Backstage at the Egyptian: Interview with Tom Bottom

The Egyptian Theatre is proud to rely on a strong community of volunteers for support. This month, we would like to highlight one of our newest volunteers in particular. Tom Bottom is a lifelong resident of DeKalb County. He was raised in Malta, resided in Sycamore for more than a decade, and now lives in DeKalb-proper with his family. Tom has a track-record of being involved within his community and says becoming an Egyptian Theatre volunteer will, “be a perfect fit for my passion of music and a great way for me to give back to my community!” We had the pleasure of interviewing Tom to learn a little bit more about him and why he has chosen to become an Egyptian Theatre volunteer. Jesse: What, and when, was your first live-show experience at the Egyptian Theatre? Tom: The first concert I attended was the band Kansas in 1976. The highlight of that show was hearing them play their smash-hits Dust in the Wind and Carry On Wayward Son. Jesse: What has been your most memorable concert experience and what made it so special? Tom: The best show I’ve ever seen at the Egyptian Theatre was the Pat Metheny Group. I went to see the, now, 20 time Grammy-Award winning group on a whim and immediately fell in love. Jesse: If you could see any show at the Egyptian Theatre, what would it be and why? Tom: It would have to be Pat Metheny again; Yes, he’s that good! Jesse: Your volunteer support will help us to fulfill our mission of preserving the Egyptian Theatre as that preeminent entertainment destination in Downtown DeKalb. Why do you believe it is important to give back to your community? Tom: Members of my community have been so generous to me, I just want to give back and this is an awesome way to do exactly that. Jesse: It’s evident that you’ve been a lifelong patron of ours, what has kept you coming back to the Egyptian Theatre for all these years? Tom: The theatre has such a classic charm. The movie and concert selection, and the amazing acoustics of the auditorium, are one-of-a-kind. Jesse: What is it about the Egyptian Theatre that made you want to get involved in this way? Tom: I recently attended the Joe Nichols concert and the experience was great. But, what really got me was the friendly and helpful staff. I’m proud to join such a class-act! If you are interested in volunteering with the Egyptian Theatre, click here for more information! And, join us for our next Volunteer Open House and Training Event on Wednesday, November 1st at 6PM.