Like millions across America, he felt an overwhelming need to take part in the historic Barack Obama Inauguration. Not just as a VIP guest, but as a chronicler of the national mood, taking the pulse of Americans as he crossed the country by bus, from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C.

The only problem? Rick decided to turn his dream into reality less than two weeks before the inauguration. Pulling together a logistical nightmare, and doing it virtually overnight? Impossible, right?

Fortunately for Rick, he found a company whose dictionary doesn't include the word impossible.

"Lost And Found In America"

MVP Shows of Orange County, NY, a premiere production logistics management company, sat down with Rick and listened to his vision. From the beginning, Rick felt a kinship with the incoming president. Both were born of a white mother, and a black father. Both grew up in the islands- Obama in Hawaii, and Rick in the Bahamas. And both had a passion for basketball.

But Rick also shared with the President-Elect the need to reach out and connect with Americans. To capture a sense of where we were as a nation, and put it all down on film.

So he turned to MVP Shows' Steve Masi (based in Los Angeles) and Rob Valenti, and asked if such a tour could be mounted. "Sure, when are you thinking?" Rick's reply... "This Sunday."

After some careful thought and planning, they set in motion the Rick Fox "Lost and Found in America" Tour, an eleven-day odyssey that would touch down in cities and towns across the country- milestones in Obama's quest for the White House, and touchstones in Rick's journey from Canadian and Bahamian roots to his future American citizenship. With the crowning destination...Washington, D.C., and the Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States.

But first, some harsh realities had to be faced.

 A Challenge

January is usually not a good month to travel cross-country. But this January was worse than usual, with the nation gripped in one of the harshest cold snaps in recent memory. To embark upon a bus trip through three thousand miles of ice and snow...that was crazy enough. But to pull together the hundreds of logistical details that involve transporting, lodging, and feeding a crew of eight people, securing permits and tickets to the most sought-after political event in history, and doing it in a matter of three days...that was a challenge.

Getting To Work

First, they needed a bus. Not just any bus, but a luxury tour bus that, because of the extremely tight schedule, would have to serve on some nights as a rolling hotel, complete with beds, kitchen, and amenities. Next, they needed to secure parking permits, special access, and hotel lodging along the way, most notably in Washington, D.C., during the most hectic and crowded four days in the city's history. Not to mention tickets to the Inauguration and evening balls. All while staying within Rick's budget.

Dream Tour

MVP Shows dug deep into their bag of resources, and after three "very hectic days," managed to have everything in place in time for the planned departure. Because the crew had to stay on a tight schedule to make all of Rick's planned stops along the way to D.C., departure times had to be strictly enforced. The bus pulled out of Staples Center in Los Angeles on time Sunday night, January 11, directly after Rick's Laker post-game broadcast. In a few short hours, the tour bus was up to its wheel wells in snow and ice. (With no room for error in their to-the-hour timetable, weather was a real concern. As expected, the tour's two expert drivers managed to handle whatever nature threw at them.) First stop, the Flying J truck stop in Blanding, Utah, where Rick and his crew got to meet some interesting locals.

Next came INVESCO Field in Denver, site of the Democratic National Convention, and Obama's soaring acceptance speech. After an overnight drive, the tour arrived in subzero Chicago-so cold "your eyeballs hurt." Rick made a pilgrimage to Grant Park, where Obama thrilled millions the night of his victory. Rick and the crew traveled next to his first home in the U.S., Warsaw, Indiana, where he met with his high school coach and talked "basketball and life" with students and faculty. Then it was off to pick up his family in Boston and Chappaqua, N.Y., before the tour bus finally arrived in Washington, D.C. one week later, in time for the big festivities.

Calm in a Hectic Storm

Navigating a tour bus through the heavily restricted capital was a challenge. Knowingly, MVP Shows secured VIP access and the necessary parking permits. From there it was off to the many exciting and historic events...all of whose logistics were planned in advance. Despite the frenzied crowds, unforeseen changes, and last-minute requests, MVP Shows managed to keep an even keel and pull everything off.

A Vision, Realized

When Rick Fox came up with his vision of a cross-country tour to the Presidential Inauguration, he didn't know if, or how, it could become a reality. "I was unsure if it could be done, and with the clock ticking I only had 72 hours until I needed to roll out of LA."

But partnered with MVP Shows' team of experienced coordinators, that reality came about without a hitch. From setting a budget, and staying under it, to smoothing out all the wrinkles, MVP Shows got it done.

Added Rick, "MVP Shows took care of everything for me. We were on the road on time, within budget and in style. I didn't think it was possible to go from concept to execution in 3 days, yet my confidence grew and very quickly I knew I was in good hands when they replied, "Yes we can."