Weblog

Monday, 18 February 2008

  • Holy shit it's February already

    So here I am...with a day off in Lawrence, Kansas....nice town and all, but, not that exciting. I'm sitting in my hotel room watching Major Payne.........how freakin' exciting. Anyway, here's another update:

    I've discovered that I hate when people say one thing and do another

    Tour life has gotten stressful for all the wrong reasons

    People turn against each other over meaningless bullshit

    I'm exploring options for next year

    I'm embracing being single

    I really hate it when people say and promise to do something and then end up doing the complete opposite.

    I'm "saving" money by running up a credit card bill

    I'm addicted to 24

    Finding time to rest is not that easy

    Having days off can be wonderful and boring as hell

    I need to get my computer fixed

    I'm starting to get more friends in the armed service than I have friends who aren't

    I feel old and i'm not

    I can tell i've grown up when I start to look at jobs based on health benefits

    I miss driving

    I'm looking forward to settling down

    Children's theater can get stale

    Every town is a bit different in the same way

Friday, 23 November 2007

  • Midpoint Update

    So, I have sort of reached the midpoint of my tour....or rather....reached my first substantial break. Since being out on the road since September I've come to learn a few things:

    Paying for hotels sucks when you have no money

    Being in a different hotel every night for a week and a half isn't much fun either

    Its hard to keep 8 people crammed on a bus together happy all the time

    Kentucky really, really sucks

    Hotel bars help me keep my sanity

    Load ins are always entertaining just not always in a good way

    I am not a wardrobe person

    The phrase "overworked and underpaid" gets thrown around a lot

    I miss cooking

    I miss driving

    8 hour bus rides make my ass go numb

    I am a magnet for crazy people

    Same statement above applies for homeless people too

    Smithwicks is a damn good beer

    I drink way too much coffee

    People consider me to be the "stable" one of the group

    I'm not that stable

    Omaha Nebraska is a really cool town

    I found a 32 oz PBR in Wisconsin

    Some of the best Italian food is in Madison Wisconsin

    I don't miss being on stage

    My personal wardrobe consists mainly of black t-shirts

    I packed way too much shit to start with

    Having an ipod might be the best thing ever

Friday, 26 October 2007

  • good lord

    So since last friday, I've been in 8 different states. Georgia, Kentucky, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, back to Kentucky, and now North Carolina. jesus christ i'm exhausted. I've had a lot of stuff on my mind lately but i've been working so much that I haven't dwelled on things too much. The job is going great. I think i've finally found a good rhythm with how to run both shows. I'm definitely looking forward to having a day off to do nothing but sleep. I really do love my job which, thank god, otherwise i'd probably shoot someone. I have an absolute blast running these two shows everyday....or at least every other day. I can't wait for thanksgiving

Thursday, 18 October 2007

  • The Open Road

    So, New York was a blast....it flew by.......it's hard to believe I was there now. The tour is now in full swing, we spent a great week down in Charleston for tech rehearsals working our assses off trying to figure out two shows. From my standpoint, Frankly Ben is pretty easy, Flat Stanley could possibly kill me. We left Charleston last Sunday, drove to Greenville, dropped off luggage, and went to the theater to load in Flat Stanley. Let me go back a second, Some know this already but our set, tools, sound, wardrobe, soft goods, luggage, and the entire cast and crew have to fit on a charter bus with a wheelchair lift in the back. There are only three technicians on this tour and we spent 5 hours last saturday trying to figure out how to pack our bus efficiently. We figured that out and off we went. The first stop was in Greenville and the show couldn't have gone much better for the first one out of the gate. We definitely had some problems but for the first load in and first show, we all were happy. Now we are in Macon, Georgia.....this is an interesting place. It feels like being in a time warp. We are at the Grand Opera House which was built in the 1800s and hasn't really been renovated in a long time. Which means we've had some problems with Frankly Ben. All in all it has gone well so far. I'm looking forward to a day off to catch up on all the happenings in the world because all i've thought about for the past 6 weeks are these two shows.

Friday, 21 September 2007

  • More and more rehearsals

    So, Rehearsals are continuing to go well. Up until yesterday it was nothing but music, music, and more music. Now we are off to blocking and choreography. The director of Flat Stanley has been in Clemson for tech week of Frog and Toad, so I've been working on Frankly Ben most of the time. As I've said before I have a lot to catch up on (still) and now with the choreography thrown in.....damn. The choreographer is a cool guy, he played Mr. Mistoffelees in Cats on Broadway and London for 6 years. Anyone who has seen the DVD performance, I'm working with that guy.

    I'm starting to get acclimated in the city finally, I've met up with old college friends who live up here now and some people I worked with in Charleston. I found a great Irish bar that is reasonably priced (for NY).

    Its odd to go to rehearsal and just sit for 8 hours and watch everyone else playing. I've taken more notes than I ever have before for anything.....ever. Mostly because once I get out on the road, I am going to have to depend on two other locals to help me with what needs to be done backstage so I need to have a detailed list of instructions I can give out in every city.

    Poi balls are the coolest thing ever created. I have torn my hands to pieces practicing with these things but I have determined that knowing how to use poi balls will get me a job someday.....I hope

Photostrip

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