Uku-laying Down Tracks

After a bustling week you can believe that I was more than ready for a restful Saturday - but this was not to be. I was busy as a bee today buzzing from one thing to another with barely a breather in between.

I began my day with another rehearsal for the show that was canceled last month - basically picking up where we had left off from last month. Some of the players had changed, but my role of Bride remained the same. Yay! I'm really excited for this show tomorrow night!

I had to leave the rehearsal early because today was the day that we were laying down the tracks for the ukulele music video that I was asked to be a part of at the NYMF Meet & Greet! I would have liked to have had a bit more time to rehearse my part - but thankfully I managed to get by okay. I even got to play a $300 Gibson soprano uke. I like the sound of my uke just as well, but the Gibson's strings were a little softer and easier to manipulate. Perhaps I'll look into getting softer nylon strings for mine.

I was really impressed with how quickly we were able to get everything done today. We met up around 2:30 at the Sound Engine recording studio down town and ran through the tune a few times before getting set to record. It was an incredibly simple setup with all five of us crowding around a single mic in the middle of a sound-proof room. We played the tune and sang at the same time - a method of recording which for the most part has gone the way of the Dodo. Most recording artists lay down the music track first and then dub the vocals on top afterwards.

I didn't mind it though, we made several recordings inside of the two hours that they had the studio and once we had a few in the can, the director (who apparently shot Madonna's first music video) came in and had his DP get a bunch of raw footage of us singing and playing our ukes. The shots will all be interspersed throughout the video that we're going to be shooting around Manhattan next Saturday. They're going to have a make-up artist and everything! Should be fun!

Who Wants to See A Slumdog?

Still high off of our highly acclaimed one-night run of ETV, it felt like it was time to celebrate. My boyfriend had the right idea and decided to take me out for a date night to see "Slumdog Millionaire." It's my goal to check off every Oscar-nominated film on my list, so this would work out perfectly!

I couldn't get over this film! It was so masterfully crafted and shot and the story was creatively unfolded before us. It also served as another reminder of just how fortunate I am to have been born in the United States. My oh, my.

ETV Night!!!

After much anticipation, the night for improv comedians to become rock stars had finally arrived! I had cleverly concealed my hot rocker getup underneath a pair of jeans and my lucky brown sweater. Earlier today I took a few moments to run my song and vocalize. I put the original recording on repeat so that I would have every nuance of the tune in my mind. In short, I was ready to ROCK!!!

When I reached the venue, the band was tuning up on stage - YES! This was really happening! Still not 100% on my daring getup, I grabbed my friend Alexis and pulled her into the bathroom to get her final approval of my tight-fitting, feaux leather-looking pants. Once I got the green light from her and a few other trusted friends, it was on!

The back room of Kenny's Castaways was filling up with more and more ETV-goers by the minute. I was excited to see so many friendly faces!
One of the great things about having a show with so many people involved is that you automatically have a nice built-in audience.

I was fifth in the line-up and it was a good thing too, otherwise my nerved might have started to get the better of me. When it was my turn to take the stage, my body was filled with electricity. I grabbed the mic and reassured everyone that yes, these were actual pants that I was wearing and then announced that this was my very first ETV. I was encouraged by all of the cheers coming from the audience. My boyfriend was down in front video taping the whole show for posterity. For a moment I sorta felt like I was in a music recital for big people.

Once that first wail from the guitar rang out - we were off to the races. I haven't had that much fun covering a song since my senior concert in high school when my friend Rick backed me on a cover of Jewel's ever popular "Who Will Save Your Soul. " (hey! it was really popular at the time!)

It was a really great night! I had a blast and the show was a huge success. Even the bouncer was impressed, saying that we'd have to play here again!

I would love it if we could take this and turn it into a more regular gig. If anything, maybe we could play a few weddings.

What to Dare to Wear

Tomorrow is the big night for ETV and I want to make sure that I'm good to go. I know my song like the back of my hand, and I've been running my vocal warm-ups to make sure that my chords are nice and limber - but the even bigger question is: what, oh WHAT am I going to WEAR???

I did a little searching on the ol' net for some rocker chick wardrobe ideas. The same image of Joan Jett in tight leather pants and a leather vest kept springing to mind. Sure enough, my search engine yielded more that enough pics of her in that very getup. Could I pull that off? I wondered.

I wonder...

Well, after work I took a trip to the always-trusty and hip Urban Outfitters, and low and behold, they had exactly what I was looking for: tight black shiny leggings and a classic roker leather vest. I very much doubt that I will be wearing all of these things together. I'm not trying to look like I just stepped out of a rock show in the 80s - but I was pretty sure that one of these sexy items would more than suffice.

I couldn't make up my mid in the dressing room, so I brought both pairs of pants and the vest home with me to see what would and wouldn't work. The vest was a n0-go - just too costumey, but the black pants that had a subtle sheen to them and the look of tight leather took the prize. Paired with a long black camisole and my new $15 Steve Madden heels and we've got ourselves a winner!

I just hope that I don't chicken out at the show and decide not to go ahead with wearing this stuff!

A Whole NYMF Meet & Greet

Tonight was another round of Meet a Greet for the New York Musical Theater Festival.

I quite enjoyed my experience at the last event and I came prepared to chat up some new folks and perhaps reconnect with some now more-familiar faces.

I met up with a friend of mine who was already chatting with a producer of a musical which had just been submitted to the festival. We chatted with her and a few others who ranged from producer to playwright. People are very approachable at these events and in actual fact, my friend Jason and I found that we hardly moved from the same spot for about an hour as people were constantly approaching us. It was pretty cool! All one really had to do to strike up a conversation was to make eye contact with another individual. It was that very type of chance encounter that got me a little ukulele music video gig this weekend! A man who had been involved with the festival in years past mentioned that he had just submitted a ukulele show into this year's festival - "Oh cool! I play the ukulele!" I said candidly.
"You do?" he asked excitedly.
"Would you want to be in a ukulele music video this Saturday?"
And with that, I had a new gig! You never know what can happen at these things!

I ended the evening on an even higher note by having a nice chat with the festival's resident Casting Director. We became instant facebook friends and he gave me one of his cards so that I could invite him to a future Made-Up Musical. I hope that this will lead to good things!

Just Another Manic Monday

Today was a very special 15-hour Monday which began at the break of dawn, when I hopped a train down to Wall Street to re-take the Census exam just to be on the safe side. I wasn't satisfied with my performance the first time I took it - even though it's definitely not rocket science. I left today's testing much more satisfied with my performance and feeling a bit more secure in my own level of intelligence.

Next up, I returned to my day job for a few hours until it was time for me to dash across town to the Flatiron District for a staged reading series that I've been wanting to be apart of. Despite the blustery winds and below freezing temperatures, the event was very well attended. The way that this thing works is actors attend the cold readings and submit their headshots to the staff who then cast them in roles based on their headshots. At the end of the night, the names of the actors are read aloud and they are given scripts for which to prepare for performance at the next night of cold readings.

Three plays were read at tonight's series, the last of which was especially well written and performed. It's remarkable to see actors bring words to life from the page. It's so very different from improv. The readers were so fully committed to the piece that I was swept up in the emotion and found myself crying. It was quite wonderful.

At the end of the night, a surprise guest was presented to us all. It was Broadway star Ken Jennings of all people! Pretty cool, eh?

I was just about ready to lose consciousness, when I realized that I still had one more thing on my day's agenda. As soon as the cold reading series was over I hopped a train back across town for the final ETV run-through. This was the last time we'd all be together to rehearse our songs before the big night!

When I arrived, everyone was crammed into one of the fancy performance studios. It was really cool! I sorta felt like I was in Rock n' Roll camp or something. Everyone got up one by one and sang through their songs like true blue rock stars. Rockin' out to "Magic Man" was a magical way to end my Monday and there's no doubt about it: ETV is gonna ROCK!!!

I'd Like To Rank the Academy

Growing up, watching The Academy Awards was always a main event in my life. I loved everything about them: the stars, the clothes, the speeches - regardless of whether or not I had actually seen any of the films - I just reveled in the magic and fanfare of it all. I dreamt that one day, I too would be there receiving an Oscar of my very own!
Well, that fantasy still lingers in the back of my mind - I'm not gonna lie. Quite frankly, even after all of these years of rejection, bad luck, bad timing, etc. I'm grateful that my fantasy has survived! I mean, I'm still much too young to be embittered by the crap that has befallen me throughout my quest of making a solid career for myself in the industry. I still have faith in myself and in the rest of the world out there that one day soon, I will make things happen. I think that this positive outlook on life is what has kept me going while wading through all of the mucky muck that is out there.

So I watched some of the Academy Awards this year. I feel a little guilty watching the Oscars when I haven't managed to see all of the movies that are up for awards. I owe it to myself to be more informed, but to be honest, the allure of this ceremony has worn a little thin over the past few years. I guess I've just grown a leery and weary of Hollywood and all of the ridiculous stories about its stars. Some of those people out there are out of their ever-loving minds. Granted sometimes the madness breeds some beautiful pieces of work - but there are far too many movie stars out there who have tarnished the shine of that place that I once thought to be so magical.

I often yearn for the good old days when we didn't know everything about the stars we worshipped. It was more fun to fill in the blanks about them ourselves and imagine what it must be like to be living their oh so perfect lives. Now we have come to find out that their lives are just as fucked up, or usually even more so than the rest of ours. (*see Mickey Rourke) How am I supposed to look up to these people?

I suppose one day, if good fortune smiles on me and I become a star - I'll just have to be the best role model I can be for other burgeoning starlets of tomorrow. Of course, I won't have much choice in the matter. I'll have to be on my best behavior because in the land of Hollywood, no one is gonna take crap from a female star who's over 30.

Rocking the 'View

This morning I got an unexpected call from the sales manager at Second Stage asking if I could come in for a quick interview at noon. I had already had it in my schedule to be at ETV rehearsal from 12 to 3, but a prospective job takes precedence, so I said "Sure! I can do that!"

I sent a quick text to notify the band that I wouldn't be about an hour late, and off I went. It seemed that my fate had already been sealed, because the interview wasn't really an interview - it was more of a tutorial/crash course of what doing the job entailed.
It seemed that all of my last-minute job interview preparation had been all for naught! But se la vie!

I should be getting a call about the job & when to start next Sunday. This may not be the most glamorous job in the world - but desperate times call for desperate measures! This job is my lifeboat that's gonna keep me from going down with the ship- the emergency parachute to keep me from colliding with the earth - the... well you get the idea.

After my impromptu training session was over - I hopped a train to the music studio for ETV rehearsals. It turned out that my absence from the first hour had not been a problem at all. I was glad that I had made the executive decision to go to the interview. I was finally off book for my song "Magic Man" and I'm feeling good & ready for the show on Thursday. I also got to sing the Kate --- song "I Kissed A Girl" to help the band do a run-through. I just like singing with a band backing me and I have often fantasized about being the lead singer of a wedding band or something. That would be fun. Something like that would also be a good stepping stone for my biggest dream of all - making it to Broadway by 30!

Optimal Optimism

This afternoon I was hard at work searching the web for more job opportunities and auditions to attend. The last couple of months have been a bit quiet in the audition department - but to my surprise, today I came across a number of listings!

It looks like the cold frost of winter and our downtrodden economy has not killed off every last bit of hope. There is a light shining at the end of this dismal tunnel after all!

I also happened upon a listing looking for telesales and fundraising staff for the Second Stage Theater in New York. The methods of response were either by email or phone - so feeling bold, I attempted a call. After a brief conversation about my experience in the field, the man on the other end of the line seemed quite anxious to meet with me on Monday afternoon! An actual possible job interview? Things are looking up! He said that he would get in touch with me on Sunday evening to confirm a meeting - but this is one of the best looking prospects I've had all year. Sure, it isn't a dream job, but it's something to help pay the bills!

After filing away a few more audition dates in my phone I was feeling really optimistic about what the future holds. It's effing scary out there and I realize that I haven't been letting the gravity of the situation set in entirely. However I think, what good would that do? Set me into panic mode? No sir!

I think that my much-improved mood really improved my improv at tonight's Made-Up Musical as well! There were only five of us in tonight's cast and the house was full of friendly faces. One of which was a very good actor/director friend of mine who recently made the move back to the city. He had been promising to come and see the show for ages and he brought another friend along who I had met at the New York Musical Festival Meet & Greet. Things are finally coming full circle - connections are beginning to be made.

Talking TMUM

Changes, they are a'comin'
I just got off the phone with my director/fellow improviser of TMUM. He had dropped me a line the other day that he wanted to chat with me about the show, so we set up a little phone meeting.
These kinds of conversations always get me a little nervous. I mean, I've been doing the show for over a year now & mostly loving every minute of it. It's a really really fun gig (as far as unpaid gigs go) and I've learned a lot by doing it. However, I have also come to realize that there is a lot that I have yet to learn that TMUM isn't quite capable of teaching.
What it all boils down to is that I need more improv practice outside of the show. It recently occurred to me that I haven't been in a class in about 6 or 7 months. I haven't been performing improv in a show in a show other than TMUM in five or six months either! The end result is that I'm just not getting enough practice of my basic skills. Soooo my director suggested that I get myself into another class if I'm interested so that I can keep myself limber and compete with the other members of the cast, most of whom perform on a daily basis and have been doing so far longer than I.

Another opportunity has presented itself as well: the Magnet has been trying to get a Musical Harold team into place! Rumors of such a thing have been swirling around the Magnet for months, but now it seems that it might actually happen!
I guess I just want to keep improving myself as an improviser and keep on making up songs. I don't care where it happens or how, just as long as I can keep on singing.

Musical Panda-monium!

I really needed a break from the pandemonium going on in my little life, so I decided to take solace in a "Pandas" show at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. I needed a little comic relief and these two ladies can slay an audience with their made-up musical stylings like no body's business. The Pandas performed a 30-minute, 15-minute and 5-minute musical based on one suggestion and it was amazing as always. I'm sort of ashamed to admit that I was at the bar getting a beer at the very start of the show - so I missed out on the suggestion given, but from what I could tell it was whore or brothel-related.

I also thought that since they are one of the best musical improv groups in the city, that maybe I could learn a thing or two by seeing them - or if nothing else be inspired and entertained. Needless to say, I got all of the above - which was exactly what I had bargained for. Not bad for five bucks! Now I can hardly wait to get back on stage on Friday and rock that TMUM out!

Finding the Write Words

Tonight right after I submitted my availability and confirmed for a Made-Up Musical rehearsal, I found an unsettling email in my inbox concerning my future in the show. I've been apart of the show in one way or another for a little over a year now - and I have been plugging along as best as I can with little or no rehearsals and hardly any feedback from those that run the show - and okay - or so I thought...

I got an email from the head of the show saying that we need to have a talk. Just reading those words set my stomach a-flutter. What's worse - I couldn't just sweep it under the rug and hope that it would go away...this called for swift and decisive action. I had to submit a response and the sooner the better. UGH! I HATE THIS!

With the aid of my boyfriend's objectivity I sat down to compose a reasonably sane email which would hint at my own displeasure over the current situation without burning any bridges. I mean I've been through a lot with these folks over the past year! We've become friends and I don't want anything to wreck these relationships. I'll admit that I broke down a little bit tonight. It just seems that things have been working against me over the past few weeks and this was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back.

I don't enjoy confrontations - and I am fearing the worst, but the sooner we have this conversation the better.

Getting Trim

This morning I finally got done what I've been meaning to get done for the past several months: get a hair cut!

My too-long tresses were desperately in need of a tune-up but I had been putting off a trim for fear that I wouldn't like the end result. After a while though, I was just getting fed up with my stupid hair, so I found a nice place at the end of my block that was giving cuts & blow dries for 50% off. I figured that any salon willing to pay rent in my 'hood couldn't be half bad, so off I went!

I'm happy to report that the styling was a success. Dead and split ends are a thing of the past and now I feel like my appearance is much improved. Now if only I could afford those new headshots I was talking about.

Resubmitting My Resurrection

During a full day of running around town with my family, I realized that the Test Drive application due date was yet again upon me.

Having not heard back about a future show date at the Magnet, it occurred to me that I had better resubmit my show "The Baroness of Vegas" before the opportunity to do so passes me by.

I drew up another email and just barely missed the deadline by 3 minutes, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that since this is a resubmission of an idea for a show, I won't be terribly penalized for my last-minute realization. After all, I don't want to burn any bridges, but I do want to set that Magnet stage on fire with my sassy resurrection of my old friend Trudy Carmichael. She's been burning a hole in my brain over the past few months, just waiting for her chance at a comeback!

Hopefully the powers that be will see that it's time for her to shine once again!

Today's V'Day!

The deadline for creating our Valentines tunes is up! The time to deliver them to each other was now or never for better or for worse!

I had completed my musical accompaniment & written the bulk of my lyrics over the past couple of days - but like any good procrastinator, I didn't actually start laying down any of my vocal tracks until late last night after I had gotten home from The Made-Up Musical. Of course by that time I was in no shape to sing, so I opted to wait to finalize my vocals until late this afternoon - essentially moments before I was to meet up with my Valentine. I wasn't prepared to stop finishing up my recording until Iwas satidfied that it was as close to perfection as humanly possible. This took longer that I had originally anticipated, but in the end, it was all worth it.

The side effect of all of this is that I can see how much I enjoy writing and composing music and I want to continue writing songs and put them into a show - just like my boyfriend's roommate did - but I also wouldn't mind writing songs for other people as well. I think that later this week I'm going to sit back down at the underused piano I have sitting in my apartment & see if I can't wrangle something out of it. If all else fails - I can always go back to my trusty Super Duper Music Looper!

Freaky Friday

Tonight I returned to the Magnet for a Friday the 13th performance of The Made-Up Musical.

One of the best things about the show was that we had a full house - there's nothing like performing for a nice big energetic audience.

Our suggestion came from an out-of-towner who grew up in a town in Washington state that was home to a lot of serial killers.

It was a perfect suggestion for a Freaky Friday the 13th & lucky for us, the show was a hit.

Giving Freely

The job search continues.

Like many Americans, I am under-worked and under-paid. The stress is starting to get to me, but I remain hopeful that something great is lurking right over the horizon.

In the meantime, I am continuing to volunteer for the NYMF. I want to use all of this extra free time wisely. Admittedly, it's not a completely selfless act, but rather a crafty way to get on their radar. I want them to know me and love me just like I know and love them. They seem open to making new friends, and giving of my free time seems like a surefire way into their hearts.

This afternoon I did a few menial tasks in their office and ran an errand to a local Staples. It was pretty simple stuff like label-cutting and printing documents. Definitely well within my skill set. I didn't mind at all. In fact I just appreciated the little change in venue.

I was going to return to their office again this evening for a little mailing party, but it turns out that there are a lot of like-minded individuals like myself who want a little piece of this fun-pie. I'm not worried though. I think that there's plenty to go around!

ExSpandex-ing My Mind

This evening I returned to the Ars Nova theater to see a show in one of their Encores Series. One of the perks of having done the A.N.T. Fest is that we get offered comp tickets to various shows. I like free things so I pounced on the opportunity.

The show was what I could only describe as a Rock/R&B explosion of comedy, sequins and spandex. The star of the show, a self-proclaimed American Idol was fiercely fiery and entertaining the whole way through. She was aptly backed by a band of lusty gentlemen in white boxers & wife beaters, and flanked by two kickass dancers during the really big numbers. It was all around fun for everyone.

The only thing I was left wondering was: who exactly is this adorable person? Is she a character? A persona? An escaped patient from a loony bin? I wished to know more. I realize that the shows that I'm most entertained by are those that feature a character or characters that have a definitive story to tell. They have a point of view and a really big want and a need to share their desires with an audience.

I was glad that I had the chance to check out this show, not only because it was fun and it was free, but it also helped me get a better grasp on the type of story I want to tell with my show. It solidified what I want out of doing a show at all. Otherwise, what's the point, right?

Final Notes

This morning I was up and at 'em pretty early.

I hopped onto my computer and finished composing the musical accompaniment for the Valentine's song I'm writing for mt boyfriend. I'm pretty pleased with it. It's not quite as long as lasy years's (that one came in at a whopping 5 minutes and change) but I don't think he'll mind. Now for the lyrics!

When composing a song in this way, I have found that it's easiest to work out a tune that I like, get it into my head and then put words to it that way. I also do it in this order because the Sony Super Duper Music Looper has places quite a number of constraints on the composer. You only have a certain amount of sounds and loops to choose from - so you really have to work with what you're given. This may prove incredibly frustrating to one who actually knows what their doing, however for those of us who are still feeling out theur composition skills, it works just perfectly.

I put together a few arrangements before deciding on a final cut and exporting it as a .wav file into itunes. I burned the track onto a CD and then transported it over to GarageBand where I will attempt to record my vocal track.

Ack! I'm so nervous! I want this song to be perfect, and I want it to make my boyfriend cry...just like last year.

Finding Photos!!!

Given my precarious financial situation, I've been having to completely dial down my expenses. This is not a good thing.

I had planned on getting new headshots taken this month and now that has to be put on the back burner because there is no way that I can afford them until I reach the end of my financial free fall.

I had been holding back on getting new shots done for a while now and using some older black and white shots that I had from a few years back. After all, they're good shots and they still look like me! The only problem is that they're black and white. I'm hoping that casting directors, agents and directors alike will forgive the outdated-ness of these black and whites in light of the economic pinch that is plaguing us all.

The problem with those shots was that I had just run out of them, andwas praying for some kind of miracle when today my boyfriend found a few more in a folder that he had been using for some headshots of his own. I was ecstatic! Now I have a few more shots to get me through the next couple of auditions until I get repros made.

These are hard times and I hate the fact that I'm having to scrimp and save every single penny, but I'm gonna do whatever is in my power to prevent the pressure of my dwindling finances from entirely crushing my dreams.

Back To Planet NYC

We're getting closer to the final draft of my new and improved website. Earlier today my boyfriend drafted a test site for me and I think it's getting closer to what it is that I need. On the flight back home to NYC - we continued sketching out more ideas for the site.

It was still light outside when we were arriving in New York. Once again, we were aboard a smaller aircraft which had to do a couple of loops around the island before landing. It was a perfectly clear day and the sun was setting across Manhattan as we made our descent into LGA. I even managed to snap a couple of pictures on my cell phone...

I Can Hear The Bells

After another round of practicing songs in the hotel pool, it was time to get ready to go to the wedding...

My boyfriend needed to get to the wedding venue early for family pictures, so I tagged along. Lucky us, we got to ride in style in a big white stretch limo and pretend that we were the rich and famous! Yes, we're dorks, but I don't think that I've been in a limo since my senior prom so it was a lot of fun.

I'm not jaded. It's the little things in life!

Singing Swimmingly

My boyfriend and I took full advantage of being stranded in a hotel in the middle of nowhere Indiana today: we went to the pool.

As we were swimming around the pool area, my boyfriend made several song requests since we were in a room that had nice big echo-ey acoustics. I ran through the newest addition to my repertoire "A Way Back to Then." The high note sounded really great in there, reverberating off of the tiled ceilings and floors.

It just feels good to sing no matter where I am. I would sing in pool, I would sing in a school, I would sing in a plane, I would sing on a train... where I love best, is on a stage!

In An Indy State of Mind

This afternoon my boyfriend and I boarded a baby plane bound for Indiana for his sister's wedding. It's a family reunion for him & a mini vaycay for me, although last time I checked Indianapolis wasn't a top tourist destination - especially not in the month of February.

We decided to take advantage of our down time while we were up in the air by finalizing the design of my website. My boyfriend likes to draw things out on paper before putting them up on the web, so we got out his legal pad and began jotting things down.

Several months ago I designed this intricate splash page which featured a bird's nest filled with baby robin birdsthat hatched out of their eggs when you rolled over each one. Each egg was a link to a different page. Pretty damn cool, I thought - but the navigation was just too darn time consuming and clever for it's own good. SO I'm scrapping that whole thing and starting fresh!

Coming to my Census

This afternoon I continued to do some more composing of my Valentines song and I imported the file into Garage Band. I divided the music into separate tacks into separate tracks and tried working with them in GarageBand - however it was giving me the business when I tried to add in my percussion track & consequently the rhythm of the drum is completely off. I may have to go back to the drawing board with this project.

I dashed out of work early to take the exam to be a Census taker on the 14th floor of the Actor's Equity Building. The Actors Work Program set up test dates with the Bureau so that actors across the country could take advantage of these sweet little part-time positions. The only drawback is that most of the positions won't start until mid-March or early April & I need to get another source of income going before then.

I think that I did better that average on the test - but I wasn't satisfied in the least, so when I returned home this evening I emailed one of the coordinators about a retest date. I'm signed up to retake the exam on the 23rd. If at first you don't ace it, don't be afraid to retake it!

Changing My Tune

Today I put in a call to Big Apple Improv followed up with emailing my resume so that I can get an audition appointment with this group. They visit schools, church groups, hospitals, even prisons to bring the joy of improv to people (and convicts) of all ages. Sounds kinds cool! Also, it's a paid gig - and as I stated before - I needs to make some money. ASAP...

This evening I went to a show at Ars Nova featuring my boyfriend's roommate. He was offered the opportunity to do his own solo show of his original songs immediately after a performance in an A.N.T. Fest show this past November. I had wished for a similar outcome for us following our premiere of "The Spotlight" in Ars Nova's festival, but it simply was not to be...yet.

All envy aside, I was really looking forward to the show & truly excited for him - especially knowing that he had accepted the challenge of composing a bunch of entirely "nerdy" and funny original songs in a mere couple of months. I had even lended my voice to one of his tracks! (He didn't end up using my backup vocals in the show - but it was still cool to be asked.) It also earned me a little nod in the Program's "Special Thanks" section.

Watching the show tonight, I felt like a proud parent watching his or her child in a school recital. It was a great show that left everybody wanting more. I was particularly inspired! I left the theater thinking - "Hey! I can do that! I should do that! Why couldn't I do that?" (Or something in the same vain, that is.

This show has definitely fueled me and lit another fire under my behind. No more talking about woulda, coulda, shoulda - I'm going to write me some songs doggonnit! And they are gonna be good!

I hope.

Contact Hi's

I just received my performance schedule for this month's round of The Made-Up Musical. I had been talking up the show to anyone who would listen at last week's NYMF Meet & Greet, and managed to generate some interest. I think it would be great to get some NYMF producers into the seats at TMUM, so today I sent out some emails to the folks who gave me their business cards. I've decided to go into full on networking mode these days. There's no time like the present to make new connections and start bridging the gap between old ones.

When I was scanning the job listings on playbill.com I came across a posting for Davenport - it just so happens that one of the people I met last week works for them. A sign, perhaps? Let's hope so.

Bride-Not-To Be in A Show!

Unfortunately the star of the show was feeling to ill to put the show on tonight, so it turned out that I would be able to follow through with my Superbowl plans instead. (Not that I really gave a rat's ass about this year's Super Bowl.)

Anyway speaking of caring, Valentines Day is quickly approaching, and like last year, my boyfriend and I are writing songs for each other. We like doing cute things that give us an excuse to be creative. It also lights a small fire under my behind to get it done.

Today I began "composing" a piece for my man, once again using a simplistic program that I received from a friend last year, called the Super Duper Music Looper. It's pretty nifty and it does most of the work for you - although it's a little too simplistic in its function as it doesn't allow you to pause in the middle of your song, etc. so I have to constantly start from the beginning whenever I want to make a change. It's a bit more taxing than I would like it to be so I'm thinking of copying the file onto a CD and importing all of the tracks into Garage Band to do more musical assemblage.

More on this work in progress later...