Greetings!
I know the title of this blog might be shocking-- and it deserves to be!
I will get to that later!
First I must recount the past few months of gigs (for posterity as always).
Since the last post I did play at the Civil War reenactment at the Norlands Living History Center, followed by Fishstock with EOS (mid July), then Into the Woods (musical) @ Community Little Theatre in Auburn, a solo guitar wedding in Boothbay, and Dr. Paul Caron's wedding at the Franco-Heritage Center (he has been my music director for over a decade in countless shows).
I have noticed that musicals and gigs in general all seem to "flow" better the older (seasoned) I get. Problems are resolved faster and I feel I am almost a spectator to myself playing. That comes with playing by rote (something I despise unless the music is breakneck exciting), but then again, I like being the pilot of a ship and being able to focus on things besides the regurgitation of notes (dynamics and expression come to mind). I still look for creative opportunities, and I will never play any song the same way twice for this reason. Maybe I am still looking for an Allen Holdsworth meets Dream Theater experience, but that doesn't mean I can't create that in the moment for myself.
Don't lose yourself in your playing. Do not become something you are not, and do not lose what you love about music (find what this is at the core). You can find what you like in all music, or you can add it in intentionally!
Now about my house being burglarized...
Over a month ago, while I was sleeping upstairs with my air conditioner on, a burglar broke into my house, stole my Fender Power Tele guitar, recording equipment, and all credit cards. I caught the act on camera with a few videos. He started out breaking a window in my basement, but couldn't get up past my cellar door. This man then proceeded to tear my air conditioner out of my livingroom window, leaving it hanging while still be plugged in, and got into the house. The time was 3am. I woke up and found a window wide open, front doors open, and I initially thought that my cat had gotten smarter and much stronger. When I saw my guitar missing and items misplaced, I knew what happened. Credit cards were cancelled and the police were called. An officer showed up and seemed uninterested. I dropped off the videos, pics, and serial number of my guitar to help find it at the station. Later in the day 3 investigators showed up and asked a few questions. After that day, no one got in contact with us. 2 weeks later I emailed to ask where they were in the process, and I received a generic indifferent response. It has been over a month and no one has contacted me since then. I am not impressed with law enforcement in my area, and I feel that my guitar might be in a pawn shop somewhere (which they promised wouldn't happen). They will be receiving an email today.
The lesson is that you need to question how secure your living space is. Think like a criminal and do not be blatant about showing off what you own. I have always locked up my music equipment since I started living in my house, but chose for that night to have 1 guitar out to practice for a wedding the next day. Keep yourself safe first and foremost, but also have peace-of-mind. I once had a single camera in my house, and I now have 5 (4 of which are in continuous record mode whenever movement is detected). Sleeping is still difficult although my house is more secure. I am more pessimistic about the town where I live, but that will fade slightly with time. By next year (or soon) I will be focused on moving to a location I deem safer, in a house that I will personally secure from the ground up. The world doesn't seem to be getting any better, so this seems to be a common sense move.
Friday, October 9, 2015
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Where have I been? Updates on life and work.
How has everyone been?
I just finished 3 weeks of gigs (more on this later), and I am looking forward to some time off to regain my musical "sense" (I have a few weeks possibly).
Since April, I have continued to work multiple jobs at a public school, while teaching dance and music. In May I played with YOLA (Youth Orchestra of Lewiston/Auburn) at an old mansion house in Auburn-- that was fun. They told me that I was officially on the board-- O.k.!
I finished more BHP training, along with CPR, began a summer class on my graduate thesis, and finished a spring semester at USM.
At the end of May I played a barn raising at Norlands Living History Center. Two weeks later I played at the Civil War reenactment with a student. The people are what make this place "living" still, and I am glad to part of everything. In July I will be playing lute at a dinner party there.
At the beginning of June I began playing for "Full Monty" at MSMT. I somewhat signed my life away, and began 3 weeks of visiting Brunswick on a daily basis, moving students around, getting out of the public school job early, and adjusting my sound to fit with what the music director wanted. The pay was better than community theatre, but the schedule and bureaucracy was not worth it.
Let me explain...
I had to get a substitute guitar player for my last show. I alerted everyone that I had to do this, sent out emails and asked around for possible candidates (2 weeks prior to the date the sub was needed). I found someone and sent them the sheet music, a recording of the show, and met them after a few days to go over any issues with the music. The person was sure of many parts of the music, and had trouble with others, but they promised to practice until they would meet me to watch me play the show (and mimic me) twice before the day they would sub. They did just that, and I met with the person the Thursday before the Saturday I would miss. After the show, the music director mentioned their apprehension with having this person sub for me and asked me who else I had in mind (so late to the game?). The music director found a way to play my parts on the piano, and eventually they did this for the last show. Over the span of the two days before I left, I received a phone call from the executive music director threatening me with reprimands and legal issues due to breach of contract (although I followed the rules for getting the sub-- it was not my problem that he was not accepted-- bad first impression?). I have still not heard anything about what reprimand I am to received, but the theatre owes me one last hefty check, and I will be doing the math to see what fee I have incurred for following their rules. I played almost 30 shows and missed one, that I planned for properly, but egos attempt to rule out. Too bad my expertise is in organizational psychology...
You can't get away having double standards.
The Saturday that I missed the play, I was with EOS playing a wedding in Newry, Maine. It was well-received, and we sounded great. https://www.facebook.com/EveryOtherSunday?fref=ts
I now have a few weeks off before I play again at the Norlands, possibly another Jeroba Jump gig, a wedding, a community theatre play, and then the fall season of weddings and plays all over again (I am booked up through December with plays).
Now, if you excuse me, I have a lawn (forest) to mow.
Take care!
I just finished 3 weeks of gigs (more on this later), and I am looking forward to some time off to regain my musical "sense" (I have a few weeks possibly).
Since April, I have continued to work multiple jobs at a public school, while teaching dance and music. In May I played with YOLA (Youth Orchestra of Lewiston/Auburn) at an old mansion house in Auburn-- that was fun. They told me that I was officially on the board-- O.k.!
I finished more BHP training, along with CPR, began a summer class on my graduate thesis, and finished a spring semester at USM.
At the end of May I played a barn raising at Norlands Living History Center. Two weeks later I played at the Civil War reenactment with a student. The people are what make this place "living" still, and I am glad to part of everything. In July I will be playing lute at a dinner party there.
At the beginning of June I began playing for "Full Monty" at MSMT. I somewhat signed my life away, and began 3 weeks of visiting Brunswick on a daily basis, moving students around, getting out of the public school job early, and adjusting my sound to fit with what the music director wanted. The pay was better than community theatre, but the schedule and bureaucracy was not worth it.
Let me explain...
I had to get a substitute guitar player for my last show. I alerted everyone that I had to do this, sent out emails and asked around for possible candidates (2 weeks prior to the date the sub was needed). I found someone and sent them the sheet music, a recording of the show, and met them after a few days to go over any issues with the music. The person was sure of many parts of the music, and had trouble with others, but they promised to practice until they would meet me to watch me play the show (and mimic me) twice before the day they would sub. They did just that, and I met with the person the Thursday before the Saturday I would miss. After the show, the music director mentioned their apprehension with having this person sub for me and asked me who else I had in mind (so late to the game?). The music director found a way to play my parts on the piano, and eventually they did this for the last show. Over the span of the two days before I left, I received a phone call from the executive music director threatening me with reprimands and legal issues due to breach of contract (although I followed the rules for getting the sub-- it was not my problem that he was not accepted-- bad first impression?). I have still not heard anything about what reprimand I am to received, but the theatre owes me one last hefty check, and I will be doing the math to see what fee I have incurred for following their rules. I played almost 30 shows and missed one, that I planned for properly, but egos attempt to rule out. Too bad my expertise is in organizational psychology...
You can't get away having double standards.
The Saturday that I missed the play, I was with EOS playing a wedding in Newry, Maine. It was well-received, and we sounded great. https://www.facebook.com/EveryOtherSunday?fref=ts
I now have a few weeks off before I play again at the Norlands, possibly another Jeroba Jump gig, a wedding, a community theatre play, and then the fall season of weddings and plays all over again (I am booked up through December with plays).
Now, if you excuse me, I have a lawn (forest) to mow.
Take care!
Friday, April 10, 2015
Work on top of work!
How have you been? I have been busy (as I always say). I have been 5-jobs a week busy, along with graduate classes and multiple musical forays busy-- busy enough to question whether I should put my sleep into my Google calendar (to make sure that I get it)!
What has happened?
I played 9 to 5 the Musical at CLT, Every Other Sunday had their live show recording at the Franco Center. It can be found at the website: http://www.eosunday.com/
Every Other Sunday also played a show at the Cumston Theatre in Monmouth for the Friends of Cumston series.
A friend of mine, and bandmate from MaineStream and UnCharted left Maine to pursue a job across the U.S. He left his position playing in the longtime 80's band Jeroba Jump. I have since taken over for him, and I will update with gigs when I can (they play only a few a year).
Every Other Sunday has a few weddings in the books, and now we plan rehearsals and learn new songs. This is going to be a good year for this band.
My friend is getting married in early June, and I will have the chance to meet with him and play his wedding. He has lived in New York for years, but he is returning to Deertrees theatre (where he had several jobs) to get married to a woman he met when we both attended USM.
As of today, I have been offered a job in June to play for MSMT's "The Full Monty". http://msmt.org/main-stage/full-monty/
The great Ed Reichert is giving me another chance, and although a few dates might have to be tweaked, I cannot say no to the money or the great company. I have two jobs that may be impacted by this, but it is time in my life to make decisions and look ahead. My credentials have built scaffolding for me, and I am more at ease with my possibilities.
My weekdays have been spent working at a public school and at the music store. I have other positions on the horizon, but my biggest changes will come in 2016 when I finish my masters and become a doctoral student officially. The doors are open and the past is fading. Music is a supplemental income and a mental diversion-- it enriches me but it doesn't define me. I will be known for many things...music may be one or it may not.
At the time of this writing, ballroom classes are in full swing at The Dance Center. I am glad to be able to teach again there, and to such a receptive audience. Maybe things will open up in this area for dance again.
Things are changing for good.
What has happened?
I played 9 to 5 the Musical at CLT, Every Other Sunday had their live show recording at the Franco Center. It can be found at the website: http://www.eosunday.com/
Every Other Sunday also played a show at the Cumston Theatre in Monmouth for the Friends of Cumston series.
A friend of mine, and bandmate from MaineStream and UnCharted left Maine to pursue a job across the U.S. He left his position playing in the longtime 80's band Jeroba Jump. I have since taken over for him, and I will update with gigs when I can (they play only a few a year).
Every Other Sunday has a few weddings in the books, and now we plan rehearsals and learn new songs. This is going to be a good year for this band.
My friend is getting married in early June, and I will have the chance to meet with him and play his wedding. He has lived in New York for years, but he is returning to Deertrees theatre (where he had several jobs) to get married to a woman he met when we both attended USM.
As of today, I have been offered a job in June to play for MSMT's "The Full Monty". http://msmt.org/main-stage/full-monty/
The great Ed Reichert is giving me another chance, and although a few dates might have to be tweaked, I cannot say no to the money or the great company. I have two jobs that may be impacted by this, but it is time in my life to make decisions and look ahead. My credentials have built scaffolding for me, and I am more at ease with my possibilities.
My weekdays have been spent working at a public school and at the music store. I have other positions on the horizon, but my biggest changes will come in 2016 when I finish my masters and become a doctoral student officially. The doors are open and the past is fading. Music is a supplemental income and a mental diversion-- it enriches me but it doesn't define me. I will be known for many things...music may be one or it may not.
At the time of this writing, ballroom classes are in full swing at The Dance Center. I am glad to be able to teach again there, and to such a receptive audience. Maybe things will open up in this area for dance again.
Things are changing for good.
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