage: 153,000
* Length: 1,068 feet / Beam: 133 feet
* Passengers (double occupancy): 4,228 guests / 1,690 crew
* Maiden Voyage: June 21, 2010
* 7-NT East & West Caribbean Cruises from Miami, FL – Sails July 2010 through April 2011
* 7-NT Mediterranean Cruises from Barcelona – Sails May through October 2011
* 20 Dining Options
* 20 Bars & Lounges
* The Aqua Park / Main Pool
* 1 Kid’s Pool / 6 Hot Tubs
* Exclusive Villas Complex
* Spa Suites & Spa Staterooms
* Studios & The Living Room
* Family Accommodations
* All Oceanview staterooms have Balconies
* 2 Bowling Alleys
* Climbing & Rappelling Walls
* Epic Casino
* 4 Adult-Only Clubs
* Mandara Spa & Beauty Salon
* Pulse Fitness Center
* Entertainment featuring Blue Man Group & the Second City Comedy Club

Follow my Tweets and check-ins @rotcav
All content and media for the Norwegian EPIC and future travels will be posted on our official Facebook: Blue Man Group Insiders.
To track the live coverage of this event on Twitter: #NCLepic or #EpicMiami.

Look for us, who knows, you could be picked to be an exciting part of the show!

It’s funny how life swings you around sometimes. Sometimes your in the groove or pipeline of self awareness and, then other times we’re clouded by things in our way. I have no real answer or explanation on how these events unravel, but it wasn’t just wedding plans that seemed to align in my favor. Other important aspects of my life have shifted in the groove section the past week as well. Things like my music composition, my relationship with Blue Man Group, my web design company and finally finances to some level. Trust me, I’d love to stay in the groove the rest of my life, but I know it’s practically impossible to have everything go your way all of the time. It’s now how God’s elaborate design works. We have to endure, overcome and endure again to understand the meaning of life. And then, when we’re old farts in a nursing home at the age 80, we get the clear understanding one day of how and why.

Happy Earth Day everyone, and Blessings!
Joe

Check out our recent visit to Clearwater Beach, FL as Alexandra and I enjoy the ocean, sun and beach atmosphere. Pictures coming soon! It was an amazing weekend, and we both needed this time away from Orlando to clear our heads and refocus. Alexandra needed it more than I, dealing with stress and pressure from her own life. Amazing how God’s craftsmanship creates places of beauty for us to enjoy. I love the beach!

On Valentine’s Day 2001, the decision was made to bring my little fan site from what was then housed on FortuneCity.com (not even sure of that place still exists) to a new web host and plan for bigger ideas ahead. The name Blue Man Library is what I chose because I had a library of video and photos that users from the community message board could download. You must realize, this was long before the era of YouTube or dominant streaming web sites. The web site grew almost daily as fans would flock to my site, download content and I would post updated messages in the community which would energize everyone else to be as excited as I was. It was what I refer to as “The Hay-day” of Blue Man. A time when the company was small, independent and just on the brink of global domination. I met so many wonderful people through this community, and many of them I still converse with almost daily on Facebook or Messenger.

The BML around 2003 expanded it’s web site to include a chat room, message board and small forms of user interaction. It gave people a chance to do and see more beyond the message board on blueman.com. My intent when I created this new version of BML was to make sure that we never mimicked anything on the Blueman.com web site. It was our goal to be unique and carry our own weight within this fan community. It turned out to be a huge success for everyone, and the web site nearly tripled in size between 2003-2004. Our biggest issue to face, since we were expanding so rapidly was web hosting, and finding a means in which the BML could have ample potential to grow. We found a way in 2005, and purchased our first dedicated server and rebuilt a new version of the BML web site yet again. Fans flocked to the web site to download the latest Tonight Show clips, and hurried over to catch the BML Chats that was scheduled weekly. It was during all this, that me and community member John Petty (petro62) starting coming up with bigger and better ideas to branch out.

In 2006, the first Switchback podcast from the Blue Man Group fan community was syndicated on Apple iTunes, and now fans had a productive form of entertainment each week. The collaborative effort was so thrilling, while John and I would make light of almost any situation. The podcast ran for over 2 years, totaling 116 Episodes and thousands of clocked downloads each month. The podcast was for the first time, the true voice of the Blue Man Group fan community. We would invite fans to join us for vocal conversations about topics relating to Blue Man, especially with the touring productions and local theatrical venues. No one expected the podcast to reach 25, but we made 116 entertaining comedic episodes.

Then one day, we just stopped. There was nothing more to talk about. Once you’ve learned all there is about Blue Man Group, you become mentally jaded and take everything in lesser strides. Eventually, the Switchback podcast faded as both John and I went our own ways with Blue Man, but remained close friends even until today. News about Blue Man started getting less and less each month, and it was more of a challenge to keep fans coming back to the site. Without current content, news, interaction and the communal vibe, the BML was heading down some dark and dreary paths. The weekly chats dwindled from weekly to bi-weekly, to monthly to never. Fans lost interest, and I exhausted all means I could muster to keep the community alive. Then in 2007, Blue Man Group launched a pay fan site called RoofDwellers.com. I supported their efforts and was a proud member, but fans felt cheated and started using my BML message board to vent their frustrations. It was a dark time, and eventually RoofDwellers.com closed in 2008 only lasting just a year. I was saddened to have seen this wonderful idea come to life and die so quickly. Maybe I could have done something more to save it, or maybe I could have offered more help or assistance, who knows…

With the popularity of social networks like Facebook, it’s a typical case of “video killed the radio star.” Message Boards are old school it seems these days, and people prefer to communicate with their friends and family via Facebook or Myspace. Fans started leaving BML and resorting to using their social networks to talk about Blue Man, and that ultimately is what killed this fan community of 10 years. That and the fact that we never heard from Blue Man Group anymore regarding news, updates etc. There was a time during the “Hay-Day” that Blue Men actors and the Founders themselves would frequent the BML Community, be a part of weekly chats and talk about new exciting things coming up. Somewhere along the way, that line of communication was lost, and no one started favoring the BML anymore.

So ten years have come and gone. I have finally done the unthinkable, and closed the first original and only official fan base of Blue Man Group. Some have felt my actions have been irrational or controversial, but why keep a web site open when no one ever visited anymore? Every time I logged in, I would be the only on the site 95% of the time. That’s pretty sad considering BML used to have 30-50 fans online at one time searching, downloading, posting and uploading. This chapter of my life was like a door that opened many opportunities for me to see the USA and meet some amazing individuals along the way. I met some of my current best friends, of whom I’m close to today, traveled all over the USA to cities I only dreamed of going, organized multiple fan meets, raised over $5000 for Camp Heartland Charity, had a successful top 10 rated podcast on iTunes and ultimately matured as an adult and person because of it. I am sure all the fans that visited BML would feel the same way with that statement. We’ve all matured now, with other things in our lives needing our attention. Some of us have married, some has had children while others finding their solitude and peace in life of self discovery. It’s been an amazing ride that I will never forget, and if BML has never done but one thing for me, it has brought me a future wife who shares the same passions as I. I met Alexandra through the very web site I made, and she attended one of my fan meets in Orlando in July of 2008. I have the closure I need now as a man to move on, and close this door of my life. As this door closes, I’m sure another one will open for me, because I put my faith and trust in an Almighty God.

To all the fans who helped out with BML over the past ten years in maintaining, donating, giving financially, supporting, being involved, participating and just being there when we need someone to talk to, Thank You!

For me, having never seen Phantom in full production was a little humbling. I’ve heard so much about this production in the tabloids, but one never thought I’d have the blessed chance to go see it one day. And we had prime seating in row HH, which is only 8 rows back from the main Orchestra area. The show production quality was very sophisticated and elaborate set designs that made the audience sink into the realm of the Phantom. With the towering golden angelic statues that dawned the sides of the stage to the centerpiece of the magnificent chandelier, the opening moments of Phantom was a bit of “WOW” moment. As the chandelier rose above the audience and the stage is revealed, everyone is captivated to center stage.

The vocals, acting and even technical engineering of this production was superb. There wasn’t a single blip, falter or issue with the sound, tech or lighting. Again, hats off to the amazing crew of Phantom and the “Florida Theatrical Association” for bringing such great productions on the road to Orlando. The actors were brilliant, and portrayed their roles with the up-most sincerity, and I felt captivated the entire production. I didn’t feel like I was in the theater for a little over two hours. I found myself fully absorbed in the world of Phantom, and frankly, that’s the way it should be. If you live in the Orlando area, and are curious about this show, please do yourself a favor now and order your tickets. It’s well worth it, and you’ll be as mesmerized as I was, I guarantee it. Keep in mind, opera and theater is not for everyone, but anyone who appreciates talent and entertainment will thoroughly enjoy this Orlando production.

Truly, this night, belonged to Phantom…

2009 Pictorial/Video Year in Review from Joe Burke on Vimeo.

What an amazing trip this was. Words can’t describe how perfect this trip was.

Middle of Times Square

Gotta love those blue guys…

They picked Alex for a part of the show, it was soooo awesome.

A-top the Empire State Building

NBC Studios Tour

The Hulk at Madame Tussaude’s Wax Museum at Times Square