Sometimes it's more than a paycheck

Mass Transit Muse
Photo by Stungun Photography

Every once in a while people get to do a job that they actually love, I am one of those lucky people.  This season has been filled with amazing shows that I have gotten to work on that are not only a paying gig, but artistically inspiring and fulfilling.

I started the 2013-14 7 Stages Season helping bring Mass Transit Muse to the Beltline, to Elevate as the first performance ever allowed on MARTA and then to the stage as a full production in May towards the end of the season.  This was a show that I accidentally stumbled into back in January of 2013 during its Homebrew workshop and became part of the MTM family and it was a wonderful experience.  To work on it from the beginning and see it go from the book based on Michael Molina's spoken word to the 30 minute pieces we did for the Beltline, to a moving piece using space and travel in addition to staging on the Marta to the stage with full lights and cast.  It totally didn't hurt that a critic actually complimented my lighting, calling it "moody and effective" which almost never happens.  Usually if tech is in a review it means something has gone terribly wrong and we're being called out (they did say they wished it was a but brighter) rather than complimented.  So yeah, that was pretty exciting!

Krampus Presents: The Tragical Death of Faust
Photo by Stungun Photography

The not quite so long term yet also long term project I got to do was Krampus: The Tragical Death of Faust in December.  Though each year is a different story the basic premise is the same, a celebration of Christmas with things that are not normally the highlights of the holiday season.  The disfunctionality of God and his abandonment of his son, Jesus.  Satan trying to make it as a single dad with his daughter, the antichrist.  The age old story of trying to sell your soul and how if you do it around the holidays you may be interrupting holiday plans for the underworld so you might not get what you bargained for...you know, the normal holiday stuff.  With the video sections being filmed in advance we actually started in November to get everything up and running as much as possible for December.  We turned the lobby of 7 Stages into a crappy mall to go along with the actual mall shots of Satan (yes, in full make-up) taking Damien to go see Santa.  I assure you that they were not ready for Rob to be walking around the mall in full make-up and horns, but the footage was priceless (especially in the food court).

Dracula: The Rock Opera CD Release
Photo by Stungun Photography

January was my month off as I had just graduated school (with High Honors during all of these shows no less) and it's that ambiguous dead month in the theater as everyone disappeared for the holidays and it takes a minute for everything to get back up and running.  February we came back for the Dracula: The Rock Opera CD Release.  If you've ever read my blog before you may remember that I actually attempted to document what it's like to do one of these in my Dracula Diary.  People are always asking what it is exactly that I do and this gave a decent brief summary of what my life is like during these shows.  Fourteen hour days, lighting design, stage managing and in this particular case, video editing.  It was a fun reunion of most of the cast and crew that worked on the full show two years ago.  We decorated the lobby with their costumes, we sang, we told stories and generally had a blast getting to hang out again.  It's one of those shows that I will never get sick of because the cast and crew are so awesome!

Secret History of Love

After getting through Dracula and Mass Transit Muse I got to do some smaller fun things for the theater.  I was Master Electrician for the Sean Dorsey Dance Company touring show Secret History of Love which was just beautifully done and came with an amazing free workshop!  Seriously, just dancing and having a great time with everyone was awesome.  It was so inspiring to just have that much fun with movement again.  Sometimes you just need to have a break, take a step back and reconnect with the basics.   I also ran the tech for an amazing reading for Mommer 'n' Diddy What Live Next Door by C.W. Thornton, which had me laughing in the booth so hard I was afraid I was going to miss my cues.  However, part of being at 7 Stages is the element of activism and I ran tech for The REAL State of the Union by Georgia WAND and A Conversation with Chairman John Eaves which discussed the funding and budgets for the arts community in Fulton County. Though not necessarily as fun and creative as the other jobs this season,  the meeting with Chairman Eaves may have been the most important event  I worked all year.  This meeting has inspired multiple artists to go and speak at the budget meetings and have their voices heard to show why the arts are important to the community.

That was my second season with 7 Stages.  I've gotten to do more shows thanks to being at 7 Stages such as The Atlanta Fringe Festival and Exposed: Humanity in Motion which I just finished, but those were separate amazing opportunities that I'll go into later in another post.  My season at 7 Stages, just what I did directly for 7 Stages, was amazing.  So when people ask me why I choose to hang around 7 Stages and keep working and sometimes volunteering my time there, this is why.  These amazing shows, these amazing people I get to work with and these amazing events I get to help create and put out into the world because sometimes it's more than a paycheck, it's what I need to feed my soul.

Spot Light on Atlanta's Ruby Redmayne

Cave girl by Vinson Smith

I am going to continue to try to spot light these amazing performers in Atlanta.  We have such an amazing thriving scene here and it has so much community and family in it that it should be celebrated!  

Ruby Redmayne has been on the Atlanta scene since 2010.  I actually found (back when my flip camera worked) that I had done an interview with her the day of her debut and thought it might be a fun thing to share as well.  So you get two interviews!

1. How did you come up with your stage name and tag line?  Does it have a special meaning to you?

My first performance name which I registered was Suki Tawdry, which I still love and may use again one of these days. I changed it to Ruby Redmayne because my hair is such a major part of my identity, and I have yet to perform as anything but a red head.

Panty throw by Wombat

2. How did you get started in burlesque?

I had one of those "big birthdays"  and realized my life had become very mundane. I didn't intend to perform, but I signed up for the Syrens of the South classes before I had even seen my first burlesque show. Its been an incredible journey. 

3. What has been your best moment as a performer so far?

I love performing in places and shows that have an audience that doesn't see burlesque regularly. Performing at the Goat Farm for a radio fundraiser, Killer Creek Harley Davidson for St Patrick's day, the High Museum with a production by Talloolah Love, 7 Stages with AXA and Krampus Xmas, DooGallery for an art opening~and last but not least, opening the WigOut drag show at the Atlanta Eagle! 

I treasure these shows because they are challenging and exciting.

White crinoline by Rose Riot

[Editor's Note: You have no idea how happy it made me to see multiple shows she did with Syrens of the South in her favorites.  This is why I keep producing and cultivating shows!]

4. What is your favorite act to perform?

SHAKEWEIGHT! Yaaaasssss. Haha. Also, Bouncy Ball and La Vie en Rose. 

5. What is your burlesque dream show? 

I love the shows most that mix burlesque, drag and variety. I can't get enough of those. 

6. Where do you see your self in the next five years?

Oh honey, I'm lucky to make it through the next five minutes. 

Wait!  Laws of Attraction....I see myself in Tahiti with four Polynesian lovers.  

7. Tell us something outside of burlesque that you are involved or interested in.

I'm an exercise nut. Its 99% of what I do. The remaining 1% is I make Crappily Crafted Crafts and give them away. 

Valkyrie and nihilists by Greg the Mayor

8. What do you think is your greatest skill, not including burlesque?

Im very verbal and I like people in general. 

9. What are you most looking forward to this year as a burlesque performer? As a civilian?

As a performer, I'm always looking forward to inspiration. Whether I do a number one time or many times, I am passionate about freedom of expression. That is what I appreciate most about this art form.  

Civilian wise?  I travel for my birthday. Got a good plan this year. I need it. 

10. Who is your favorite performer to watch?

I adore Salome Cabaret out of Knoxville. As a group or individually, they blow me away. 

And now for your super special ancient bonus video!

Spot light on Sunny Midnight (or why I suck)

So back in March for her (our) birthday month I asked Sunny Midnight to do an interview as I would like to keep spotlighting performers from around Atlanta much like I interview all the Burlesque Legends whenever I get a chance.  She turned it in on time, I got slammed with doing all the things for Mass Transit Muse and never bothered to post it.  Better late than never, right?

Shaped Light Photography

1. How did you come up with your stage name and tag line?  Does it have a special meaning to you?

The lovely Ursula Undress helped me come up with it when I was in classes(ABC &123s of Burlesque). I didn't want to get "trapped" or pegged with a name that wouldn't allow me to explore different avenues of my persona. I.E.-something too sweet/nice that would not necessarily be able to do something dark, etc. So Sunny is my bubbly, extroverted self andMidnight can refer to the sexy/dark/mysterious things that can happen at that time. It's a nice juxtaposition.

2. How did you get started in burlesque?

I went to a show at The Masquerade and saw some awesome performances that piqued my interest so I inquired about classes. Next thing I knew, I was signed up for classes with Syrens of the South. Best.Idea.Ever.

3. What has been your best moment as a performer so far?

Performing at DragonCon (one of my favorite conventions) in front of roughly 1200 likeminded nerds. It was mind blowing.

Lucky Pinup Photography 

4. What is your favorite act to perform?

My housewife number to Etta James's I Just Wanna Make Love To You

5. What is your burlesque dream show?

Ooooo...hmmmm. A show filled with all my favorite performers from all over the world and me being front and center to take it all in. I know it's probably weird I'm not in it, but I so love to watch without the burden of getting prepped for the show or watching backstage.

6. Where do you see your self in the next five years?

Hopefully, more involved. A title or 2 under my rhinestoned belt and more travel for festivals.

7. Tell us something outside of burlesque that you are involved or interested in.

I am a huge nerd. I love going to DragonCon, the East Coast's answer to San Diego Comic Con, and am getting more in to cosplay. I also am a contributor for both Shauncastic (shauncastic.com), a nerdy podcast on pop culture and Traumatic Cinematic(http://traumaticcinematic.com/), a podcast/website that focuses on horror mostly.

Richard LaMarre
Tara Hymen, Sunny's 70s blaxploitation alter ego

8. What do you think is your greatest skill, not including burlesque?

My ability to empathize and see most issues from all sides. Also, my uncanny ability to name most songs in 3 tunes. I wanted to be on Name That Tune when I was younger

9. What are you most looking forward to this year as a burlesque performer? As a civilian?

As a performer: Improving my craft and making quality/entertaining routines. As a civilian: Continuing getting better from my health issues from last year and seeing more shows/traveling as a civilian.

10. Who is your favorite performer to watch?

Perle Noire. She is such an inspiration and a beauty to watch. Full of so much grace and talent. You can't take your eyes off her. I wanna be her when I grow up.

Marc Turnley from BCC - Pinkie Pie!!

A week in review

In the past week I have seen two shows, produced and performed in one show, taught two burlesque classes, taken a workshop, had a fundraising meeting for the theater, had a SFBF meeting with the hotel, did a site walk through for a show that I am stage managing this Saturday right after I teach a burlesque class, worked as an ME for a new gig, planning a new organizing system for the costuming room at the theater, and during all this I am still working on the Syrens monthly Tease Tuesday shows, Southern Fried Burlesque Fest (which is next week) and general theater and existence projects as well...and this was a slow week because I am technically between shows.

People give me shit for being busy or tired or not being able to come out and do stuff a lot of the time.  I am a working artist...what that means is I have to hustle and do about 4 times the work to get the same amount of hourly pay that someone at McDonald's gets.  It's not just show up and do the job; I have to get each job, rehearse, make costumes, market myself, negotiate the bookings, deal with the money, etc...  So to those people who get upset with me for being busy, it's not that I don't want to see you, it's that I have to get my bills paid and generally my line of work means I am working in the evenings when you are off work.  I promise to not get made at you for having a 9am-5pm job if you promise to not get mad at me for having a 6pm-3am gig, and that's just rehearsal time.

Everyone always thinks that being an artist is this super fun thing, and it is, but it is also really hard work because you have to be self motivated.  Rarely do you have any job security as they're all temporary gigs.  There is always an expiration date be it one burlesque routine or a run of an entire show; when it's done you gotta already have the next one lined up or you're going to have dead time where no money comes in and you're screwed unless you've been saving up some for these dry spells.    I am much happier because I am doing something that I love, however I have to work really hard to make it be more than a hobby and make sure that my bills are paid and I have money stashed aside between theater seasons, etc...  With any job, there are ups and downs, I just find that being happy is worth the extra work with less money rather than when I had the MUCH better paying office gig and felt like my soul was dying.  Follow your bliss and figure out what priorities work for you, but don't be upset if your schedule doesn't mesh up with everyone else's.

2014-02-24 RIP Harold Ramis

Who you gonna call?... You know that even if you didn't say it out loud, you said Ghostbusters in your head.  That's a phrase we all learned and became a piece of our childhoods that has lived on.  Sadly, as of today, there is one less Ghostbuster for us to call.  Harold Ramis passed away at age 69.  We have lost Egon Spengler, the brains behind the science and the writer behind the screen.  This news comes shortly after Dan Akroyd said that there were plans for a Ghostbusters 3 in the works and that Ramis would be a part of the project.

In addition to Ghostbuster he is the writer and/or actor behind many amazing films Groundhog Day which has also become part of regular pop culture references along with his other works including Groundhog Day, Meatballs, Caddyshack, Stripes, and a slew of other amazing movies that made us laugh until we cried and some of the most surprisingly touching moments shoved into comedies that sometimes made us think.

One of the most touching tributes that I have seen since the announcement of his passing actually took place at the firehouse in New York that was used for the Ghostbusters head quarters in the movie.  His photo, two candles, some flowers and a Twinkie.  You can read the whole article HERE.

Dracula Diary: Epilogue

The question I have gotten a lot the past two weeks of my Dracula Diary is why? Why am I okay with doing multiple jobs, 14-18 hour days, not sleeping, wrangling people who don't want to be wrangled, stressing myself out and all of this for a show that will only run 3 times?  It's a labor of love.

The Little 5 Points Rockstar Orchestra and 7 Stages has become my family since I got hired for Dracula almost 2 years ago. It's both hard to believe that it has been almost two years already and also hard to believe that it has only been two years.  I still sometimes feel like the new kid and other times like I've been here forever because it's such a natural fit.  At the last Krampus show Justin Welborn and I were talking and he said, "I remember the interview and now you're an institution." I don't know if I would go that far, but I definitely consider 7 Stages to be my home.  (I mean, they totally gave me a desk, that means I can do whatever I want on it, right?)  It's nice to find that place that you belong and you're happy to be.  That picture up there in the corner, in some cases I hadn't spoken to some of those people in almost a year and it was nothing for me to send a text or a call and it was fine.  I could call anyone of them to go have a drink or help me move a body, that's just how it is now.

What it really boils down to is do you want to be happy?  I used to work at a law firm and I made pretty good money...I do sometimes miss the money, but I wasn't happy.  When I got laid off I cried, I freaked out because what was I going to do and then the very next day I went and sold stuff at a vendor table at TribalCon.  The entire time I was at the law firm I scheduled burlesque shows, traveled and performed, really that job was a soul sucking way for me to get to perform...I was literally living for my weekends.  What kind of life is that?  Spend five days to live for two?  That's terribly disproportional and just seems like a horrible waste of time.  Getting laid off was the best thing that could have happened to me.

I started doing more film work, started teaching burlesque more, started costuming more, starting trying to live a life that was an actual life rather than living for work.  I started the Southern Fried Burlesque Fest, I got Syrens of the South to the next level, I even went back to school so I could get my degree in Technical Theater so I could bump up my game because actors are a dime a dozen, it's a lot harder to find good tech people.  (There is always another actor who will want your part, there is not always another tech person that can do what you do.)

I love my job.  I love when the show works, even if something goes wrong we fix it, and we make it work.  There's so many moving parts that each show is it's own living organism. When it comes together it's just so beautiful.  The end result, the wonderful show and the audience's applause is what makes it all worth while.  Being proud of what you do, working in a place that you are appreciated and doing a job that you love, that's what is most important to me and that's why I do what I do.

Dracula Diary: Day 10 - 14

Wednesday, Day 10

SNOWPOCOLYPSE!

Can't leave the house, I spend 12 hours working on video editing for the slide shows for the show.  Timing the pictures for the songs...no rehearsal because, ya know, can't leave the house.

Thursday, Day 11

Most of the morning is spent deciding whether or not we should do the show.  I pack a bag, just in case I get iced out, because I HAVE to go to the theater.  I HAVE to check the video. I park at Heidi's, bring in my suit case and we walk from her place to the theater.  At that point we cancel the show, people are freaking out because of the weather, they're not going to come out because of fear even though the roads are mostly cleared.  I am told that the box office spent hours calling everyone to make sure they could exchange their tickets and knew the show was out.  We add a 10:30pm show on Saturday to make up for the show day.

I want a dress rehearsal, I annoy all the cast and crew and we get it scheduled an amour earlier so we can do a proper sound check and get everything taken care of.  Theater is cleaned, floors swept and mopped, lobby is finalized and looks like we're ready for company.   Final dress rehearsal.  Weather still sucks but video is happening, we have a small invite only audience.  It didn't suck, we got through it, these are all good things.  Michael Haverty (Associate Artistic Director of 7 Stages) helps me make the video work as I am still learning how to make my MacBook go.  We get head sets figured out so we can communicate with out having to run all the way around the theater for the booth and back stage to talk.  We prep the hazer, we prep the fog, I fix all the video into one long slideshow...and there we go.

Due to traffic we started about 30 minutes later than we wanted but still 30 minutes earlier than the show was originally scheduled.  We loose Shane and Madeline because they are unable to leave their house as their road is still iced in.  The other singers step up and cover the two missing singers so we can get through.  We blow the mains during the dress rehearsal...we slam through the show, we get done and I send everyone home before it gets bad.  I then spend a good portion of the remainder of the evening working on video, fixing lights, going through notes...  I am working late enough that I realize that I am starving.  We go back to Heidi's house, I eat some food and then keep working on the video timing until 4/4:30am.

Friday, Day 12: Valentine's Day/Showtime!

I force myself to sleep in.  The running joke being that since Holly didn't stay there Heidi just needed to have a Stage Manager on tap at all times.  Christine Orr was kind enough to help me dye my hair so I could have a head of pretty for the opening night.  After almost 2 weeks of feeling gross from crawling around with cables, digging out costumes that haven't been touched in almost 2 years, and generally playing with all the gross things that reside in the theater...it was nice to have a private moment to feel pretty.

I then headed down to the theater, met up with Alex and got him to work on sweeping, mopping, cleaning, helping put up Shane's art work in the installation of all the costumes up front that we had finished the day before.  We make the place look like we're ready for an audience and we finally are.  There was one boo boo that probably only the cast and crew noticed and one big boo boo where a gel frame fell from the ceiling and almost hit Jeff (Van Helsing) in the head.  We did find out later that there had been an earthquake, however he still stands by the fact that I was trying to kill him.  Over all the show was amazing, we had a good crowd, and we had a good time.

Saturday, Day 13: Showtime Take 2

I get to the theater around 2pm to make some last minute tweaks to the video.  I haven't done timed video and with the new knowledge I have of when the audience is going to applause and a better grasp at the length of chatter between some of the songs I feel like I have a much better grasp of what is needed.  I spend about 2 hours (this includes many cigarette breaks while the videos were rendering) getting is finalized.  I then go into the theater to adjust some lights (ya know, having to deal with the death gel) and fix a few cues.  I end up flipping through the entire show to take the death lights out of it since I needed to fix some band lights anyway.

By the time I finish going through lights the cast and crew begin showing up.  We start getting ready, we get all hyped up for slut dress Saturday.  (This was a thing we did during the original production so it seemed fun to revive for this.)  We go through the 8pm show, great crowd, video works great, I manage not to kill anyone.  We're worried about the second show, it was last minute, will anyone show up, then we realize that Neil from Stungun Photography is coming and we decide that this isn't a show, it's a photo call!  It makes everyone feel better and we had a way bigger crowd than we thought we would.  Over all it was great.

I took some shots during the show and sent them to Chaz, he asked for them since he couldn't be there.  Afterwards we took a group shot in front of the last group photo we had taken almost 2 years ago.  It was kind of sweet.  Then we drank and got silly and enjoyed our last night as the Drac Pack...at least until we can get funding and do this all again.

Sunday, Day 14: Strike

We broke it all down today.  It was sad.  Not everyone shows up for strike, but those that do are awesome.  It's that hang over of a day, because deconstruction and cleaning is way more fun that way.    As I thane been typing  this I am actually working on another show that happened in the same space right after strike.  It's kind of poetic, one show ends, another starts.  The show I was working is now done, they're lingering on the stage while Dad's Garage begins loading in their show...seriously, this space never sleeps.