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Archive for April, 2010

Da Count – phone calls like this

30 Apr

dacountMy cell phone rings… ok, my ringtone is “Pick Up The Pieces” by the Average White Band. I flip it open.

Me: Jello!
Katherine: It’s me Katherine!
Me: Hey, how is it going? How is Minnesota?
Katherine: I miss you guys… I miss the Rogue! I wanna come back.
Me: Well, get a show together and come next year.
Katherine: How is your show?
Me: Which show?
Katherine: The one you posted on Facebook. You are doing a show with KP, right?
Me: Oh, that show… yeah, it’s OK…
Katherine: I wanna see it. Is it gonna be good?
Me: It’ll be OK.
Katherine: I wanna see it.
Me: I’ve already done it for the Rogue…
Katherine: It will be a good excuse to come to Fresno.
Me: If you need an excuse… its as good as any.
Katherine: You’re not doing a show on the 15th… that’s a Saturday… the poster says 16th.
Me: My fault for whipping out the poster too fast. Yeah, it should read the 15th.
Katherine: I just wanted to call to say “hi”.
Me: Hi.
Katherine: OK… I gotta go.
Me: K… chat with you soon.

A week or so later.

Phone plays “Pick Up The Pieces” I pick up the phone.

Me: Jello.
Katherine: It’s me, Katherine.
Me: Hey there!
Katherine: I’m coming to see your show. I found a cheap ticket. Can you pick me up at the airport on the 12th?
Me: What time?
Katherine: 2:30.
Me: Yeah, I think I can handle that.
Katherine: OK… I’ll see you then.
Me: Cool.

Really, how can I not count that? BTW THIS is the show she brought to the Rogue this year.

For details on “Pho For The Soul” check out THIS POST.
Check out the promo video HERE.

 
1 Comment

Posted in Da Count, pho for the soul

 

after 4 years… I think I found it!

28 Apr


Since I first performed “Lies My Father Told Me” at the Rogue there has been one thing that I was never satisfied with where the show was concerned… the song to close the show. In fact, during the run we would test out different songs to play under the ending. Most were OK but none really “brought it home” so to speak. Last week I think I may have finally found the one. Of course, to find out you will need to come to the show.

BTW… you may want to get your tickets early. The reason being that post-performance of our Saturday shows, Suicide Lounge will be offering a Pay What You Want after-party. I hear there will be free wine involved. Show and post party all in one place (at affordable prices, I might add)… can’t beat that. If you haven’t experienced Suicide Lounge yet… here is a sampling.

In other news…
We were teased with the threat of rain yesterday but it was not to be. Sure, it was overcast and all but the rains never came. I was actually hoping it would because I’ve been feeling the high pollen levels that have engulfed the valley of late. The effects on me are not as bad as years previous simply because I have learned to stay away form dairy products at this time of the year. But I still do feel it.

Well, back to the retooling of the show. Have a great “hump day”. Cheers!

 
4 Comments

Posted in bits and pieces, pho for the soul

 

how “Pay What You Want” works…

27 Apr

… at least for our Thursday shows of “Pho For The Soul”.

OK… let us get to the brass tacks of how it works right off the bat.

  1. Turn Up Early at the Broken Leg Stage. The doors open at 7: 15 PM.
  2. You will get an envelop… that is your “ticket” to the show
  3. Sit down and enjoy the show.
  4. Once the show is done, slip money into the envelop and drop it off at the box on your way out. As the banner says” like what you saw? show your love…”, and let me add… in a real way.

It is important to note that “Pay What You Want” does NOT mean it is a free show. Neither is it a “tip”.


A SHORT VIEW ON WHY WE ARE TRYING THIS OUT
The movement has been around for quite a while with music, restaurants and even theatre. Fringe houses in bigger cities use a version of this system with something called a “sliding scale”.

I have seen the phrase “support the arts” bandied about for a long time. This will test it out. From the standpoint of both the audience and (in this case) the performer, “Pay What You Want” may be one of the most honest measures of accessing it’s value.

To the audience it dares to ask “What is the value of the Arts in your everyday community?” To the performer it forces a certain quality control in the final product. I could write an entire post on this topic… but I’ll save it for another time.

So, yes… this is an experiment. Turn up, participate… and show us in a real way what you think and feel about the Arts in your community with this show. Oh yeah… and spread the word about the show too!

Cheers!

For details on “Pho For The Soul” check out THIS POST.
Check out the promo video HERE.

 
2 Comments

Posted in pho for the soul, promo, theatre

 

the difference between selfish and selfful

26 Apr


“Geez, Lecram… that sounds like some kind of self-help pop psychology term!” This topic has actually crept into several conversations of late with various friends. The basic idea is that one cannot be of any use to anyone else unless one is self sufficient first. And this applies to any and all aspects of the human condition. Simple logic, right? Yet, it amazes me how this idea is an alien concept to so many.

Some are reviled by the idea because the connotation is that this is selfish behavior. I can see how that can happen since the natural human tendency is to jump on the negative right off the bat. So, in an effort to dispel the natural raising of a wall to any potential free exchange of ideas on this topic I use the word “selfful” instead.

Why do I bring this up? Well, at this point in my life I’m moving forward with the intent of making myself selfful again. I have always been pretty independent but, as in life, our capacity to be “filled” is subject to the natural laws of “ebb and flow”. That is life, isn’t it?

So, part of the reason I embarked on this show that is coming up is an attempt to do just that. Not only am I doing the show… I am IN the show. That doesn’t happen very often simply because performing is not one of my favorite aspects in the realm of my theatre endeavors. But I am doing it anyway.

A couple of my friends who are well aware of my quirks suggested that I was undertaking this project in an attempt to break out of my reclusive mode as well as the need to experience total control over the final product. I think they have a point.

Placing myself in front of an audience would certainly force me out of my self imposed reclusive lifestyle over the last few years. And perhaps it is true that exercising total control over my half of the show is what I need to know… that I am still capable in this field… sort of setting a new (positive) point of reference to go forward.

Whatever the case… the promos have gone out which means I now have to put it up. It is gratifying to know that some things in my life remain a constant… in this case, open my big mouth… then having to deliver. Can you tell that I’m both excited and scared shitless that the show opens in a week and a half?

Hope you are all having a great start of the week. Cheers!

 
2 Comments

Posted in bits and pieces, observations, pho for the soul

 

Video Promo for the show

25 Apr

Yep… I finished it today. Check it out.

 
2 Comments

Posted in pho for the soul, video

 

Da Count – the friendly push

23 Apr

dacount
Over the last few months it has been the gentle nudge of friends that have helped me in so many ways with my current bounce back. (Though I so much prefer thinking of it as a bounce forward.) This involves many aspects of life… not the least of which is steering me back to doing what I do… and love. The post below is but one illustration. So, this week I’m counting all those who have nudged lovingly. I know I can be a stubborn bastard at times but please know that I appreciate the effort. And sometimes it does work.

 
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Posted in Da Count

 

a repost from Fresno Famous

23 Apr

This is being reposted here because apparently the Fresno Famous site is blocked to IPs outside of the US.

A couple of Asians noodling tales

or how I was forced back onto the stage with threats of dog-napping

Pho For The Soul opens at the Broken Leg Stage on May 6 and runs through May 15. It features 2 (yep, you read that right… TWO) theatrical storytelling shows in one evening. Namely, “Tales Of Laos” and “Lies My Father Told Me”. What a deal, eh?

The former by KP Phagnasay is a brand new solo performance being developed for touring. “There are these folktales that both delighted and scared the crap out of me as a kid that I want to put on stage”, KP told me. The wild excitement in his eye made me say, “Cool! How can I help?” Of course I was thinking in terms of creative suggestions, marketing, etc

“I want you to put on your solo show that you did at the Rogue a few years ago.” he shot back with a sly grin. Crickets chirped in the background… further punctuating my silence and reticence.

You see, both KP and his wife, Brandy, have been egging me on (brow beating me is more to the point) for the last few months to get back into the game. Suffice to say, my reluctance only spurred them with renewed vigor. First were the offers to direct a project for their company, then came the bribes (scotch) followed later with threats (of kidnapping my dog).

None of it worked until KP came over one morning and told me about this project. I capitulated. ONE: Both shows would complement each other. TWO: Since it first ran at the Rogue (and though it did well) I’ve always thought it could still be retooled. THREE: Two words… mortgage payment.

So, yeah… I’ll be performing the improved and retooled “Lies My Father Told Me”… with my old college room-mate, Johnnie McCorvey who will be “sound-tracking” live on guitar.

The show runs at the 50 seat Broken Leg Stage, 1470 N. Van Ness… a quarter block up from Audie’s Olympic Tavern on May 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, & 15. Tickets are $11. Advanced tickets are available online at Brown Paper Tickets for the Friday & Saturday shows. (http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/108945) Thursday shows are Pay What You Want.. which doesn’t mean that it is free… but we’ll give you details when you turn up.

As an added bonus Suicide Lounge will be offering a “Pay What You Want After Party” in the same space after the performance of our show on the 2 Saturdays. You may want to check their site (or Facebook page) for details.

You’ll want to come to this… and bring friends. Hey, I may bomb in my half and attempt to save the show by doing it naked. Ya never know.

 
1 Comment

Posted in bits and pieces, pho for the soul

 

Pretty, eh?

22 Apr


Well, this burst of wildflower bloomage on the side of the homestead is the result of 2 things. 1. The unusual (but welcomed) amount of rain in da Big NO area this season. 2. The fact that I haven’t taken the weedwacker to it in a while. Of course I’m not doing it today either because… well, it’s going to rain again today.

In other news…
I am retooling my half of “Pho For The Soul” as soon as I have finished this posting. Sure, I could do the same show I did 4 years ago but I’m not one to rest on doing the same old (or my laurels) where my work is concerned.

The challenge here is to sync up the work to the rhythms in my present life. It is a fact that our rhythms change. I’m doing what I’m doing simply because I want the piece to be fresh with me. The biggest challenge really is not so much in restructuring it but to do so and still keep a sense of spontaneity to it.

BTW… if you are coming to the show… the venue only seats 50 so get your tickets early. You can buy them online @ our page on Brown Paper Tickets. Unless you are planning to attend one of the Pay What You Want Thursday shows… which are also First Come First Served… so get there early.

This will be my first time on stage in 4 years. Those of you who know me know that being on stage is not one of my favorite things to do. Yet, this is a show that only I can do. So I am going into it with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

Anyway, on with the retooling. Hope you are all having a good Thursday.

UPDATE: I’ve just submitted an article at Fresno Famous. YOU CAN READ IT HERE.

 
4 Comments

Posted in bits and pieces, life in da Big NO, pho for the soul

 

more this that and the other

21 Apr

“Shouldn’t you be gearing up for your show, Lecram?” As per my MO I actually start on other projects while working on the main one. For instance on Friday night a spontaneous decision was arrived at to shoot something for the upcoming Swede Fest. Sunday I went to a WSF fundraiser (pics below) up at the bluffs… at the rich folk habitat. So, yeah… I’ve been a bit of a bon vivant of late. (At this point I like to state that it amuses me to no end that the phrase translates directly as “good liver”)

Anyway… here are the pics. Cheers!

 
3 Comments

Posted in bits and pieces

 

Da Count – vegetable rustling

16 Apr

dacount

Yeah, I did.

Yesterday… from the neighbor’s vege plot. Fingers B and I snuck in the back gate and helped ourselves. With the glee of naughtiness we pulled out what we needed then snuck out with a glint of satisfaction in our eyes.. He was worried that some witch would come and put a curse on us. This was our bounty.

OK… before you go running to the cops to report our vegetable rustling escapade… my neighbor actually offered these to me several weeks ago. (Sort of takes the fun out of rustling, doesn’t it?) It was a Winter crop that he had tried out and wasn’t going to use. So now I am the beneficiary of this largess. Mind you there is more to be had. After our rustling, this is what was left.

This is my count this week… neighbors who share their bounty with me and friends who I can rustle with.

Cheers!

 
2 Comments

Posted in Da Count

 
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