Well, dear readers, the question that comes to mind is how can we be in the last week of January? Yes, that is the question that comes to mind. Holy moley on rye, this month is flying by, like a gazelle in a dirndl dress. I gotta tell you. In any case, I must write these here notes in a hurry for I shall be arising at six in the morning to announce our new CD title. So, let me just say that yesterday was a fine day as fine days go. I woke up at eight-thirty, refused to leave the bed, and fell back asleep until nine-thirty. Then I answered some e-mails, and then I futzed and fixed the eleven pages I did the day before. I procrastinated only for about thirty minutes before beginning on the new pages. I finished the chapter I was on, and began a new chapter. The reason for the procrastination was I really wanted a fun location (restaurant) for an encounter and it took me thirty minutes to find the absolutely perfect one. Once I had that, I did about five pages quickly. Then I took a little break, and then I wrote four more pages. Then I got ready to sup and attend a show, after which I got in the motor car and drove the two-minute drive to Vitello’s on Tujunga.
Last night, I saw Mr. Jason Graae’s new nightclub act. As I mentioned here, I saw a run-through of it weeks ago – at that point it was not fully-formed but had all the makings of a great act, an evening of Jerry Herman. We all went out afterwards, and, when asked, I gave some suggestions about structure and placement of songs, which Jason pretty much agreed with straight down the line. Then he did the show in Palm Springs, after which he told me that all those suggestions had worked really well. Prior to the show, we ate a very nice meal – I had the Pink Farfalle, which was really tasty, I must say. I also had a small salad with Eyetalian dressing, and that was tasty, too. The place was packed. In attendance, Adryan Russ, ASCAP’S Michael Kerker, Jason’s mom, Stephen Bogardus, Les Traub of Cabaret West, twelve-year-old Melody Hollis and her family (Melody played Annie recently and she’s in our February Gardenia show, and then we’ll be working together on something very interesting. She was with a friend of hers who’d been in Annie with her. The divoon Susanne Blakeslee was there, as well as Jason’s significant other, along with many other interesting folks, including the very talented writer, David Goldsmith.
The show was superb. All those little changes really did work beautifully. My big suggestions mostly had to do with the beginning fifteen minutes of the show, which I felt weren’t really showing us the Jason we know and love. I’d suggested moving one song from the middle of the act to the second song, and that worked like gangbusters. His patter is hilarious and the show just plays like a dream now. He was in excellent voice and his comedy timing is actually breathtaking. Plus, he said “I gotta tell you” at least five times. John Boswell did a great job playing for him. They just don’t come any better than John. Jason has the amazing ability to have you laughing hysterically and then crying during one of the ballads. He very graciously thanked me at the end of the show, which was a nice surprise.
After the show, we chatted for a while, then I came home and dealt with some helper stuff. I’m on the verge of wanting to hire someone else and have the interim helpers train the new person. In fact, I’m meeting with someone this afternoon. It’s just too fragmented the way things are happening right now and I’m spending way too much time worrying about things. So, we’ll see what happens. I then wrote one more page, for a total of ten.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below whilst I get my beauty sleep and wonder at the mind that came up with the word “dirndl.”
Today, I shall be up at six to announce our new title. Then CDs and interim helper will arrive and she’ll take what she needs and then she’ll box and ship at some point during the day. I’ll take the big boy boxes to the UPS store. I’m hoping to be done with all that by ten-thirty, at which point I’ll probably futz and fix what I wrote yesterday, then move on to new pages – my goal is, as always, eight to ten for the day (and evening). I will also hopefully be printing out a LOT of orders. At four I’ll meet with a potential new helper. I’ll also eat something light but amusing at some point. I also have to try and finish these lyrics I’m redoing – that has turned into a major pain in my butt cheeks, but do it I must.
Tomorrow, I’ll be writing and then we have our first rehearsal for the Gardenia show. The rest of the week is mostly writing, with some meetings and meals thrown in for good measure.
And just so you don’t think I pulled the dirndl dress out of thin air, Adriana Hofstetter wears one in the new book – an authentic dirndl dress from the late 60s/early 70s.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, announce a CD, ship CDs, write, print out a LOT of orders, write, meet with a potential new helper, and redo lyrics. Today’s topic of discussion: If you could dress in the clothes of any past era, which era would it be and what sort of clothing would be your favorite? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, a land filled with dirndl dresses.