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June 1, 2008:

THE BUSTIN’ OUT OF JUNE

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, I cannot believe it and yet I must believe it for it is true. What can I not believe and yet I must believe for it is true? Well, I’ll tell you, since why should I withhold such information from the likes of you dear readers? Here is what I cannot believe: It is June. Do you know what that means? It means that we are halfway through this year, and let me tell you that that boggles my already boggled mind. Well, let us hope that June is bustin’ out all over and in a good and positive way. Let us hope that the bustin’ out of June brings health, wealth, happiness, and wealth. May was certainly a volatile little month, with much that was wonderful and an equal amount of stuff that wasn’t wonderful. My hope for June is to remove the stuff that isn’t wonderful and have a month with as much wonderful stuff as possible, a month in which we accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative and we don’t mess with Mr. In-Between. Speaking of Mr. In-Between, yesterday was a non-stop day in which I never stopped. I had to get up early and I headed over to Panera, where I sat for two hours carefully proofing the new book. After that, I came back to the home environment and had a brief rehearsal with the gals who are doing the charity event. They’re really good and really on top of everything, so I know they’ll do a great job. We have one more rehearsal this Friday, with the band, and then it’s show time next Saturday. After that, I headed over to the book fair in the Dena of Pasa. This particular book fair was one of my favorite events when it used to take place at what was then the Burbank Hilton. There were tons of dealers, great items, and it was always very crowded and you could just find the most unusual things and, back then, prices hadn’t gone as nuts as they have now. Then the fair moved to Pasadena, and, as the years went by, attendance fell because the whole vibe was weird there, and as attendance fell some of the best dealers stopped coming. The last three years have gotten worse and worse. Where once there were probably 200 dealers or more, there are maybe 60 now, and many of those deal in ephemera, photos, and art. This show was particularly ill attended, but I did hang out with some dealers I know, and I always enjoy looking at pretty copies of rare books. Surprisingly, even if I was in the market for stuff, there wasn’t really that much of interest. It’s always fascinating to see which authors have dropped in value and which have suddenly appreciated. The Harry Potter books are soft right now, as are Stephen King books. Ross Macdonald has gotten stronger. The classics, of course, continue to hold their value. I did pick up a couple of recent issues of the wonderful Illustration Magazine, which is devoted to illustration art, the kind I’ve collected over the years. I had the first seven to ten issues, but then hadn’t bought any in quite some time. It’s a beautifully produced magazine, with gorgeous color photos. I lasted about two hours, then I headed home. I had a craving for Casa Vega, so I went there at 4:45. It was jammed. If anyone would have told me that the current generation had picked up the habits of elderly people who they used to deride for eating dinner at five and were now eating their supper at five, I would never have believed them, but that’s precisely what has happened. Five years ago, if you had suggested to someone that you sup at five they would have looked at you as if you were a large fetid wart. Now, it’s hip and suddenly the thing to do. So, at 4:45 I was lucky to get a table. I had my food, then came back home. Grant Geissman hadn’t called as promised, so I made the decision to go see The Brain. He finally did call around six-thirty and he was just on his way home, so there was no way we would have entered fixes last night.

Last night, I saw The Brain From Planet X. It was completely sold out and I had to actually stand. Two people had come down to see the show for their fourth time and they had to be on a waiting list – they actually put extra chairs in for them. The minute the lights came up I knew it was going to be a fun show – the audience was so ready to love it, and the laughs were huge, long, and loud throughout. It’s so much fun to see the show with an audience like that, and the only disappointing things for me were a few moments that have just gotten sloppy and aren’t landing their laughs – the places where this is happening are places I’ve given notes on many times, but it’s the end of our run and I’m really done trying to get things consistent in that regard. I know when I was an actor and I got laughs doing something, wild horses couldn’t make me change what I was doing, especially if the change would have resulted in no laugh. But, I’m being nit-picky, of course – the bulk of the show played beautifully, and the cast was mostly very sharp – our Zubrick and Yoni were especially strong last night. One moment late in act two, got one of those wonderful laughs that just went on and on, and the more it went on the more little subtle takes Yoni did, and they kept the laugh going even more – so much fun. The couple who were seeing the show for the fourth time chatted me up and they just really think the show is a hoot. I hope they’ll come back for our closing performance next Sunday. In any case, I’m really glad I went down to see it.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because we must greet the bustin’ out of June with open arms and closed knees.

Today shall be mine all mine. I have three more chapters to carefully proof, then I concentrate on matters Nudie – organizing everything for the reading, recording some more mp3s to send to people, and setting up rehearsals for the folks who’ll be helping me sing. I also have to teach a new guy all the group songs for the musical I’m mentoring, for that reading. Cason Murphy originally did it, but I’m afraid he’s just too busy these days. Other than that, I’m going to try to relax a little and watch a couple of DVDs.

I’m hoping to see Mr. Geissman tomorrow night to finish the fixes so we can put this puppy to bed. I also hope to get some folks over to learn music.

I’m also prepping a recording session for mid-June – a singer from Australia is coming in to lay down some demos, which we’ll be doing at Mr. Geissman’s home studio.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, finish proofing, do a lot of Nudie work, and then relax and watch DVDs. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s free-for-all day, the day in which you dear readers get to make with the topics and we all get to post about them. So, let’s have loads of lovely topics and loads of lovely postings whilst we all celebrate the bustin’ out of June.

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