Monday, December 1, 2014

Why J.K. Simmons in Whiplash is on my mind

I remember singing in a competitive vocal jazz group in high-school. I considered myself to be one of the best singers in the group and I had the lead in an Al Jarreau song "Not Like This." We were singing for members of Berkley Music institute down in Boston MA. After we finished, we all felt we had done well. At least that was what our parents were telling us. When the instructor asked me to come on stage and began to tell me that I wasn't breathing right, that my support was coming from my chest instead of my diaphragm. As a matter of fact she said that I wasn't very good at all. Being crushed, I was at least able to feel some sort of comfort from one of the other students parents who told me that the instructor didn't know what she was talking about.
Now even though I was embarrassed, you know what? When it mattered, I never took an improper musical breath again. This past weekend I was able to experience the message from J.K. Simmons in whiplash. Thinking of having a teacher like that terrified me. "I wouldn't respond well to that type of teacher." But then again, he wasn't teaching everyday joe's who wanted to maybe get better. He was trying to find the greats. And in order to be Great, you cannot settle. Ever. Period.

merica

Monday, November 3, 2014

Sometimes it's better to just watch other people drive

... then to stay in your own head.

Last week sucked.

In my head.

A lot of "it's never gonna, " "you might want to just," and "Seriously??"

So driving home from an opportunity, stuck in the lovely LA traffic, I had the opportunity to watch the other people drive by, stop, get stuck, cut off, and wait patiently.

And I observed.

Some people were pissed. Some were happy. Most were in their own heads.

No one saw me, but I got the opportunity to think about them all as they drove by.  To imagine what their circumstances were. How did they feel about the situation they were in at the moment. Imagining what the consequences were for their day. What would it be like to experience that?

So I thought about that.

Until the consequences of my not paying attention came to the front, to which I received an angry honk to move my car.

Sometimes it's better to just watch other people drive.

-merica

Monday, October 27, 2014

Sometimes you just have to play

It's true.
And that is a hard thing for an actor to do sometimes.
We can play the waiting game, the selling game, the it doesn't matter game.
But at the end of the day, sometimes you just have to play.

This past weekend I got the opportunity to play with an old high-school friend of mine. He had an idea to shoot, as he is shooting once a month something, and he asked me to do it. And it couldn't have come at a better time. I appreciated the idea, was excited, and put some work into it. Then had the opportunity to play on set. And it was just what the doctor order.

here is a picture simple and fun

click for the pix

merica


Thursday, October 23, 2014

Been working out to 90's grunge mix

... I made, and while I will say that some songs are really good songs to work out to I would like to say that some are just... well.... downers.

I put organic grass fed butter in my coffee now

I don't drink

I am married

I don't have a side job

Four fun facts that would have made me go "whaaaaaa" if you were to ask me about my life just four years ago. Party on


-merica