Just lose yourself...

The other day when Carolyn and I had gone to Wabi Sabi to have a light dinner, she had just gotten done with Acting Class.  It's down the street from my apartment on Sawtelle, and the Coach is also a working actor.  She said she really loved the class and that it's really challenging and nerve-wracking, but that they work at least twice in class, and you really get something out of it.  I've missed going to classes and would like to go to something close, and there's no requirement as to when you need to go, you can come and go as you please, which is awesome because of my random schedule. 

I found the Coach on-line, and he has a blog as well.  As I started to read his blog, I felt really in-tune with what he was saying.  You can't memorize the words and just use your memorization as your tool, you have to feel it, you have to listen, you have to react!  If a Casting Director wants something different than you've done, and you could book the role based on your ability to listen to the advice and change something, if you can't do that, because you have it memorized a specific way, you've just lost the job, and a chance to even be called back in again, because you can't listen to directions.  What also really resonated with me, was that when you get somewhere, and you perform, that all the work you do gets lost when you're in the moment.  I usually don't remember what I've done after an audition, just how I felt about it, because I lose myself and become that character, that part, that scene, and do everything based on my instinct.  I might audit his class this next Tuesday, and I'll let ya know what I think :)

On Wednesday night I had Karaoke at Gabe's and right away when I got there, a group of people came in, this one woman brings in her students, and they like to sing Karaoke.  They're used to the Korean Karaoke, where they rent a small room and all sing but it's not public, so this gives them a chance to perform in front of a bar filled with people.  Needless to say, we were busy all night long until around midnight when everyone filtered out.  I was actually happy about that because I knew I wanted to get home early so I could get some sleep for my Stand In job that was on Thursday.  I sang a couple songs I hadn't sang in a while, 'Treat Me Right' and 'Cowboy Casanova' along with my new song for the night, 'Lesson in Leaving.'  I listened to a bunch of Jo Dee Messina back in College, because a couple of the cheerleaders and I listened to her CD on a Road Trip to Duluth, MN for a Football game.  I really like the song, but need to work on my breath control for it, because there's so many long phrases in it.  Carolyn, Matt, and Travis also came in, and she closed the night for everyone with 'Tears in Heaven' for her Grandmother.  She did a fantastic job!

It was my Friday for Karaoke this week as well, and for some reason, the past couple of weeks, no matter how hard I try, I can not make it to work early!  I either make it right on time, or a couple minutes late...and even if there's no one there to sing and we have to wait anyway, I've got to get my act together and get there early one of these weeks! *Sorry, just a little pep talk to myself.*  Since it was Friday, I figured it would get a little busy, and we had a steady night all night, big crowd, lots of people, everyone really receptive of the song choices, so it was a great night!  Khad and Sean came in and sang a few songs as well, including some Backstreet Boys, because it's been too long since a Double Entendre Performance.  I also did some songs I hadn't done in a while, 'Separate Ways' by Journey and The Toadies 'Possum Kingdom,' thank you Ian and Guitar Hero for helping me discover that song, so fantastic!  And 'Separate Ways' has been one of my favorite songs of all time for a long time, and it's one of those I'm comfortable with and can just let go when I'm singing it!  My new song of the night was Nancy Sinatra's 'These Boots Are Made for Walking' and I loved doing the song.  It was super fun and some people even started a slow clap and were dancing :)  Everyone had a really fun night, including myself, and it's nights like those that make Hosting Karaoke worthwhile!

The Gals with Double Entendre

A Day in the Life of a Stand In

So yesterday I was doing my typical submissions on LA Casting & Actors Access throughout my day, in between my work-outs, and finishing up of my taxes (I finished my State Taxes yesterday, and am all done), when I got a phone call from a Production Company.  She asked if I was available on Thursday for the Stand-In job, remembering that I'd just submitted for that no more than a half hour ago, and they were looking for someone Hispanic, or at the very least mixed.  So I can play Hispanic, let's add that to the resume!  I was supposed to work at Irish Times, and I had already told the girl I was working for, two weeks ago, that I would cover for her.  I told the Production Company to give me 10 minutes and I would see what I could do.  After calling 5 people, I got a response from the lovely, Christa, that she would cover for me...thank goodness!!  So I called the PC back and told them I would be available and she said she would send the information right over. 

From the information, I knew I was working as a Stand-In, had a decent rate, it was for Disney, and I needed to be in Hollywood, hair and make-up ready at 8 am.  I had Karaoke that night so I knew it was going to be a long day on set today!

My alarm woke me up at 6:30 am and I got ready for my day.  Grabbing my sweater before I headed out the door and arrived in Hollywood, at Hollywood Center Studios 15 minutes early!  As soon as I got on set one of the Production Assistant's asked if I had eaten breakfast, and told me to grab something to eat.  The day was starting off with a bang!  I grabbed some eggs, turkey and vegetarian sausage, lots of fruit, and a croissant.   I met the other stand-in for the day, and sat down to eat my amazing breakfast, and then waited, and waited, and waited.  Over 2 hours later, and we finally got called to set!  It was freezing in the building and I was hoping under the lights it would feel better, but they were really challenging us, or trying to keep us awake.  The cold was actually my saving grace, since I was going on just about 4 hours of sleep, and I was so glad I had grabbed my sweater!

So what does a Stand In do?  Well, when they're setting the lighting, getting the set just right, putting all the props in, and figuring out all the details, the Stand In's, stand in, for the actors while they are getting their hair and make-up done, going to wardrobe, eating, or rehearsing their lines.  I actually was really glad to be doing it, because it got me on a set, I was able to talk to a bunch of the Crew and learn some things, plus, it's experience!  So once the set is all ready, then the actors come in and do their thing while the camera's are rolling...and that's when the magic happens.

I was standing in for Valery Ortiz, a latina girl with green eyes, and we actually do look a little bit alike, so I see why I was called to work.  She's one of ABC Family's Hosts, and the shoot was for the new Spring Promo's for ABC Family which is owned by Disney.  They were also shooting some shots for Acuvue as well.  The really cool thing about being her Stand In, was that when we were hitting our marks, I was able to do her lines, while reading from the teleprompter, thus, giving me an opportunity to work on my Prompter & Cold Reading Skills in front of a huge crew!  Basically, I took Hosting Classes today!  Valery was incredible, she was very professional, made very few mistakes for a long day, and was really fun to watch.  

Throughout the day, we were on set, and then off, while the actors were in, or while the crew was changing the set around for different shots.  While Daniel (the other stand in) and I, waited, we ate.  Craft Service was spectacular...dried fruit, strawberries, banana's, crackers and different kinds of cheeses, little snacks and munchies, desserts, tea, and more!  It was actually overwhelming, and kind of sad, because I couldn't eat any of the candy.  Lent is almost over and I can't wait to eat some Sour Patch Kids and drink a Root Beer!!  Around 1 pm we broke for an awesome Catered Lunch.  I chatted with some of the crew, they were all free-lanced, but this particular crew works together at least once a month, and they shoot these promo's on a regular basis.  One of the crew guys was even trying to buy an airplane, and made an offer to someone in Wisconsin!

After Lunch we went back to work, and finally at 6:30 pm they cut Daniel and I for the day.  I was literally so exhausted, even though I didn't really do anything.  Grazing on food all day long, getting practically no sleep, and being on my feet on and off for 10 hours really took it out of me, and I was so excited to come home and just hang on the couch.

So here I sit...writing my blog, drinking a cup of hot tea, certainly not eating anything anytime soon and catching up on some American Idol.  It's almost 9:30, and that might be my bedtime tonight!

Work-outs & Taxes

It's been a few days since my last blog and I sure have missed writing and sharing my crazy life with everyone!

After a very busy and fun weekend, I wanted to start the week off with a great work-out.  On Monday, I found an awesome Yoga video on-line that was 70 minutes long, and I'm still sore today!  I had no idea when I was doing it, as it seemed very easy and I flowed through all the positions with no problems, but I sure feel it today.  And that makes me feel good :)

Yesterday, I went on a nice long run and hit up the stairs for a good cardio work-out.  The stairs I go to are right by a school and in a nice neighborhood, so I get to see some beautiful houses, hear kids laughing, and get in an awesome work-out.  There's even a few of us that do the stairs weekly, so it was nice to run into one of the ladies I see, since I haven't seen her in over a month.  I usually run about 2 miles before I hit up the stairs, doing 6 sets, all different ways, so I'm targeting all the right spots, and then run back home, which is another mile.  I always feel like I've accomplished something after that work-out!

The next task of the day was doing my Taxes.  I'd been putting it off since I was worried about how my Unemployment would affect my return.  I actually really enjoy doing my taxes, because I like putting in the numbers (I really loved my Computer Programming Class in College), I know I'm weird.  Going through all the sections, things were looking really good, and then the dreaded Unemployment section came up, and sure enough, my return dropped drastically!  I went in and deleted all the info, and my return went back up, and then I just worked on other sections, trying to figure out how to make that money back.  I started doing all my Itemized Deductions and saw that brought it up even more.  Knowing I had to claim my Unemployment, I bit the bullet and put all the information back in, and sure enough, entering all my Deductions helped and overall only brought it down a little.  Thank goodness!  After going through all the alerts, I was able to e-file, and rest assured I was still getting a big return back!  Now I'll just finish up my State Return today!

Lots of organizing to get done after finishing up my taxes and clearing some of the clutter out, and it just always feel so good to be in a clean and orderly space!  Good start to the week, awesome work-outs, taxes almost done, and now a very busy work week ahead...Capri Sun Cheers!

Thi & Ting Tings

A very T filled day...literally :)

This afternoon my girlfriend, Thi, picked me up in her brand new Mini Cooper and we had lunch at Tender Greens in Culver City and caught up!  She's been in Alaska working on a show there for a few months, so I was so glad to have her back in LA before she's off to NY to work on another show.  Tender Greens is one of our favorite spots, super healthy, super yummy, and perfect outdoor seating, even if a tree tried to attack me.  Of course I'm going to describe my meal...Perfectly cooked Prawns on a bed of Arugula and Butter Lettuce in a Lemon Vinaigrette, with carrots and Parmesan cheese.  Absolutely amazing, and our conversation was as well!

Even though March Madness is going on, and I'm actually doing fairly well, I could only watch bits and pieces of the game since I found a UCA Cheerleading Championship on ESPN 2.  I found myself cheering and getting excited for the teams (since they're practically all the same teams that are in the March Madness play-offs, I didn't feel too guilty).  I even found myself getting nervous if stunts weren't hitting, or someone got off balance.  I miss Cheerleading so much and I remember when our Winona State Cheerleading Team went to Nationals in Florida, two years in a row.  We had such a blast, and it's so neat competing on that stage!

Then tonight, Morgan and I went to The Mayan in Downtown LA to see The Ting Tings in concert.  We got there a little after 9:30 and they started shortly after 10 pm.  We got to check out the whole venue, and decided to sit in the balcony area because you could see the whole stage, even though we could have been down in front in the standing room.  We couldn't bring our drinks there though, so to the balcony it was.  The show was good.  I've never seen them before, and only knew a couple songs by them, but they were interesting and unique.  Since it's only the two of them, I was really impressed by their sound.  The guy would be playing the guitar, and then go back and play the drums.  She would be playing a small piano, and then put on a guitar and sing.  She did change guitars through the whole show, which was kind of distracting, but overall it was pretty good.  Morgan and I were mostly excited for the popular songs, but glad to be spending some time together and catching up as well!  The concert only lasted a little over an hour which was kind of a bummer, but neither of us knew what to expect, so we didn't mind heading out early and getting home before midnight.  And boy oh boy, did both of us want Bacon Wrapped Hotdogs when we left...they smelled so darn good!  Thank goodness Lent only goes for another couple of weeks!

Mayan Theatre for The Ting Tings with Morgan!

Lucky for me, my week's been off to a great start, and is taking stride...

Lyrics & Karaoke

March is already almost over and I haven't started my taxes yet.  Ooops!  I usually get them done at the end of February or early March, but I'm a little nervous and confused about doing them, since I'm also unemployed, and have to deal with all of that paperwork.  Hopefully, whatever Manual Tax Service I decide on will be able to walk me right through it without mass confusion!

The updated 'do!

I decided I needed a hair update, so I booked an appointment at the Aveda Salon.  Traffic was crazy in Westwood and I ended up being a little bit late, but that was a blessing in disguise because Kristen did an amazing job on my hair!  She gave me a beautiful cut with tons of layers and volume, trimmed and gave me some face framing bangs.  I absolutely love it!  And since I was right there, I had to stop at Diddy Reise to get an Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich; I can't even remember the last time I had one of those!

This afternoon I wrote some lyrics into my lyric notebook, and added in some lyrics I had written around Christmas time, getting some inspiration from Sara Bareilles.  I have a mixed CD with a bunch of her songs from her albums, and it's just incredible.  I could listen to it every day, because it's so different and so appealing on so many levels.  Lucky for me, I got to see her in concert at the Palladium right before Christmas and got turned onto her music.  So talented :)

Tonight I hosted Karaoke at Gabe's and was hoping for a good night!  It surely was.  We had a full house and I had lots of visitors, Scott & Jasmine, along with Ramon, and the Walker Brothers & Frank!  Even got to hear Jeff sing a song from 'Pretty Woman' ;)  My new song of the night was The Supreme's 'Where Did Our Love Go,' and Marcus forced me to sing 'Islands in the Stream,' a song I couldn't even sing the melody line to you right now, as I don't even know it.  My Supreme's went well, I love me some Diana Ross, but my Dolly on 'Islands' could use a little practice, perhaps learning the song so I know how to sing it.  I'm glad to have had some supportive friends come to hang out and even sing and I'm already planning ahead for next week, which will be another great night!

Scott's Princesses 0:)

A Green Weekend!

Little did I know that St. Patrick's Day was being celebrated early at Gabe's on Friday Night!  I totally forgot to wear green, and while it wasn't St. Patrick's Day till Saturday, I still had to worry about getting pinched after midnight without some sort of green on me.  Mike saved the day by cutting down some green garland for me, and I made a little bracelet!  Whew...that was a close one!

It was a very busy night with lots of new people coming in for Karaoke.  I didn't realize how excited people got for St. Patrick's Day, so many people were drinking and getting tipsy, and I thought they would save it for Saturday, but was really surprised!  That's hardcore :)  Because the night was so busy, I only sang a couple of times, but was able to do Heart's 'What About Love' and thought it would be my new song of the night, until realizing half-way through that it sounded familiar and I think I sang it at Lucky Strike years ago!  I ended up closing the night with 'Crazy' by Britney Spears, never sang it before, although I did Choreograph a Cheerleading Routine to the song in High School!  Blast from the past, but very fun!  Overall, it was a really great night, everyone was very generous, and seemed to be having a good time, with all the alcohol that was flowing!

Since it was a busy night, I didn't get home until later, and I had my Casting Workshop the next day so I wanted to get as much sleep as possible.  Five hours later I was getting ready for the Workshop to the pouring rain outside!  That made me even more nervous, because I wanted to make sure I could be on time and prepared.  I talked to Neil once I got to the theater, and we went through my scene over the phone, and he gave me some advice and support before the Workshop.  There were about 20 people there and we got started promptly at 10:30 am.  The Casting Director started with a Q&A which was interesting, and I learned a little information, and then we got started on our scenes.  When it was my turn, I handed in my headshot to the CD and then performed my scene with a Reader.  The Reader was better than I had expected, so that made it so much easier to perform the scene, be organic, and really listen to what he was saying, so I could react.  I felt really confident and proud of my work, and took my seat after a thank you.  When everyone had finished, someone asked the CD for his feedback, to which he responded that not everyone committed or understood their scene, and that people need to speak more clearly.  There was no individualized feedback, and no positivity at all.  I was told we would be able to perform our scenes twice, thus making it a Workshop so I could work.  It was so disappointing after working at my scene all week long.  I came completely prepared, and most of the students in the class didn't even have their scenes memorized.  I know I'll take another Workshop, but I'm really going to research to make sure that I'm benefiting from taking it.  This is my career and unless something is going to help me grow, it's not worthwhile.  The good thing from all this was the rehearsing I did with Neil earlier in the week, the scene really grew with our practice, and I'm so glad I was as prepared as I was, so I could take it wherever it needed to go with what the Reader was going to give me.  So kudos to Neil for helping me rock my performance!

*Side Note.  I did call the Company that booked the Workshop, and the owner said he was completely frustrated and disappointed with the CD as well, and that they would never have him back again.  He told me that's now how they run their workshops and even offered me a 50% discount on my next workshop.  The owner used a few choice words which made me laugh, but I was glad to find out the other students were disappointed as well, and it wasn't just me.  Onto the next one...

After my Workshop I was on my way to Irish Times to Bartend for St. Patrick's Day!  It was almost a 15 hour shift at the end of the day, so I was prepared with a change of clothes and had a bite to eat before I got there.  The bar was full when I got there, and they had just started charging a Cover Charge.  They had traditional Irish Food (I later got the Beef Stew and some Fish), and even had Corned Beef & Cabbage.  There was an Irish Band that played all day long, and a new Irish Band that started later at night as well.  I only drank a couple of beers throughout the night, and never any hard alcohol.  So proud I'm keeping up with my Lent agreement!  It was a steady stream of people through the whole shift, and with 6 of us Bartending, we were never slammed, just moving all day long.  It's so nice to be in a Bar environment that's actually positive.  Everyone's helpful, and there's teamwork.  We can all joke around and have fun, and if someone's being rude, we stand our ground, and protect our fellow Bartenders.  Such a change from my last Bartending job which was what I believe Hell is like.  We made great money and all had a great time, but I was exhausted by the time I got home, so excited for my bed, and getting some sleep after a long and crazy day!

Reunions, Rehearsal & Running

This week has been so busy and creative for me!  I started last weekend off by performing a couple songs with Neil at Universal Bar & Grill, rehearsing a Shakespeare piece all weekend and auditioning with it on Monday and attending a Movie Screening that night.  The week continued with Karaoke and rehearsal for my Casting Workshop on Saturday.  The life of an actress and entertainer, and I wouldn't change one bit of it!

Yesterday afternoon, Neil invited me to see a Press Screening of 'American Reunion.'  'American Pie' came out over 10 years ago, and they continued with sequels, and now 13 years later, have a Reunion.  Dale and a couple of his friends were at the screening because one of them was in the movie, so we all sat together, yay!  It's crazy to see how much these actors have grown throughout the years; some still look almost exactly the same and others have completely changed.  I have to say I really love Alyson Hannigan, ever since I started watching her on 'How I Met Your Mother,' she's just fantastic!  I thought Chris Klein looked awesome, he must have gotten in crazy shape, because he looks great.  Even Tara Reid looked really pretty and put together and I loved her style throughout the movie.  Overall, I laughed out loud a couple times, there was some gross humor, but also some great moments for each actor, so it was nice to see some range from them, rather than just comedy the whole movie.  

After the screening Neil came over to help me rehearse for my Workshop.  We had rehearsed on Tuesday, but last night was much more in depth.  We really got into my character and gave her some different intentions.  I love doing Meisner, so Neil had me do a couple different techniques and it just brought me in Carrie to life. There's so many different ways I can play the role, completely comedic, angry, flirty, and I think we found the perfect blend of everything to keep her interesting.  Now I just have to hope that the Casting Director thinks so!  I'm a firm believer in making sure you don't over-rehearse, but since we've been changing the style of it, it doesn't feel boring or over-done, it feels like we're perfecting it.  Aside from going over my lines for the next day, I feel very prepared for the best I can be on Saturday.

Today I had an Audition for a Sporting Company Commercial.  Of course, I found this out after eating 3 pieces of roast beef and mushroom ravioli.  Normally, I would have made sure to stay away from salt and anything heavy or fatty.  Oh well, at least it gave me something to burn off!  The audition was in a park in Hollywood, because we were told to be dressed as a serious runner, short shorts, midriff top, serious tennis shoes, with whatever gear we use when we run.  This morning when I got up, it was completely overcast and grey outside; I was actually worried they were going to cancel the audition, so needless to say, running around in Summer clothes in 55 degree dark weather, was definitely chilly!  I wasn't necessarily looking forward to it, but I had to follow the instructions, which is why when I got to the audition and saw 3 girls already there, in long shorts and full tank tops, I had to wonder if they read the instructions and just didn't care, or weren't paying attention at all?  Once I filled out my paperwork, I stretched for a little bit, and then it was my turn, all alone.  I slated and told them about my running and athletic experience, and then I ran a couple laps around the park, that were all filmed.  I couldn't help but smiling as I was running (which is probably also the cheerleader in me, smile through it all) and in less than 5 minutes we were done.  Short and painless.  And I didn't even notice the cold!!

It's going to be a weekend of madness ahead of me, but I can't wait!  

To see my previously mentioned performance with Neil, here's a video of 'Living On A Prayer' from last Friday Night's Show at Universal Bar & Grill!  Enjoy :)

Knock yourself out putting on the Rogaine and the Speedstick!

I'm getting very excited about my Casting Workshop on Saturday, and now that I know what scene I'll be doing, I just need to rehearse it with a scene partner.

I'm doing a scene from 'Sex & The City' that's got some great underlying humor, but allows me as an actress, to build, and show varying ranges of emotion.  I've worked on the scene and memorized it so this afternoon Neil came over to rehearse it with me.  I'll have a Reader at the Workshop, which means, whomever is reading it, will probably be seeing the scene for the first time, and while I'm on-stage doing my lines, they'll be reading along, and hopefully, great at cold reads.  When Neil and I were rehearsing, we practiced initially, expecting the worst of what could happen, just in case, so that I can be strong no matter what.  After reading it a couple times, Neil couldn't help but be awesome at it, so it made my job so much easier :)  We worked through the scene, Neil giving me notes, and me making small changes to better the scene.  I definitely feel better after rehearsing it and hope we'll be able to practice it a little bit more before Saturday.  But I feel as though it will have more of an impact then when I originally had rehearsed it alone, so that's great!

After our rehearsal Neil and I went to The Arsenal to watch the Bulls game, but since they couldn't turn the sound on, and I had already ordered because Happy Hour was ending, we drank our drinks, ate our food, and left.  Definitely a bummer.  So then we headed over to Gabe's to watch the 2nd half of the game.  I'm not a huge Basketball fan, although I loved cheering for the boys in College, because as a Cheerleader, you're right there in the action which made it so much more exciting, and I knew all the guys playing so I was genuinely happy when they were playing well!  When I moved to LA I became a Laker fan, because I wasn't all that into Basketball, and went to my first game out here and sat in the 6th row, right behind Jordan Farmar.  That's why I became a fan of the Lakers!  Since he left the team, I kind of lost interest in Basketball, but have watched some Bulls games with Neil the past couple seasons.  The first Basketball game I EVER went to was a Bulls game, and we had great seats when I had gone, probably in 1999 or 2000, so I've always considered myself a Bulls fan because I enjoyed watching and knew all the players at that time, Pippen, Rodman, etc.

Since we were at Gabe's, it made it easy to get Karaoke started!  I opened the night with Seether's version of 'Careless Whisper,' with Neil doing some background vocals.  I've always loved that version and had heard it on my run earlier in the day, so I thought I would try it, since it would be my new song of the night.  It was a lot of fun, and I can't wait to sing it again now that I'll be more comfortable with it.  Neil and I also sang Seether & Amy Lee's 'Broken' which was a first for Neil, and had been a long time since I had sang it.  Karaoke was really steady for most of the night, but slowed down around 11:30 and I was able to get out before 1 am so that was nice.

All in all, a very creative and productive day!  

Rock & Roll.

PS.  The title of this blog is a line from my scene...great scene in 'Sex & The City!'

Babymakers & Beer 101

My day yesterday started out so creatively with an Audition for 'Romeo & Juliet,' and it really continued throughout the day!

That afternoon, my friend, Jonathan, and I had plans to grab coffee, but when Neil invited me to a Press Screening of 'Babymakers,' a romantic comedy, it was hard to turn down a free movie.  Jonathan said it sounded like fun, so off we went to the Landmark Theater to see a new movie before it came out to audiences.  There was no one really recognizable in the cast, except a few people including Olivia Munn.  I thought the concept of the movie was interesting and new, a couple who can't have a baby, and the husband tries to track down a sperm sample he gave years ago, so his wife and him can conceive their own baby naturally.  Craziness obviously ensues.  Overall, the cast was really diverse and there were some funny parts, but it wasn't a movie I would pay to see and I probably never would have rented it, and only watched it if it was on TV sometime.  I'm not really a fan of Olivia Munn, but was hoping this movie would change my opinion, and other than the fact that the costumer put her in very girly but sexy clothes, and that she was slightly funny, I'm still kind of meh about her.  The main actor was pretty good though, and I've seen him in stuff before.

After the movie, I headed over to Freddy Smalls to take a Beer Tasting class that Carolyn had told me about.  I wasn't going to try all the beers, because I was driving, but I was down to learn some information about where beer originated, how it's made, and other fun facts.  The class was actually interesting and very beneficial to me as a Bartender, not to mention, I may have found a new beer I like (that I don't have to put Sprite or OJ in)!  There were only a couple of us there, but we all had fun.  Apparently, they will be doing these classes every week, with a different topic, but re-visting the topic the following month with more information.  Next week is Whiskey so I'm pretty sure I'm going to avoid that one ;)

I also had an Audition this past Saturday for NoHo Idol.  The show will be set up like American Idol, but in The Valley.  For most of my singing auditions you only get to sing about a minute of the song before they cut you off so I prepared 'Baby Love' and 'Redneck Woman' so I would have two totally different songs if they wanted to hear both.  I got to the Audition and it was at a bar with a stage, and there were a couple people waiting as they finished getting everything set up.  Each singer was allowed to do the whole song, so I got nervous because I didn't know if I would remember all the words to my songs, so lucky for me, he just said to perform whichever song I wanted and to cut myself off when I was done.  I got up on stage, the mic was hot, and so I sang 'Baby Love.'  I felt very confident and comfortable and I was really glad I had sang at Universal Bar & Grill the previous night for Neil's Show because it took some of my nerves away!  They asked me to sing 'Redneck Woman' as well, and I was happy to show them something different from my first song choice.  When I finished, one of the gentleman told me I had a beautiful voice which is always a nice compliment coming from someone in the industry :) 

To see some of the videos from Neil's show this weekend, you can see them at his YouTube page which is here Neil's Music.

This is Neil and I's performance of U2's hit, 'With or Without You.'  I loved the changes we made to it, it's already a beautiful song, but it's really pretty as a duet too!

It's always really nice to have a day full of creativity and learning...even if you're learning about beer :)

Shakespeare's back!

I had an Audition yesterday for a film/documentary adaptation of 'Romeo & Juliet.'  I really liked the concept and I've worked with the director before on a Web Series called, 'Girl Repellent,' where I had a small role in one episode, and I got to toss a drink in his face.  Simple and something every girl at some point in her life wants to do...maybe not.  After I tossed the drink in his face, I actually felt really bad, but lucky for us, we only had to do one take!  I was also in the trailer which you can see here:

Thankfully, I got the sides ahead of time, so I was able to start rehearsing my monologue this weekend.  I haven't worked on Shakespeare since college, and was a little nervous but excited about trying something different.  Very rarely in LA do I have theater auditions, let alone something like William Shakespeare.  First up was getting comfortable with the terminology and flow of the monologue.  I found a video clip of an old movie version of 'Romeo & Juliet' where Juliet was performing the monologue, so I studied her, and her diction, along with how she worked through each part.  Obviously, I was going to do my own take on it, but I wanted to have an idea, because Shakespeare is confusing if you don't know what you're talking about.  I also found a modern adaptation, that explained what each part in the monologue would have meant today.  That made it so much easier for me, so then I wrote in my intentions for each line, and after that, I felt much more comfortable with the whole piece.  I only performed it full out a few times, because I wanted to make sure I was going to be able to bring up the emotion needed for the monologue, and keep it organic and real, but I practiced reading it without emotion for two days to really get what I was saying and the flow of it down.

The audition was at Catz in Hollywood, and darn you Monday Street Sweeping.  I was glad I gave myself plenty of time to get there because parking was a pain!  I ended up parking 3 blocks away and rehearsed as I walked to my audition.  I was the first Juliet they saw of the day!  The Director, along with the actor cast as Romeo, and a camera man were in the room.  I performed the scene once full out, emotions and all, and felt very natural doing it.  Then the Director actually had me change it a little, and keep it very intimate and conversational (less theater), and what a difference it made.  Because I couldn't rely on using volume and pace, it was all about what the words meant and how they made me feel.  All my emotions were right on the surface and other than that, I can't remember the audition which is what usually happens when I get really into it.  I was definitely happy with the audition and hope I get a call-back :)

All in all, I was really glad to challenge myself with Shakespeare for a few days.  These are great exercises for me as an Actor to keep my skills sharp and to be prepared for anything!

I Want My MTV...bringing back the 80's!

Neil and I at Universal Bar & Grill for his show!

Friday night was going to be a big night because Neil was playing a show for the first time in a month, and I was going to be singing a couple songs with him.  So on Friday afternoon after making a stop at Guitar Center for some cords, and me desperately searching for Nikki Sixx (he wasn't there), we got in some rehearsal time before the show.

Like I said in my initial rehearsal blog for this show, to me it's completely different than doing Karaoke.  First off, people are paying to walk in the door, whether they are listening to music or not, and if you're up on stage performing, they expect you to be good, and third, I'm not performing songs in my comfort level.  On Tuesday we had rehearsed a few songs, but settled on 2 for the show at Universal Bar & Grill that night, because Neil was only going to be able to play about 10 songs. Needless to say, I was nervous, and was going to be glad when both songs were done and I could enjoy the rest of the show, but Neil told me his final song of the night was one of our duets...well, guess I'm just going to cheer and be loud to get my jitters out of the way!

All of the songs Neil performed that night were 80's Rock songs, he played Tom Petty's 'Free Falling,' Journey's 'Don't Stop Believing' which the crowd loved, as well as Mr. Big's 'Be With You,' which went over fantastically and more!!  You can see all his songs, covers, as well as originals on his YouTube page at: Neil Daly's Music Videos

Lucky for us, we kind of got to practice one of our songs (our closing song for the show) at Karaoke on Wednesday.  While the version was similar, just hearing an acoustic guitar while we were singing, made it so different, and prettier to me.  After a couple songs, Neil called me up on-stage and we did U2's hit 'With or Without You.'  We had sang that at a show back in November, but we had made some changes to it, and also were able to work on it more, since we had only practiced it a few times before we sang it at his first show at The Good Hurt in Culver City.  I loved the version we did because we really made it our own!  It's always great when the crowd sings along or you hear the excitement when you start singing, so we knew we had picked a winner!  After a few more songs Neil called me back on-stage and we closed the show with 'Living On A Prayer' by Bon Jovi.  There's an amazing Acoustic Version out there, that we did our own little take on, me being Richie, and Neil rocking it as Jon.  You can see us singing to Bon Jovi's famous song on My YouTube Page or Neil's YouTube Page.  Make sure to check out more of the 80's Cover Songs there as well...but enjoy Neil's version of 'Don't Stop Believing' right here, right now!

It's definitely fun singing and listening to covers, but I'm really excited for Neil's show at the end of the month, back at Universal Bar & Grill, where he'll be playing his originals with a cover song or two added into the mix.  Both of us were happy with our performances and Neil was excited to do something different, because it keeps people guessing, and hopefully gets some more fans to enjoy his music!  Singing live is really such a fun experience though, because it's so different for me.  My brother does it all the time with his band The Hussy, as they tour all over the country, so I know it's hard work to get up there every night and sing.  It is a huge rush, and always good practice for the future, and since I love to sing, it's giving me a chance to be doing something creative and out of my comfort zone!

The rest of the night was a blast because we were able to relax, play some pool, drink some shots (not me!), and grab a bite to eat with some good friends!  So let's keep bringing on the 80's!

Experimental Songs & Fitness Demo's

Had a great time at Karaoke last night and got to see a lot of friends who haven't been in to Karaoke for months so we all had a good time!  I'm doing really well with my no drinking hard alcohol, and because I knew I had an Audition today, I wasn't going to drink anything but water, even though the shots were ready and waiting!

My night was kind of exciting because I was trying songs I hadn't sang in months, or even years.  I've never been a fan of 'Unforgettable' but for some reason, I realized I liked singing it when I tried it about 6 months ago, and I was able to sing it again last night with a different partner; still so much fun!  I also did 'Celebrity Skin' by request for Neil, which I can't even remember the last time I sang that, and 'Sunday Morning' by No Doubt.  My new song of the evening was one by Bon Jovi, and you'll hear more about that after Neil's show on Friday ;)  Neil sang INXS' 'The Devil Inside' which was awesome!  I played that as background music one day at Karaoke and thought it was perfect for Neil, and I was right about that!  Carolyn had some requests as well and even sang Wilson Phillips 'Hold On' for her first time ever!  We all had a blast, and a little family reunion.

Today I got up early, did a few exercises, because I had a Fitness Audition for a Convention next weekend.  The company needs someone to talk about their product and even do some demo's of it, so the job would be perfect for me!  I was glad to hear my new Headshots were ready this morning, so I stopped by Prints Charm'n to pick them up before my Audition in Hollywood. 

I got to the Casting Office and waited for just 2 minutes before I was called in to my Fitness Audition.  I had signed in and looked over a page of information about the product and hoped I had memorized enough of what they needed to hear.  I got to explain a little bit about my work-out regimen for the week, and also about what I'm working on while I work out.  I felt really confident about what I was talking about, and knew I had an energy that was perfect for the audition.  Then the Casting Director asked me a couple questions about the product which I confidently answered with the proper info and terminology.  Overall, I felt great, and like it was a really strong audition for me!  About 10 minutes later I got a call from the Casting Office that sent me out on the Audition asking if I had showed up, which I had, and said it went great, and thanked them for having me in.  Bonus Points!!

I also signed up for a Casting Director Work Shop next weekend, which will be a great opportunity, so the week continues strong and full of creativity!  Let's keep this train going!

80's Rehearsal

I'm always glad when I can start my week off with something creative, and it was great to have an Audition on Monday and continue to keep the groove going with Rehearsal on Tuesday!

Neil's going to be playing an Acoustic 80's Cover Song's Show at Universal Bar & Grill in North Hollywood on Friday.  He had his own rehearsal on Monday Night when he played a set at Skinny's, and has informed me I will be singing a couple songs with him at his show on Friday Night.  We sang together in November for his first show at The Good Hurt, and it was so exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time!

On Tuesday we rehearsed a few songs and listened to some music.  I love the 80's, personally, I think the best music came out then...well-written songs, rock and roll, passion, and there was something for everyone, not to mention, totally danceable and with-standing the test of time as a lot of those songs are still popular now!  Now I can't say what we're singing because it's a surprise for Friday, and I don't even know the rest of Neil's set, because it's supposed to be a surprise for me, so I'm really looking forward and excited about the show!  Lucky for me, I know a lot of 80's songs, so the songs we're singing were some of my personal favorites :)  I even pulled out a tambourine at one point, and added to one of the songs!  To be perfectly honest, rhythm isn't my strong point, and I played the piano, so I don't know why that is, but apparently, practice helps, and if that song stays in the set, I'll be rocking out with my tambourine!

We'll have another rehearsal later this week, because I want to feel comfortable with the songs.  It's amazing how at Karaoke, I can feel confident with the songs, but once I get in front of an unknown audience in a different setting, my nerves creep back in.  I'm a firm believer in, if you're not nervous, then it's not worth it!  It keeps you on your toes, and makes sure you're prepared for anything!  (I actually used to shake before and after every time I sang the National Anthem at Sporting Events at Winona, but not while I was doing it, it was weird, but I expected it.)  Nowadays, I get nervous right away, but usually everything fades and I completely forget where I'm at and just get into the groove, and that's the way I like it :)

What's for Dinner? Part 5.

Gnocchi.  Cheese.  Put them together and make a health-conscious meal in less than 30 minutes?  Yes please!

I found a recipe a couple weeks ago for a Gnocchi Mac & Cheese, and decided to do my own take on it.  I had some asparagus leftover from my soup last week and knew exactly how I wanted to prepare that, and I also did a fun experiment with a Caprese salad.

Here are the ingredients needed for tonight's 'What's for Dinner?'

Gnocci Mac & Cheese with Sausage

1 lb Gnocchi (I found my Gnocchi at Trader Joe's for $1.99!)

2 Apple & Maple Sausages (Once again, got mine from Trader Joe's)

2 Tbsp Margarine

2 Cloves of Garlic

1 Tsp Horseradish Mustard (You could also use Dijon, I just like the kick of Horseradish)

1 Tbsp Flour

3/4 Cup Milk

1/2 Cup Mozzarella Cheese

1/2 Cup Parmesan/Asiago Cheese Mix

Salt & Pepper 

Lemon Asparagus

12 Asparagus Spears

Tbsp Olive Oil

1/2 a Lemon

Caprese Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

3 Cups Arugula

1 Roma Tomato

1/2 a Lemon

2 Tsp Olive Oil

2 Tsp Balsamic Vinegar

Salt & Pepper

Mozzarella Cheese

Baked and Beautiful!

Pre-heat the oven to 375.  To cook the Gnocchi, boil water, throw the dumplings in, and once they rise to the surface, you cook them for another 2 minutes.  Once you drain the water you put the Gnocchi in a baking dish.  I cut 2 sausages into rounds and put them into the dish with the Gnocchi.  While I was preparing my Gnocchi I melted my butter into a pan and added in my garlic.  Then I added the flour and whisked until it bubbled.  I put in the Milk and Mustard next and waited for that to thicken, which was about about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.  I added handfuls of the cheese to my mixture in the pan and stirred, allowing the cheese to melt and create a thicker sauce until all the cheese was added.  Season the sauce with salt and pepper then pour the sauce over the Gnocchi and sausage.  Bake about 25 minutes or until the cheese on top is golden, and then let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Gorgeous Color!

As my cheesy goodness was baking away in the oven I prepared my Asparagus by breaking the ends off, and placing them on a baking sheet.  I drizzled the olive oil over the top and made sure to coat all the asparagus with it.  Then I squeezed half a lemon over the asparagus and roasted them for 12 minutes in the oven with my Gnocchi.

While my main dishes were in the oven I put my salad together.  I put all the arugula into a bowl and added in the lemon, olive oil, and salt, then hand mixed until the lettuce was coated.  The acidity in the lemon really affected the arugula, so make sure to save your salad for the last minute or you'll have a wilted mess.  I then put the lettuce mixture into 2 smaller bowls and cut my roma tomato into rounds.  I placed them on the side of the lettuce and drizzled a teaspoon of balsamic over each set of tomatoes.  Then I sprinkled mozzarella over the top along with fresh black pepper.

Had to have 2 helpings of Gnocchi!

This was probably one of my favorite meals I have ever made!  It was simple, I was able to use a couple of the ingredients in the different recipes, it was low in fat and everything tasted amazing!!  The sausage was a sweet touch a savory pasta dish, the lemon on the asparagus gave it a really nice flavor, and the salad was interesting and fun.  I'll definitely look forward to making this again with different cheeses and add-ins.  And the leftovers were just as good :)

Spunky Wisconsin

A few weeks ago I had an Audition in front of Janice Dickinson and a couple other judges to walk the Runway for a Swimwear Line at Miami Fashion Week.  I completely forgot all about it until I got an e-mail saying we needed to get on the website and share the link to our video and vote. 

Vote 5 stars!!

Please take the time to check out my 2 minute video and vote for me because I'm just a normal girl from Wisconsin, who's all of 5"4, with real curves, and works hard.  I'd love to get the chance to inspire girls and women, that you don't need to have model stats to succeed in this business.  You can feel confident and have fun at any shape and size as long you've got a positive attitude and aspirations :)

So check out the video, it's pretty funny, and Janice wasn't nearly as intimidating as I thought she was going to be, she was actually pretty complimentary!

Vote 5 stars!! 

This weekend I Hosted Karaoke on Saturday night!  It was exciting to be working a different night and hopefully, I'll be getting some people to come in on my normal Wednesday night to build it up more!  There were a lot of great singers, and a lot of new people.  It was a really busy night so I was only able to sing a couple of times, so my new song for the night was Madonna's 'Like A Prayer.'  Definitely a popular song, and one most Karaoke people have sung before, but it was my first time, and I will be singing it again!

Today I had an audition for a Hair Show.  The audition was in Woodland Hills at a Hair Institute.  The Audition started promptly at 1:15, and because I made it up there in 25 minutes, I was a half hour early.  I sat in the waiting area, read a magazine, and watched as each girl walked in.  Kind of amazing how they say 1:15 sharp, and people are walking in at 1:20.  It was a Brunette Call, but there were a couple red heads and blondes, yet everyone looked really different.  They then called us into a room where 10 students from Sebastian UK would be putting on a show tomorrow and they were finding their models at this call.  One by one each stylist picked a model, some checking hair, others just picking someone immediately.  If I had to guess, out of the 50 girls there for the call, I was one of very few who didn't have any color or product in my hair.  I did my hair straight but full and flowy, as most of the girls did.  The stylists chose all the redheads, a blonde, and the rest were brunette and ethnic and 15 minutes later I was walking out of the salon back to my car...better luck next time!  At least I can be happy that I got called in, and hopefully will be kept in mind for future shows and projects!

Top of the Morning to Ya!

Yesterday ended up being a far busier day than I had expected.  I got up and went for my morning run and did a couple sets of stair.  Then I got a call from a good friend to stop by the bar he works at, (they need someone to pick up shifts) and was I interested?  Absolutely!  As I'm printing off my resume, the only thing that prints is my e-mail address...out of black ink!  I'm just lucky I didn't need to bring a resume, just wanted to be prepared, but I'm even luckier that didn't happen as I was getting ready for an audition!  That's why I always have a back up headshot and resume in my car.  I still printed a resume, and of course, printed it in purple ink.

So in I went to Irish Times, a bar I had visited in the past, and even took my Mom to, because my old boss from Saint's & Sinner's, has worked there for years.  I met the owner, who's this incredible Irish man, and so cool.  I love all his Irish sayings and upbeat attitude.  The reason I can say that is because he asked if I could train right then and there, and now, here I am today, at my first shift!  Granted, it's just before 2 pm, no one has come into the bar yet, but I heard it gets real busy in the afternoon, especially on a Friday.  I certainly don't mind because I'm able to get some work done as well.  So I've got a new job, just filling in, but at least it gives me something to do while I'm looking for something more permanent, and still gives me the option to audition whenever I need to.

Becky, Kristina, and I at Irish Times!

 *Side note*  At 2 pm, two gentlemen walked into the bar, and from that moment on, the bar got packed, and I was working my butt off for the next 5 hours!  (I'm just finishing up the blog now at 2 am.)  But that's just the way I like it, throw me into the lion's den on my first day, if I can't keep up, then I shouldn't be a bartender.  My sales and my tips, along with a very happy owner, proved I did a damn good job, and I was so happy to be behind a bar again, with an owner that actually appreciates his employee's!  I also got a nice surprise bouquet of flowers and candy from a secret admirer...oh la la.

Back to Thursday afternoon and I had to run some errands in between interviewing and training, so I picked up my ink cartridge at Target and then made my way to Prints Charm'n to check out my headshot proofs.  I got caught up talking to one of the owners, who was hilarious, and as I initialed the proofs to get them by next week, he actually asked me to write one out to him and sign it so he could put it on the wall.  It's really not that big of a deal, but it was such a nice compliment, and it was a really great feel good moment :)

Then on Thursday night I had a fun reunion with one of my favorite's, Andrea, as our friend, Craig, was in town from New York.  He had a party at this Sushi Restaurant in Hollywood, with an open bar, and free sushi served all night long.  The presentation was absolutely gorgeous, the food was excellent, and they brought a platter that was about 4 feet by 2 feet that was loaded with all sorts of sushi rolls, sashimi, and fish; it was insane!  Even the DJ was awesome; so the girls and I had a little dance party of our own.  It's so nice to be out with good friends in Hollywood, without doing the club thing, because you can actually have a conversation with someone and catch up.  Don't get me wrong, every once in a while, going out dancing your butt off, screaming at the top of your lungs to talk to your best friend, and spending an hour to get ready, can be fun, but Thursday Night's Reunion was perfection!

Wolf Dog Reunion

That's a day I could get used to...but for now, Good Night, Moon!

It's a Leap Year

I finally figured out the details for my headshots and they are currently off to the printers, and I'll get to see the proofs later today!  I've used Prints Charmin' the past couple times I have gotten headshots.  They are super friendly and work with you to get the best quality photo to make sure you're completely satisfied with the finished product.  They have tons of options and offer other products like post cards, business cards, etc.  Not to mention, they're really affordable and have two locations, one in Culver City/West LA and the other in Studio City.  I have been looking into going to a couple casting workshops in the next month and can be proud now when I bring my headshots in for the Casting Directors to look at.  Both headshots have such a different feel and look to them, so I'm glad that there's range.  HOORAY for new headshots!  This is my Theatrical Headshot I will be using.  CW...give me a call ;)

We had an extra day yesterday for Leap Year, and the whole day was just kind of weird and off.  Starting at midnight and continuing throughout the day.  Perhaps it was the loss of Davy Jones...perhaps it was an odd day for others...perhaps I was in my own little world.  At any rate, I was glad to have Karaoke that night! 

We got started a little late because of the Laker Game, but had plenty of singers ready to share their voice!  Lucky for me, I had a visit from my Saint's & Sinner's family, and was able to catch up with some good friends.  We had a bunch of new singers in as well, and hopefully, we'll get some new regulars in the bar that enjoy singing!  Marcus has been approaching me about singing, 'I Got You Babe,' but doing the Reggae version; I had never even heard it, but was feeling adventurous so we tried UB40's version featuring Chrissy Hynde.  It was really low for me, but had a fun vibe to it.  My other new song of the evening was Whitney Houston's 'How Will I Know,' which went surprisingly well.  To top it all off, Carolyn and I ended the night with a little 'Grease' Super-Set!

Everyone at the bar last night was ordering Chicken Fingers and French Fries, and the aroma was just filling the room.  I wanted a french fry so bad, but with Lent right now, I can't eat it because it's junk food; but boy, were they tempting!  I've been doing really well with the no hard alcohol challenge.  No shots even when I could use one, and I'm drinking beer, which is also a different change of pace.  Normally, I drink beer with Sprite, and since I also gave up Soda, I can't do that, so I've been drinking Blue Moon's with a splash of Orange Juice and a Lemon.  SOOOOOOO good!  Less than 40 days to go...

What's For Dinner? Part 4.

Soup.  Take 2!

I probably should have made this recipe on Friday when I can't meat, but I was craving some soup today after the little chill we've been feeling here in LA.  I had a bunch of vegetables so I decided to make a Veggie Soup!  I did not go off any other recipe for this, and completely experimented!

Here are the Ingredients we need for tonight's 'What's For Dinner?'

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

3/4 Pound of Carrots (Peeled and Chopped)

1/2 Cup Onion (Chopped)

1/2 Cup Yellow & Orange Peppers

10 Asparagus Spears

2 Cups Chicken Stock

1 Cup Water

1 Clove Garlic (Chopped)

1/2 Tsp Bay Leaves

1/4 Cup Rice Vinegar

1/4 Cup Carrot Juice (I used Bolthouse Farms)

Salt & Pepper

3 Slices Ginger (Chopped) 

Like my original soup I made, I heated the olive oil in my pot and then added in the carrots and onions to sweat and start the softening process, which was about 5 minutes.  I cut the carrots into smaller pieces as I originally thought I was pureeing my soup again, and it's easier when the pieces are smaller.  Then I added in my chopped peppers and asparagus, all my wet ingredients, the minced garlic, bay leaves, and ginger.  The carrot juice and rice wine are optional items, I just wanted to add a little extra flavor to the soup.  I'm pretty sure adding Chicken stock no longer makes my soup vegetarian, but I'm not eating actual meat, so until my Mom says so, I could eat this on Friday :)  I brought the soup to a boil and then simmered for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.  As I started the simmering process, I realized how beautiful the colors looked in the pot and decided against pureeing the soup, and keeping it as a nice hearty vegetable soup.  

Mmmmm...Soup!

After 20 minutes my soup was done, was amazingly fragrant, slightly sweet, and had tons of vegetables and flavor!  There wasn't a whole lot of broth, so I could see adding another cup or Chicken Stock or water, but I liked having tons of vegetables in every bite!  A great new experiment that was super yummy and healthy :)

PS.  Mom said so...can't eat it on Friday even though there is no meat in it, it's made from chicken, and therefore counts as meat.  I don't know how people are vegetarian or vegan...there's way too much to think about, and I think I'd be eating something wrong for practically every meal.  Props to my non-meat eating friends, you work hard at that, and I certainly could not do it all the time!