Adventures of a starving artist...

2011-06-24T01:05:00.002-04:00

Clicked on my blogger shortcut by accident. Noticed that I haven't posted in over 15 months... I suppose that must be a record for the worst blogger ever.

Back in Port Stanley for the summer. TDing straight up sucks compared with designing. But it helps cover the bills.

Been looking over my calendar for the next year... I'll again be away from home (if I find a new home that is, all my stuff is in storage again...) more than I will be there. Especially now that I'm in a long distance relationship. Honestly not sure what to do... I want my own place again but at the same time I hate the idea of paying for an apartment that I'll never be in. This freelance thing is a pain in the ass sometimes.

Oh well, thus is life.

Stay tuned for the next installment, hopefully it'll happen this year.

2010-01-22T22:37:00.002-05:00

So life has continues on again, and I have neglected the blog again... par for the course I suppose.

The other night I was driving home from Toronto and suddenly felt like I was in a bizarre heist flick. There was a brinks truck being towed down the Gardener Expressway with complete police escort... it was the weirdest thing...

Later I felt like I was in a video game (the title of which I can't remember) in which the car would be dropped out of a transport truck and race to the next truck at the end of the level. This image came to me as I passed a transport truck that had its trailer door open.

Anyway, weird thoughts that come to me while driving...

2009-12-08T23:31:00.002-05:00

Genre snobs suck...

I am also fully aware that me saying this is the most hypocritical thing I've said in a while... But as I dove home from Sudbury today I listened to everything from Metallica to Miley Cyrus... and this is a minor sampling of the 75 gigs of music that reside on my MP3 player. I have decided that I just don't care about genre crap anymore... I really enjoy Death Cab for Cutie... and they may fall into the "emo" genre, but I'm over the whole label thing... I like what I like and its just that simple... So mock away friends but I will continue listening to the most eclectic assortment of music ever, and I'll love it...

Later,

2009-12-08T00:29:00.002-05:00

Ok,

Holy fuck, I started... no RE-started this stupid blog to brush up my damn writing skills and to track my progress as I tried to become a professional Lighting Designer.... Stupid thing is, its going pretty well, which proves I'm the last person in the fucking world who should ever have a damn Blog.... When I'm sitting around doing nothing is when I feel compelled to write, unfortunately I have NOTHING to write about. Then when I actually do something worth writing about I disappear for 3 months and don't write a damn thing. Oh well it seems that thats just the person I am...

I realized something about myself tonight... I'm a coward... not just in the "afraid of pretty girls" way that all my friends already know about me. But I am a coward when it comes to life. I want to be some big artist, I want to design on Broadway and even more I want to design in the West End... But I can't even make the leap to Toronto... I keep saying that I need to get my feet under me financially, but thats really not it. I'm broke now, but Its not going to get any better, and I'm already so far in debt that I'll probably never climb out anyway... Which means I'm just scared. Scared of giving everything to a failing effort maybe, maybe just scared of leaving what I know... but scared shitless none the less. Maybe I just need to go someplace new... fall into the abyss and see if I manage to find my way out... I don't know. I'm happy, don't get me wrong, I'm very happy. I'm designing, which is more than I thought was going to happen... but I'm still not satisfied. Either way I need to make a change... and I need to figure out where to go next... but I need to figure it out soon...

thus ends my digital tirade for the night... feel free to pipe in on my direction... even though I know nobody is reading...

Until I write again... whenever that may occur.

2009-09-09T00:36:00.002-04:00

Day 23

Today started as I went to find KWMP to help Janet and Terry load up a set into their rental truck... yup, I loaded 2 sets into 2 rental trucks in 2 days... that has to be some kind of record. After that I went to City Hall specifically to pay the damn parking ticket I forgot to pay before I headed to Port Stanley. Finally I headed over to UW campus to return the fresnels I had borrowed earlier in the summer for the use of PSFT. I got all of the instruments returned and even got offered some work, here's hoping my schedule will let me take it. I then spent the rest of the day relaxing and applying for some jobs online, one of which is to be a tech at the 2010 Olympics in BC. How awesome would that job be, especially considering they pay for everything, transport, lodging, even food and a salary. I really want that Olympics gig. Here's hoping that pans out. Anyway, off to Wiarton tomorrow to get my new/used civic... woot, maybe a car that will last more than 5 minutes without breaking down.

Until next time.

2009-09-08T00:12:00.002-04:00

Day 22:

Holy abandonment Batman...

I totally didn't do any blogs at all last week, and I should have, it was a busy week. I was back in Port Stanley (I had worked there this summer as the Technical Director) and was there to run the final week of Mending Fences. So here it goes, I'll try to break the entire week down.

Last Weekend

Sat around, packed etc. Bought an awesome new drill, 18V cordless Makita with a 1/2" chuck and lithium ion batteries on sale for like half off. Its even the new compact size and is super light but still very powerful, I'm stoked. I got offered the Hedwig/Debbie lighting designs... even more stoked about this.

Monday

I left for Port, and half way there my Father's car (which I'm borrowing because mine died) broke down. The speed sensor went on it and the car only had 1st gear and reverse... this was especially crappy as I was driving on the 401 at the time. Needless to say I pulled over and drove about 20km/h to the next rest stop to call a tow truck. Funny thing, as I was on the phone with CAA (and thank god for CAA when you have old, unreliable cars) a tow truck from CAA pulled right in behind me. Turns out his boss had seen me driving slow with the 4-ways on and told him to go check on me. Next thing I know my car is up and I'm on my way again. Fastest tow truck response time ever...lol. As I rode in the truck I even got some work done, reading the Leading Ladies script that I'm designing the lights for soon.

Tuesday

Got to the theatre, worked, got Dad's car fixed. Nothing special. Worked first show in booth in 4 months...

Wednesday

Picked up Dad's car, paid the $129.98 it cost to fix it.... grrr, so unfortunate when I'm so broke...

Also prepped my Concorde for the wrecking yard, its been sitting in Port Stanley waiting for me to deal with it for the past 2 weeks. 2 show day.

Thursday

Took my Concorde to the wrecking yard, got $125 for it... cost more to fix 1 part on my Dad's car then my entire car was worth... bullshit if you ask me but there it is... Had 2 shows.

Friday

Cleaned the shop, did paper work and had 1 evening show. Afterwards had a quick phone meeting with a PM at Stage West for whom I'm going to do a turn around next week.

Saturday

2 show day. Then Strike and some post run hang time with SM's and cast... t'was fun. Plus I got to play with my new drill... (insert Tim Allen circa Home Improvement quote)

Sunday

Off season set up on-stage at PSFT (Port Stanley Festival Theatre)... Got it done, but took my sweet ass time, I was in no hurry...

Today

Got rental truck (oh the U-haul) and loaded up the remaining parts of the Mending Fences set to return to Petrolia, made my run and returned truck, then drove back to Waterloo...

And that was my week,

I should really write every day because I can barely remember 5 minutes ago let alone 5 days ago... lesson learned, I'll try to keep up better in the future.

Anyway, until next time.

2009-08-28T01:01:00.002-04:00

Day 11:

Today was chore day, I repaired the deck, did the dishes, vacuumed the floors and cleaned up a bit. After I finished (what I have taken to be my rent...lol) I decided it would be a good day to finally tackle the Endless Setlist in Rock Band. Unfortunately I was playing the first rock band by myself, which means to play the world tour I have to play 2 instruments at the same time. Naturally one of them has to be vocals, my second instrument of choice was guitar, as it is my best rock band instrument, probably because its my best real instrument too now that I've given up the Jazz Sax. As much as I enjoy Rock Band, I must admit that 58 songs in a row without a break is too much, by the end my throat was sore and my wrist hurt quite a lot... sounds like I had one heck of a day when I put it that way... But I did succeed in completing the Endless Setlist if only for bragging rights. today also saw me begin re-watching the new Doctor Who series, starting from the beginning, or at least the new beginning in 2005. I really enjoy this show, to the point that I have also been watching the original series, I'm about half way through the very first season from 1963. I love how truly lame old science fiction is, they technology they imagine is pretty much what we have now (minus the time and space travel of course) and the acting is so dated. I also love that it takes them six 35 minute episodes to do what is now done in one 45 minute episode. The pacing of the story telling is so slow, they try to draw it out to create suspense, which may have worked then, but in today's splashy action packed world of TV and film it just feels like it drags. But I'm still enjoying them, if only to see where the myth of Doctor Who began...

As I'm writing this I'm realizing that I've begun criticising things a lot in this blog... I actually used to have a separate blog just for critiques, but I canned it. If anyone reading this cares for me to keep up with the random critiques, and maybe add more on a regular basis drop me a comment saying so and I'll bring back the critic blog and provide links...

Anyway, that was my day, and I'd love to hear some feedback about whatever, so...

Until next time.

2009-08-27T00:05:00.002-04:00

Day 10:

Let me preface today's entry by saying that at the beginning of the summer I purchased a Wii Fit. I did this because I am a bit overweight and totally out of shape, and have been since I blew out my knees when I was 16 and had to give up sports. So anyway, at the beginning of the summer I began a workout regiment on the Wii Fit and even began a diet. All was going well and I had even lost 20 pounds, then I tore up my knee, and just as it healed I pulled a muscle in my back. This of course was the end of the Wii Fit, and of course the end of the diet as well. So now I realize as I just finished another late night Doritos binge that I have to get back on my program... So here I announce for the world that I'll go back on my diet tomorrow morning... The problem with this of course is that there is plenty to eat and snack on, and I have a lot of free time. One would normally think that being unemployed would lead to having less to eat, but Chad in all his wisdom always keeps snacks around, and its killing me. So really I just have to learn some self control, which has never been a strong attribute for me, but this of course is the challenge.

So that aside, my day was exceptionally boring, I finished Dexter season 1, played some WOW, and generally wasted time. The only truly useful thing I did today was deliver Chad's Xbox 360 to the UPS depot for it to get repaired. This falls under my "acting as Chad's butler in exchange for a room" deal. Which is fine, I think tomorrow I'm going to repair his deck and do his dishes. Really its the least I can do for his letting me stay here, I could be living in a cardboard box somewhere, or worse... with my parents. So here I am, acting as my best friend's man-servant and getting fat, again... Lets see if mind can win out over matter when I try to turn it around tomorrow. We shall see, and I'll keep you up to date on my success (or failure).

On a positive note, I do think I found a little bit of work, just some temporary turn-around gigs, but better than nothing at all... I'm really hoping I qualify for EI...

Anyway, That's whats up in my life today, so...

Until next time.

2009-08-26T00:45:00.002-04:00

Day 9:

The suburbs at night are so boring. I think even the country is more exciting at night. I believe this because nighttime in the country at least have wildlife to listen to, and stars to look at. The suburbs are more like a well lit tomb. nothing moves, nothing makes noise and you can't even see the stars because you're close enough to the city that they are all washed out by the light pollution. But that might just be the boredom talking.

So anyway, here I sit in the lovely suburbs townhouse that my best friend owns. Watching season 1 of Dexter. And this has pretty much been my day. The highlight of which was going to Zehrs to buy groceries. The joy of unemployment is the vast amount of free time in which you can do anything you want. Unfortunately in our day and age there is very little you can do with that free time when you have no money. Correction, not "no" money, but certainly no "fun" money. Every cent I have is currently budgeted to bills and living expenses. I should be further ahead but I have a horrible ability to spend money quickly. I have a slight addiction problem, and its not what you think... I'm a media addict, I buy films, video games, books and TV on DVD. Hence my current watching of Dexter season 1. Its a great show, and I've seen both season 1 and 2 before, but I haven't yet seen season 3 and Chad just bought it, so I've decided to re-watch the first 2 season to get the story straight again. Which is really important because I just recently finished the first of the Dexter novels upon which the series is based. It was a solid book but I think the series is actually better written. The story for the TV series is more in depth, and delve farther into the mind of Dexter. I still have a great desire to read the next 2 books, but first I have to finish the Robert Langdon books by Dan Brown, I just started Angels and Demons the other day, and so far I'm really enjoying it. I know what you're thinking, and yes, I am like 5 years behind, but in my defense I avoided them for a long time, and I've finally caved to peer pressure.

Wow, so, "holy tangents batman!", but aside from my slight ramble, that was pretty much my day, so....

Until next time,

2009-08-24T23:30:00.002-04:00

Day 8:

What is it about teenagers and convience stores? I went for a walk to get some fresh air this evening and the Mac's down the street had abot 10 teens just standing in the parkig lot near the door. I never really got this, even when I was a teenager. I remember going to the Tim Hortons cause we wanted a coffee (or in my case chocolate milk as I hate coffee) but just standing in a parking lot? really? So anyway, I continued on my walk, and was gone at least an hour and as I walked back by... yup, you guess it, they were still there. On top of it all, as I was going back by they started to leave, played chicken with their cars, and generally made asses of themselves. God how I don't miss being a teen.

But that view of adolescent crap aside, I did next to nothing today... So thats pretty much it...

Until next time,

2009-08-24T00:49:00.003-04:00

Day 7:

So I woke up a little hung over this morning, but thankfully not nearly as hung over as I'd expected... I checked e-mail, ate and waited for my parents to come home with thier car. Upon their arrival I took off, to make my interview in Toronto. Having been on the road a total of about 1 minute I had to turn around as my father had left his cell phone in the car. Phone returned I struck out once again. It was a fairly uneventful trip to Toronto, and then the interview went fairly well I think, I really hope I get offered this design, but we'll see. I then decided to swing through Hamilton on my way back to Waterloo to visit my friend Carla and my kitten Willow. Carla has been cat sitting for me since may, and I'm so thankful that she has. We chatted and I got ignored by Will, I think she's pissed that I sent her away for a few months. Anyway, now I'm back in Waterloo and stupid tired... so I'm off to bed. Will have a better entry tomorrow when I'm more able to think straight.

Until next time,

2009-08-23T01:42:00.002-04:00

Day 6:

So I missed yesterday due to the apparent lack of the internet at my parents house... turns out I was wrong. My parents live in the middle of no-where and as such have never been able to have high speed internet, and a couple years ago they ditched the internet entirely... Well in the last few months they were approached by a man who wante to bring high speed internet to the community, and he set up a satalite dish on their old (now obsolete) TV tower to do so. As my parents decided against the free internet he offered as compensation they are instead recieving $50 a month, an amount I feel is too low considering he is also tapping into their hydro to power his rig. But I digress, I turned on my laptop this morning to watch Bones season 4 episodes (I'm totally hooked) while I ate my breakfast and my wireless modem starts telling me that there are "wireless networks available"... I find this unbelieveable as I know the nearest neighbor is too far away to recieve a wireless router connection, so i check it out... Turns out the high speed trasmitter attached to my parents house emits a small unsecured wireless network signal, just enough for someone like me to take advantage of, so here I am, with internet and telling my story.

So now lets get back to it, yesterday I completely failed at resume spamming Ontario as planned, so I have post-poned (is that how this is spelt?) till monday or tuesday of next week. I did actually watch the Hannah Montana movie with my sister as I suspected I would, it was typical Disney live action drivel, sappy and popular with the small children, just as I suspected. I fould that the 2 beer I found in my fathers fridge helped alot with the consumption of the commercial pop children's icon. After this occured I found myself being forced into watching Death Race, a remake of a bad science fiction/thriller from the mid 70's staring David Caradine and Sly Stallone, although I have never seen the original I was fully determined not to see the re-make because I assumed it could oly be awful... I must admit, I was totally CORRECT... it was a predictable big explosions cover for lousy performances piece of crap... but what of it, now I don't have to pay money to find that out, so yay me. That pretty much summed up my Friday, so now, to today (or rather yesterday that this time of night).

Today was the day of my friend Erin's wedding. Eariler this summer I agreed to record and produce he fiance (now husband) Jeff playing the accoustic guitar for the walk down the isle part of the ceremony. It actually turned out pretty well, and I was happy to help. That was until Erin made me stand up infront of the entire hall of guests so she could point me out to thank me, as a Tech and designer who did the recording and producing, NOT THE ACTUAL PLAYING, I really felt awkward doing this, but I suppose it was a nice gesture. I'm just glad it didn't skip or fail or anything because then Erin would never forgive me for ruining her big day.

But all in all it was a beautiful ceremony, and a fun night. My only real problem is being a hopeless romantic at heart (cause I really am) and being in such a romantic setting when I am not only single, but REALLY single. I have been single for over 2 and a half years now, partly out of choice, partly out of my horrible timing. But being in this situation at a wedding, more so, at a wedding with no single girls in my age range in attandance is actually painful, in that it makes you second guess your decisions in life and wonder if you are really doing things right because you haven't found a love like that yet. But its a feeling that passes and I realize that my time and that one special person just hasn't arrived yet (or so I hope). So I move on and just simply have fun with people I haven't really seen since high school...

During the course of the evening my unemployment and homelessness was discussed several times, mainly because eveyone you haven't seen in a few years wants to know "what are you doing now?" and anyway, during one of these times a rather interesting bet was formed... Chad, my best friend/current landlord bet me that I could make minimum $20 playing the part of a Hobo on the street corner with the sign "aliens took my job". The bet is simple, I play the part and beg on the corner with this sign, if i make more than $20 Chad wins, I keep the money (cause I'm the poor one) and he has the satifaction of being right, if I don't make at least $20 Chad loses and has to pay me $20 for my effort, and I get to keep my earnings as a tip... so clearly this is a win/win for me, and I think its Chad's way of giving me a hand out and making me look like an ass while he does it... but I figure "what the hell" so I have agreed to do it. I will pick my day as soon as my costume is ready and let you all know how it goes...

Tomorrow i have a job interview for the lighting designs of Ghostlight Productions' plays "Hedwig and the angry itch" and "Debbie does Dallas". I really want this gig for 2 reasons. 1 - I need work, to pay the bills and to fill out my resume... 2 - I really REALLY want "Debbie Does Dallas" as a line on my resume, cause I think that would be hilarious...

On that note, that pretty much sums up my last couple of days. I hope I didn't ramble too much, but if I did, I blame the fact that i just got home from a wedding dance and am clearly still drunk. So now I'm off to bed, and here's to not having a hang over.

Until next time,

2009-08-20T23:56:00.002-04:00

Day 4:

So I finished spamming resumes to the whole of Canada minus Ontario, where I actually live. Ontario I will do tomorrow. I also have that job interview with Home Depot tomorrow, I kinda hope that pans out as a inbetween designs job. I hate feeling like a leech on my family and friends.

Today also saw me finally purchase a birthday present for my little sister, exactly what she wanted to... the Hannah Montana movie... Now I don't know about you, but there is something so degrading about being mocked openly by the girl working the cash at Best Buy when you make an embarasing purchase. The particular young woman even went so far to ask me if I intended to curl up on the couch with a blanket on this rainy evening to enjoy Hannah... I was less than ammused... the worst part, I have been known to watch Hannah Montana on occasion. I actually love watching kids TV, the Family Channel (Canadian Disney Channel affiliate) is especially great when you have something else to do and need some background noise. But that doesn't mean I need it announced to a store full of geeks, aka. my people... But I digress, shamed and rather abashed by my public mocking I came home to a rousing game of Left 4 Dead, because killing zombies just makes the hurt go away.

As for the next couple of days, after my job interview I have to venture to the parentals house, because a good friend of mine from back home is getting married on Saturday. What does this mean for this blog (that I have a feeling no-one ready anyway), well it means that I won't be making entries till at least sunday. My parents are not blessed with that oh so modern convience of the internet, so I'm afraid I'll be off the grid till I return to K/W.

So for anyone out there who may or may not care, I will tell the tale of my weekend on Sunday or Monday night (depending upon my return) and will discuss the wedding, the interview, and most likely my thoughts on Hannah Montana:the movie as I'm sure to watch it with my sis...

So, until next time,

2009-08-19T23:45:00.002-04:00

Day 3:

Today I barely ventured from the couch that is currently serving as my office/base of operations. I stayed in this position mostly because I spent most of the day spamming my LD resume to every theatre on the PACT listing. as it is in alphabetical order I began with Alberta, and actually made it all the way through New Brunswick. I was quite proud of myself. While all of this job searching was occuring I was also finally getting around to watching Bones season 4. I made it through 9 episodes and have fully decided once again that I truly enjoy this show. it also made my resume spamming task far less painful.

After a sold day of spamming I chilled and played some games on the good old 360, now its off to bed, expect a tiny entry tomorrow as it should prove to be much the same as today...

Until next time,

2009-08-19T00:09:00.002-04:00

Day 2:

So today started off with me getting ready to go to Toronto to have a job interview with Factory Theatre for their mainspace TD job. A job I can't actually do because of time conflicts with the lighting designs I've already agreed to but I went anyway. I got there layed it all out tht I had these other gigs and this probably wouldn't work, but they interviewed me anyway thinking tht I might be able to do casual work for them in the future, which is fine with me.

But I'm getting ahead if myself, before leaving for Toronto I got a call from the great and powerful Home Depot, asking me to come in for a job interview on Friday afternoon. Thus begins my trek into the world of "joe" jobs. I'm actually kinda hoping this one works out. I feel like Home Depot really needs an employee that knows that not everything in the store has to be used the way it was intended, you can in fact make a giant clock out of threaded rod and lamp rod, or a giant octopus out of dryer hose. Plus I think that a part time job at the Home Depot might just be what I need to allow me the freedom to design while not being completely poor. Finally of course, the Depot in question is like a 2 minute drive or 7 minute bike ride from Chad's house where I am currently staying, which is a huge bonus.

So with that set up and the uneventful drive to Toronto done, interview in the bag and the day's goals completed I decided to wander down Queen West and look at all the pretty things an unemployeed man such as myself cannot afford. I did decide one thing, once I get back on my feet I will be buying a drum set, more specifically the Roland electric drum set I was playing in Steve's Music for the better part of a half hour. Not only did the set sound good, but it actually felt good to play, I'm usually not a fan of the electric kits, but I really enjoyed playing this one. Part of it may be the fact that the only drum kit I've sat behind for the better part of a year is the one belonging to my Rock Band game for 360... but thats just what I've got... so whatever.

After my venture down the shopping dream land street I drove back through horrible rush hour traffic and spent the rest of the evening hanging with Chad like we used to when we lived together in south Kitchener during University.

All in all, good day, tomorrow I begin spamming my LD resume to every theatre listed in the PACT theatre listing, the new one of which just came out. I figure it'll take me a few days to do the country. My goal is to spam 1 province per day, might give myself 2 days for Ontario as it has alot of theatres and I know it took me 2 days to do Ontario's PACT listing back in the spring.

So there it is, my continuing adventure in unemployment and my search for my way to contribute to the arts in this country.

Until next time,

2009-08-17T17:19:00.002-04:00

And thus it begins...

I have brought back this blog from the internet graveyard and re-dubbed it in honor of my new adventure. The term "starving artist" is thrown around a lot but I am here to actually live it. I have given up a steady job as a theatre technician to attempt to make it as a lighting designer in the theatre industry in Ontario. I've decided to chronical my search for work and to try to have a career in the industry I love. The Theatre.

So here it is, my first post in my journey:

Today I attempted to find a "joe" job to use in an attempt to pay the bills between design gigs. Currently I have 5 lighting designs coming up. I have been offered and have accepted the first 3 shows of the 2009/2010 Sudbury Theatre Centre season, Leading Ladies; Doubt and Sleeping Beauty. I have also been offered Macbeth for the K/W youth theatre. Also I have been offered Nine: The Musical by Musical Theatre Productions in London next spring. This is 5 lighting designs, spanning September to March. As you can guess this is hardly enough to live on, hell, its barely enough to call it work. But it is a start, and from here I hope to begin my journey and make this a profession.

As for my living arrangements, I am currently homeless and without a job. I'm currently staying with my best friend, Chad and am thus based out of Waterloo, Ontario until I find a steady job and some semblance of financial stability... (scoff...lol).

So there it is. This is my starting point and from here I hope to find my way. Hopefully you'll see me succeed, or at least fail epic-ly and tell a good tale in the process.

Until next time,