Popcorn Songs

I made it to the round of 20... that is, to round 2. Next week: motown.

This week was 80's rock, featuring a complete lack of post-punk, ska, and new-wave. People were singing Billy Joel and Bon Jovi. That's just not right. I went ultra-safe and sang Our House by Madness. The other option was Squeeze. There was no in-between with Squeeze. Either I'd hit it, or go down in a flaming mess. That may yet happen. Disco is coming.

Labels: karaoke

Tonight will be an unprecedented three trips to karaoke this week. I'm really enjoying myself too much. Especially since now I'm starting to run into more people I know and can legitimately hang-out with, rather than being just a hanger-on.

Wednesday at Bud's was fun, but I froze my ass off and spent Thursday and Friday morning feeling like I was going to be sick. Bud's is this little bar at the corner of Egypt and Park/Pawlings. There was a fireplace in the front room (where the pool table used to be about six years ago) and, I swear, it was the only heat in the joint. Everyone would take turns huddling around it until their pants got so hot they had to move. I really opened up my repertoire there, doing "New Orleans is Sinking" by The Tragically Hip, "New Year's Day" by U2 and "You Are the Sunshine of my Life" by Stevie Wonder. Someone kept pinching my ass during "Sunshine." I don't even wanna know.

Friday night at Mad Anthony's was a hoot. Huey's girlfriend Janet was there and I got to hang out and chat with her. Huey and I split two games of pool, but then the place got too busy for that to go on. I did "Come Fly with Me" for the first time, but didn't hit it very well because there were people talking right next to me and I couldn't hear the music to get the key. Some of the karaoke mixes are cut to be as short as possible, so the intro and instrumental sections are very short. This seems to be especially true for 'classics' like the Sinatra and Darin tunes. Before I sang "Jet Airliner" at the end of the night, three women sort of took over the mic. Huey and Mike (the karaoke DJ's) turned over the dirty work to me, after the song they were singing ended I gently introduced myself and asked if they would mind if I sang a song. They asked if I was security. I should have said yes and asked for room numbers, but I'm just too nice a guy to take advantage of situations like that. Not so nice that thought wouldn't cross my mind, though. :P So, I get them offstage, and this drunk-off-his-gourd guy swoops right into the vacuum and grabs the other mic. He's got an apologetic friend on his heels, but the drunk guy seems intent on doing another tune that he can neither sing, nor read the words to, but I roll with it. So, his friend and I both put an arm around him (to keep him from swaying back and forth into us) and we sing The Steve Miller Band. It was a good night.

I'm still hoping to see people I've met there, but not run into since, so I'll be stopping by tonight. If it's lame, I have my backup plan.

Labels: karaoke

It was the weekend of meet-people-in-theater.

Friday, I learned my co-worker, who is a musical theater performer and occassional staff member, was moving to Boston. Good luck, Geoff.

Saw Coyote on a Fence at Stagecrafters Saturday night. Friday, I'd met one of the cast, Ray Saputelli, at my all-time-favorite non-smoking bar, Mad Anthony's. (It looks nothing like the pictures.) Since it was the last night of the show, I told him I'd catch it. They did a really great job. Technically, it's a very difficult play--a brave choice by the Stagecrafters organization.

After the show, I headed to the bar. I met Ben and Gia who are involved with Footlighters. I also met Heather, but that's a different story for another time. Apparently, Gia's birthday is sometime around now and their group was celebrating. I mentioned I just saw Coyote, they said they were with Footlighters. Really? Great. You know, I stage managed for at Players' Club once. Yada yada.

Working for George Mulford at PCS was a great pleasure. But, theater politics stink, and the show was Wit, which after about the third performance has you ready to slit your wrists. By the end, I was burnt out and just wanted it over. There was no enjoyment left.

Wit was fantastically directed and acted, but it's also a technically difficult play. Hospital and prison settings should be avoided by theaters without Broadway budgets. The sets are just too difficult to pull off. There were several times during both Wit and Coyote that I felt peril for set pieces. I admit there's little for small budget theaters to do but cope, but it becomes an unfortunate distraction during critical points in the performance.

So, Gia told me they greatly needed a stage manager at Footlighters. *Sigh* How could I refuse a girl on her birthday? I sent them an email. We'll see what happens. At least it's closer to work and home than PCS.

I also met Eileen, the owner of the karaoke business. As an ice breaker I asked how often she hired people. She very kindly reminded me throughout the night to email her. She sang harmony with me on "Anthony's Song" which I dedicated to Heather.

It's quite a crew that surrounds her karaoke business. I think they follow each other around the weekly circuit, partying to karaoke. Interesting. I sent the email.

Labels: karaoke, theater