Isn't Life a Kick?
Apr. 20th, 2005 09:54 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mrdreamjeans“Evita” opened last night at the Barbara Mann Performing Arts Center in Ft Myers, Florida. We reconvened here after a layoff week where cast and crew scattered to the winds. We’re staying in a Radisson (as of this week a Clarion) Hotel along a busy stretch of highway replete with strip malls and franchise restaurants. I already miss the conveniences and comfort of the equivalents in San Francisco.
One of the definite perks of flying to the West Coast of Florida and being based here for a week is that wherever I go, I’m one of the younger people:) Even on the plane, I was surrounded mostly by folks 25 years older than me. It’s probably the only place where I can go to a Perkins Restaurant and have the server call me “kid”:)
A downside to the age of the populace here is that they don’t stay in their seats at the end of the show. Even before the drop flew in signaling the end of the show last night, people were crowding the aisles to leave. I guess the 10:20pm finale is past their bed time. The crowd who stayed in their seats rose up and gave us a standing ovation, but then again, maybe they were just struggling to get up and anxious to leave too:)
We’re going to have several rehearsals this week in preparation for our Toronto opening a week from today. Press attention will be intense, plus Hal Prince is coming in to see the show. Our Magaldi, Gabriel Burrafato, is from Toronto and did a lot of press on the layoff week. He said the levels of anticipation and excitement for “Evita”s arrival are high. I am thrilled with the opportunity to be spending six weeks in one of my favorite cities!
Our flights on Monday are really early, violating the union rest period. Travel overtime will be incurred. Final curtain is 9:30pm on Sunday night and the bus call for the Ft Myers airport will be at 5am Monday morning. We will make our border crossing in three groups. Our company manager asked that she be warned if anyone was going to have trouble getting into Canada. No judgment, just a heads-up... We’ll see what happens as legal issues/ criminal past are incredibly private/personal subjects.
Saving the best for last .... on the flight between Houston and Atlanta, I struck up a casual conversation with the stranger next to me. We only spoke briefly till the last 20 minutes of the trip, but the final 20 minutes may lead to something wonderful for me. It turns out the guy I was speaking with is major player in Los Angeles in the film, television and music industry. Among the artists he represents are Kenny Rogers, with whom he’s worked for 25 years, and Jo Dee Messina.
At the end of our conversation, he gave me his card and invited me to send my song-writing demo to him, as Kenny is currently looking for songs for his next album. My song-writing is very important to me and, whether it works out or not, just to have a possible foot in the door is unexpected and exciting. I have a strong bullshit detector and I can tell this guy is the real deal. Chance meetings can be life-altering in positive ways. It’s happened to me time and time again. I plan to submit the tape and see what happens. Isn’t life a kick?
One of the definite perks of flying to the West Coast of Florida and being based here for a week is that wherever I go, I’m one of the younger people:) Even on the plane, I was surrounded mostly by folks 25 years older than me. It’s probably the only place where I can go to a Perkins Restaurant and have the server call me “kid”:)
A downside to the age of the populace here is that they don’t stay in their seats at the end of the show. Even before the drop flew in signaling the end of the show last night, people were crowding the aisles to leave. I guess the 10:20pm finale is past their bed time. The crowd who stayed in their seats rose up and gave us a standing ovation, but then again, maybe they were just struggling to get up and anxious to leave too:)
We’re going to have several rehearsals this week in preparation for our Toronto opening a week from today. Press attention will be intense, plus Hal Prince is coming in to see the show. Our Magaldi, Gabriel Burrafato, is from Toronto and did a lot of press on the layoff week. He said the levels of anticipation and excitement for “Evita”s arrival are high. I am thrilled with the opportunity to be spending six weeks in one of my favorite cities!
Our flights on Monday are really early, violating the union rest period. Travel overtime will be incurred. Final curtain is 9:30pm on Sunday night and the bus call for the Ft Myers airport will be at 5am Monday morning. We will make our border crossing in three groups. Our company manager asked that she be warned if anyone was going to have trouble getting into Canada. No judgment, just a heads-up... We’ll see what happens as legal issues/ criminal past are incredibly private/personal subjects.
Saving the best for last .... on the flight between Houston and Atlanta, I struck up a casual conversation with the stranger next to me. We only spoke briefly till the last 20 minutes of the trip, but the final 20 minutes may lead to something wonderful for me. It turns out the guy I was speaking with is major player in Los Angeles in the film, television and music industry. Among the artists he represents are Kenny Rogers, with whom he’s worked for 25 years, and Jo Dee Messina.
At the end of our conversation, he gave me his card and invited me to send my song-writing demo to him, as Kenny is currently looking for songs for his next album. My song-writing is very important to me and, whether it works out or not, just to have a possible foot in the door is unexpected and exciting. I have a strong bullshit detector and I can tell this guy is the real deal. Chance meetings can be life-altering in positive ways. It’s happened to me time and time again. I plan to submit the tape and see what happens. Isn’t life a kick?
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Life is a Kick!
Date: 2005-04-20 03:09 pm (UTC)Re: Life is a Kick!
Date: 2005-04-20 08:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-20 08:54 pm (UTC)I would love to have photos, but doesn't bitterlawngnome do a lot of photography where the subject is nude? Not going to happen with me, despite his obvious artistry and talent and even if he were interested in me as a subject:)
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Date: 2005-04-21 06:32 am (UTC)In any case, I am looking forward to seeing the show and getting a chance to meet you. I think you are going to have a blast in Toronto. this really is a cool city.
Let me know if there is anything you want to know about the city in advance of your arrival that you haven't already been able to suss out.
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Date: 2005-04-21 02:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-20 03:57 pm (UTC)*SCREAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM*!
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Date: 2005-04-20 05:14 pm (UTC)I can tollerate Kenny Rodgers. He's one of only a couple of C/W singers around who don't make me hurl.
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Date: 2005-04-20 06:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-20 06:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-21 04:50 am (UTC)You're right. Kenny Rodgers DOES know how to tell a story, and as I stated, he's one of the few C/W singers I can tollerate for any length of time, so I think you've chosen wisely.
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Date: 2005-04-21 02:07 pm (UTC)Goals & Genres
Date: 2005-04-20 09:10 pm (UTC)Country music is one of the last strong-holds for well-told stories and strong melodies outside of musical theater and Gospel music. There are country singers such as Trisha Yearwood, Gary Morris and Vince Gill who's vocals transcend the category and the twangy designation and offer pure quality and bliss:) Believe me, I agree with many of your criticisms of country music, but there are quality singers in the category that I like.
I tend to write songs where the melodies require singers with a lot of range, which is also one of my strengths as a singer. Kenny Rogers did not start out as a country singer; he started out in Rock and R&B and really knows how to tell a story through music. If I can get Kenny, Jo Dee Messina or their representatives to listen to my songs, get feedback - good or bad, then I am a step ahead in my knowledge.
I want to know how to get someone to record my songs. End of story:) As I said in early February in my post "Life Going Forward", having someone record my songs is one of my goals before I leave this earth. I plan to get it accomplished.
Re: Goals & Genres
Date: 2005-04-20 11:03 pm (UTC)I like the honesty of the stories told in Country music. I like the beat and the danceability. I cringe at the false rhymes, but only if I'm really listening for them; I accept them in Country where I would not accept them in Music Theatre. :-) I'm glad that I've developed an appreciation for all these musical styles, each in its own pocket. I think it makes me a more interesting person — as well as being more *employable* if I also learn to play or sing in the different styles.
Best of luck with your contact and where it might go. :-D
Re: Goals & Genres
Date: 2005-04-21 03:02 am (UTC)Re: Goals & Genres
Date: 2005-04-21 05:18 am (UTC)I'm crossing my fingers that I can make it to Philly to see you, since Toronto would be a lot harder trip to make!
Re: Goals & Genres
Date: 2005-04-21 02:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-21 01:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-21 03:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-21 07:33 am (UTC)I love Alison Krauss and her music, too. You are so right about that pure voice, and while I've generally not been a big fan of bluegrass, I love her stuff.
I was lucky enough to see her and Union Station a few summers ago here in Toronto, and it was one of my favourite concerts ever.
I still get chills when I hear her "balladized" version of the old Foundations tune "Baby, Now That I've Found You" and her version of "When You Say Nothing At All". As much as I love those songs, I love even more her reaction when the major record labels came courting after her success with those singles. She said she'd stick with Rounder Records, since they let her play ALL of her music and have been loyal to her over the years.
Gotta love somebody in the music business with that much talent AND that much integrity.
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Date: 2005-04-21 02:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-21 09:37 pm (UTC)speaking of chance encounters...
Date: 2005-04-21 12:55 am (UTC)I think it would be the coolest thing to have Jo Dee sing one of yours, I've seen/heard her live and she's one energetic performer and I love her voice -full of character.
As for the spontaneous C/W music debate here, I couldn't agree more with
Re: speaking of chance encounters...
Date: 2005-04-21 03:10 am (UTC)One of my early favorites, probably because my parents were such big fans of his, was Eddie Arnold. By today's standards his songs, backed by lush orchestral arrangements, wouldn't be considered country enough:) Thanks for commenting on the topic. I wonder if there are any other closet CW music fans on my LJ friends list:)
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Date: 2005-04-21 01:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-21 02:36 pm (UTC)He was going right from the airport to Kenny's house near Atlanta. It was surreal and exciting all at the same time.... Thanks for your support! You better believe if anything happens, positive or not, I'll be letting my friends know:) Hugs!