Easybigthe's Xanga

Holy shit it's February already

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:35:37 GMT

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

Midpoint Update

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 14:35:13 GMT

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

good lord

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 01:24:00 GMT

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

The Open Road

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 10:52:53 GMT

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.

More and more rehearsals

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:50:47 GMT

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

Rehearsals are underway

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 00:02:28 GMT

So my job is underway now and GOOD LORD do I have a lot to do. Two shows to memorize in about a week. The shows are great and catchy, but it's a little intimidating having to learn so much in a crunch.

The cast is great. Everyone is around the same age and all our personalities suit each other well. I realized quickly that I needed to invest in some sort of recorder to help me learn my notes and melodies so I bought one this morning at a computer shop in times square.

The apartment that I'm staying in is quaint to say the least. Its actually big by New York standards but it's in the basement of the studio where my rehearsals are being held. It is nice and convienent to be able to wake up and walk upstairs to work.

Overall, things are going great, I'm still trying to find my groove in rehearsals but I know that will come. Afterall, I've only had the script for three days.

I get to learn how to use poi balls tomorrow.....i'm going to practice my ass off so I can set them on fire and twirl them.

My First Post

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:03:34 GMT

First post.... don't judge

I thought I would start writing a somewhat regular "blog" to keep friends and family updated. This will be filled mostly with random thoughts and observations, so here we go. This past year has been a rollercoaster to say the least, here are the high, and low, points.

Finished School

Went to Scotland (best trip ever)

Started internship

Got frustrated, confused, drunk, contemplative, happy

Offered a job

Went to Vegas (longest trip ever: 23hrs, 3 airlines, and a rental car to get there)

Gambled, discovered I suck

started drinking more

started smoking more

felt lost, acted content

Christmas

New Years (fun party)

guitar hero fanatic

rejuvenated

drinking less

smoking less

Urinetown

met a girl

felt right at the time

didn't work

auditioned for a job

got job

went to Charleston

apartment in Clemson gets ruined

Sottile crew (zombie crew and three inches from death)

16 hour days

"ma there's air coming out of my ass...."

truck breaks.....again....worst possible time

leave Charleston

Clemson feels "off"

Move home

bored

get ready for new job

going to New York

ready to spend the next 9 months on a tour bus

Here I go......