Well, dear readers, I have no idea if I must write these here notes in a hurry because I honestly cannot remember if she of the Evil Eye came last week or the week before. What a conundrum. Maybe the notes from a week ago will tell the tale. Ah, it was two weeks ago, which means she will be here tomorrow, which means I must write these here notes in a hurry, since she will be here all too soon.
Let’s start by saying we birthed Robert Yacko’s first cabaret act last night, in front of a nice crowd of folks at the Coachella Valley Rep Theater in Coachella. Would you like to know what the temperature in Coachella was yesterday? 108. It was a very good first show – first times are always laden with frayed nerves, but that goes away as you get the show in your bones. If this weren’t so far away, we would have had the two additional run-throughs we missed because Robert and Alby had to go up there. So, there were fumfers and forgotten lyrics, but that’s to be expected and Robert, being a consummate pro, always recovered quickly and never made the audience feel uncomfortable. There were lots o’ laughs and they seemed to like the structure of the show (I know they did because several audience members came up to me and told me it was a pleasure to finally see a cabaret evening with a structure and point – not just a bunch of random songs), the stories, and the song choices. There’s one song in the show that just stubbornly refuses to work – we had one in Kay’s show, too, so as in Kay’s show, we’ll pull the song after this run of the show and replace it with something that will land better. It’s actually a great song, but it’s just not working for what we’re doing and partially that’s because it’s a pop song – and funnily, the number we’re removing from Kay’s show is also a pop song. Go know.
After the show, I just gave some general comments – all couched positively, of course. After I got home, I did an e-mail with more specificity and sent that off. Robert especially liked one note in particular – that you have to think of a cabaret show as a first date – you want to make a good impression, turn on the charm, be likeable and funny and fun, and keep your date’s interest so they’ll want a second date. That’s the kind of note I love giving and surprisingly with as many acts as I’ve done, I’ve never used that allusion before.
Prior to that, I was up at nine-thirty, shaved, showered, and was on my way to Coachella at eleven-fifteen. I was told it would probably take two hours and fifteen minutes, but I actually got there in exactly two hours and that was with one horrible ten-minute slow down on the 210 freeway due to an accident – on the OTHER side of the freeway. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, all the morons on OUR side of the freeway had to literally slow to a stand still so they could eyeball the accident. The SECOND we were past it there was no traffic.
Once there, we ran through the light cues and they were fine – I only asked for a couple of adjustments, and I asked for one sound adjustment as well. Everyone at the theater was very nice, and I had a nice chat with the fellow who runs it. Then Robert went back to where he and Alby are being housed, and Alby and I went to a Mexican jernt just up the street. Funnily, I’d called our very own Mr. Nick Redman because as it turns out he and his ever-lovin’ Julie Kirgo own a condo in Rancho Mirage that’s literally two minutes from this theater. So, he told me not to eat at the fish place and to do the Mexican. It was pretty good – I had a cheese enchilada and a beef taco, with a little dinner salad. We chatted, Alby and I, for about two hours, then I drove him back to their place and we hung out there until it was time to go back to the theater.
I hung for about thirty minutes after the show, and was on the road by eight-thirty – this time there were no slow downs and I actually got to my door in an hour and fifty minutes. Pretty good. Then there were tons of e-mails to answer, which I did.
Today, I suppose I’ll be up early and out of here early until she of the Evil Eye is finished. Then I’ll hopefully pick up packages, then I meet composer Pete Anthony who’ll be signing one hundred CD booklets. I’ll eat, finish choosing the songs for Kritzerland (I’m close), and then relax.
Not sure what’s happening tomorrow, but Monday I have a meeting at LACC, Tuesday Alby and I have our work session for the Kritzerland show, and the rest of the week is meetings and meals.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up early, do things, hopefully pick up packages, choose songs, have bookelts signed, eat, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What’s the hottest and coldest temperature you’ve ever been in? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have had a fun and successful first performance of Robert Yacko’s first cabaret show in Coachella.