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Very Independent Filmmaking

Here are some links to some great filmmaking sites that I frequent and often steal from.

I spend a little too much time on the inter-webs if I’m honest. But I thought you might like a little selection of the sites that I often stalk when I’m not watching cat videos or sneezing pandas.

So here is a selection of very useful and inspiring sites that I love.

Also, I am a member of Film Independent, finally. They have brilliant resources that I intend to overuse and you also get to vote for the spirit awards and get first run and the tickets for the event, which is wild and wonderful.

L.A. can be very anonymous and difficult to navigate as a burgeoning filmmaker. We need all the help and support that we can get and not from snotty nitwits who aren’t really doing anything. So here is my list and why!

https://www.filmindependent.org

For the membership, resources and screenings and the blogs.

https://www.newfilmmakersla.com

A really excellent monthly event with an open bar, loads of films to see and a great place to screen your film…kind of a monthly film festival downtown.

https://www.indiewire.com

For the news.

https://nofilmschool.com

For the tips.

https://filmmakermagazine.com

For the news and the tips and the inspiration.

https://womeninfilm.org

For the support and information for women in film and even men in film, but only the nice ones.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com

For the gossip and the insight and brilliant roundtable videos with everyone you love.

https://www.screendaily.com/news/production

For the news and gossip.

https://www.raindance.org

For the British and it’s brilliant!

http://www.sundance.org

For just about everything.

https://www.afi.com

For the history and the events.

I’m in the middle of pre-production on a feature film proof of concept, a 12-film series and my own feature, as well as my husband’s. So I’m super busy.  I also shot four zombie shorts in the past six weeks and my head is spinning a bit.  I love being busy, but I may pass out as I write this!!  It never rains but it pours!

I had a fall almost three years ago and it put me out of action for a while. I still am in recovery from two operations, but at least I can see a light at the end of the tunnel.  Good lord I am using a lot of idioms in this!

So more will follow as far as filmmaking anecdotes, tips and guidance…and also embarrassing mistakes that I have made and that you can hopefully learn from.

Go and grab a camera and get out there and film something for heaven’s sake!

What Students Should Know Before Selling Their First Art

Denrick is an artist trying to sell his art for many years now. He is talented, and occasionally makes sales, but it is never consistent. He creates posters, prints, and visual artwork, among other things, but despite his skill, he rarely gets commissioned. The truth is, art school never showed her Denrick to actually market his work. There’s the possibility of selling art online, but the work is tedious and daunting, especially with his lack of knowledge in marketing. He is overwhelmed, close to stop trying to sell his art.

You probably find the story demotivating. You’re an artist, afraid of struggling as Denrick is struggling. You look for places where to sell art, tips on how to sell art, and other extensive information before plunging into the unknown. Look no further, we’ve gathered information on what students should know before selling their first art. Read on!

What’s Your Story?

The competition in the art world is rampant. Thousands of artists like you continuously try to look for ways how to sell art online, and actually try to make sales. Oftentimes, you compete for the same buyers. The real question here is how do you stand out in such a condensed market? How do you make people look at your sign “art for sale”, and actually keep them interested enough to get them sifting through? You have the talent, no doubt, but what is your unique selling proposition?

The secret? Share your story. Tell them about yourself as an artist, and show that in your work. The purpose of sharing your story is to connect with the audience, helping them understand what your art is meant for. Storytelling allows you to move away from the linear process of merely asking potential buyers to buy your work. When people take interest in your work, including considering to buy art online, depth and meaning is everything to them.

You show them what you’re all about, the meaning behind your work – giving them a better chance of actually caring about your posters, canvas paintings, and even art prints for sale.

What to Expect

As you have probably gathered by now, putting up your artwork for sale involves a ton of effort and patience. There’s a lot of factors to consider, so we’ve taken the liberty of gathering things you need to know before putting up art for sale.

  1. Determine the value of your art. Unfortunately, most new artists are clueless about assigning price value to their art. Asking people how much your time and talent is not practical, as those can only be determined by you. While this case is tricky, the main thing you have to remember is this: Do not undersell your art. How you value your art is how your client will value it. In other words, if you underprice your work, they will value it accordingly. Sell a piece for $30 instead of $300 and that will end up in the garbage or some remote garage sale in the long run.
  2. What you reap, you will sow. Once you’ve gained the confidence to put price on your works, share them to the world. However, keep in mind that is integral that you reach largest number of people possible. There are many different ways to reach this. Social media is the most convenient tool, along with email. There are also choices of reaching out to bloggers and influencers, joining galleries, partnerships, among others. Keep in mind that the crucial thing here is to analyze these possibilities well, and derive from that the one best fit for you and you art. Make sure that you put together a cohesive strategic plan before reaching out and listing. To sell art online isn’t easy, but it may be the best possible choice, so as long as your plan remains intact.
  3. Consider online platforms for selling. Art stores are one thing, and online selling platforms are another. Like essays, where there are sites for admission essay writing services, art is also more than welcome to thrive in the digital realm. Instagram is one of the first websites to sell items online for free, and perhaps it could be a good place for you, too.

Apart from the pressures of promoting and getting sales, as an artist, you also have to protect yourself. You will attract different people, with good and bad intentions. We’ve listed these things to do to look after yourself:

  1. Get the commission in writing. It’s easy to get frauded in this industry, especially when selling things online. When accepting a commission, make sure to keep everything in paper. A client may never pay you. Or another one might change the agreed price upon finishing. Remember to be specific of the detail and understand the expectations of your client. Record each and every detail that will be included in the piece.
  2. Make sure to get a deposit. It’s inevitable that your work will not be everyone’s cup of tea. A client may change their mind and cancel after you’ve already started with a piece. Most of the time, they won’t pay you. This is why it is crucial to ask for a deposit, to at least get something for the effort when a client suddenly changes his mind. Not all online selling sites can be trusted as well, since the access is public. You do not know the people behind those screens.

Selling your art pieces both online and in the real world involves a lot of effort and patience, and these are just some things on the list of what students should know before selling their first art. Of course, don’t forget to keep your passion for art alive!

How hair type affects hair transplants in Istanbul, Turkey

Ethnicity is an important consideration when it comes to hair. This is because different groups of people have different types of hair.

You may not realize it, but this has an impact on hair transplant procedures and therefore does have to be taken into account by your doctor.

The shape of hair follicles actually varies among other factors. Caucasian hair follicles are oval, while Asian hair follicles are round.  African hair often has hair follicles that are oval to elliptical in shape.

While the shape of the follicles may not seem too important, other factors such as the density of hair, growth rate of hair and how the hair grows differs among groups, are also important.

Asian hair actually grows the fastest at approximately 1.2cm per month and African hair grows the slowest at 0.9cm per month. Caucasian hair type has a growth rate in between the Asian and African hair types.

The fact is that a man’s ethnic make-up does impact how his hair looks and grows. This is something that a hair transplant surgeon does therefore need to take into account.

This is another reason why having a specialist with a lot of experience is useful since it is more likely then, that they will have dealt with individual patients with different types of hair.

Knowledge of the average hair density of a person can be predicted based on their ethnicity, and even though there will be variation among individuals of a particular group; this does give an approximation of how much hair will need to be grafted, and should allow the doctor to predict growth rates and potential outcomes for individual patients.

Ethnicity and hair transplants in Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul is a city that is teeming with medical professionals and hair implant clinics. Such specialists can be consulted to give more advice about what hair transplant procedures are done, how much they cost and what can be expected. Click here for more information and advice on hair transplant options in Istanbul.

Doctors in these hair clinics should be aware of these ethnic differences in hair follicle structure, density and growth rates.  

It is also true that some ethnicities are more prone to having visible scars than others.  For example, African and Asian individuals have an increased risk of keloids. This is a type of raised hypertrophic scar that develops on the skin after the skin has been injured.

Scientific studies have verified that there are ethnic differences in the likelihood of keloid formation. However, there are techniques such as the Follicular Unit Extraction method or FUE that results in very little scar formation and thus may be advisable depending on your ethnicity.

There is no reason why you cannot have a good outcome from hair transplant surgery regardless of your ethnic group.

This is why it is so important for your doctor to have as much information about you as possible so as to ascertain which procedure is best for you.

How To Throw a Movie Party

Are you a huge movie fan and thinking of inviting your friends over for an awesome movie party? Here are some of the things that you need to remember if you are trying to host a movie party for your friends.

  1. Think about the movie genre that you will be showing to your friends. It is advisable that you inform them ahead of time about the movies that you want to watch. There are people who hate a certain film genre, especially horror, and it is up to your convincing power if they would agree watching it with others. Watching a movie together can be a fun experience, but make sure that all of your friends would agree to the idea of watching a certain movie. You can also create an online poll about the genre that they wanted to watch. While you are at it, you can also surprise them by choosing the genre of the movie once all of them arrived inside your home. You can choose the movie to draw lots, adding more excitement.

  2. Search for available recipes online and prepare the food before the guests arrive. There are lots of recipes available online that can cater to varying sizes of people. You can choose the recipe you think will be liked by your friends. Finger foods are advisable, but you can also make other food choices like pasta, chicken, or dessert. If you are having a party theme, you can serve food based on the theme that you have chosen. For adults, they can resort to creating cocktail drinks. The food or drink prepared does not matter as long as everyone likes it and all of the guests are having a great time.

  3. Prepare the movie area where the film will be shown. For those who have a dedicated room for the film showing, the room can be prepared before the guests arrive by cleaning and setting up chairs. For those who do not have a dedicated movie room, they would need to improvise. The living room can be a great place to show films, but make sure that it will be totally dark, just like inside the movie theater. Putting up black curtains can also help, especially if the movie party is being done during the day. For the screen, one could either use a projector or you could show the movie by streaming it from the computer onto a screen. An alternative would be buying a giant screen TV, which will make the experience better.

  4. Inform everyone to keep quiet, especially once the movie starts to play. It is normal to show emotions during the film, and it would also make it a better experience. When people are watching horror films, it is expected that the people will be screaming and will feel scared to the bone. Strong emotions, like fear, make a movie watching party a fun activity to do with friends. You also need to respect the decision of others, especially with the number of films that they want to watch. If your guests wanted to watch multiple movies, then prepare as many movies as possible.

  5. If you don’t have a choice about the movie that you wanted to watch, here are some of the best movies that you can watch with your friends:

Avengers: Infinity War – before the Avengers: End Game will be shown in theaters, tell your friends to watch Avengers: Infinity War first to know what’s happening. You can also binge watch all of Marvel’s movies before buying the tickets for the upcoming blockbuster.

Get Out – this movie depicts a black man being tortured by a white family. Jordan Peele directed this movie, and he also released “Us” this year which is also a highly acclaimed film.

Titanic – a timeless classic directed by James Cameron. Watch this movie with your friends and relive the experience of being in the unsinkable ship. This movie is a romantic drama. Prepare to cry during some scenes.

Godzilla – This 2014 monster movie is one of the best remakes of the Kaiju-franchise, and a sequel will be shown this year.

San Andreas – people who love disaster movies would recommend this film. It is an action-packed adventure flick that shows how the west coast of the United States would respond to a severe tectonic crisis.

The Nun – if you are a fan of horror, the Conjuring universe can be a great film choice.

Having good food, drinks, and friends over will make it a fun party, whatever you decide to watch.

NoHo Mural by Lilo

We first saw Lilo’s work on Instagram when she was doing the mural for Outline at NoHo, new homes being built in North Hollywood. The name Verono Homes chose for their new homes and Lilo’s style are a perfect match.

“I had been admiring Lilo’s work for a long time now. When we started working on this North Hollywood project, I learned she was a local resident and lover of the neighborhood and I knew I wanted to use her for some kind of art installation inside the residences and the mural idea came alive. I just love the way she depicts the emotions and people that make up North Hollywood.” – Christine Ver Raitt, Co-founder Verono Homes and Outline at NoHo

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvu9GtjDSFP/

We asked NoHo visual artist Lilo more about her work and background because, afterall, NoHo is only as great as it’s people. (The unofficial NoHo Arts District motto)

How long have you lived in the NoHo Arts District and what made you decide to move to the district?

I moved to NoHo 5 years ago.

A year earlier I had moved from Denmark to LA with my husband. But for many reasons we ended up calling it quits after 15 years together.

So there I was: Heartbroken, alone in a foreign country, unemployed, single, no credit score, no friends, no family, no car and not a dollar to my name.

Very early on in my life I promised myself to live my life the way I wanted and not like anybody expected me to. To always take chances and never let life get so comfortable that I could ever look back and say “what if…”

So even though I was on a crazy emotional rollercoaster I decided to stay in LA, challenge myself and see where life would take me.

I had seen a house for rent in NoHo on Craigslist. It was waaay over my budget, but after looking at 25 houses all over LA I decided to go see it anyway.

As soon as I pulled up in the tree lined street, my landlord opened the gate, and I saw butterflies flying around, the pool lying there glimpsing and glittering in the sun and the bird’s singing drowned the buzz from the traffic – I knew I was home!

I now had an expensive house without friends or money. But the amazing thing about NoHo is the neighbors! They came to my rescue and still do from time to time.

I quickly found really good friends in my street and even though I was living in a house with nothing but my bed I woke up every morning feeling so lucky. Lucky to live in a place where I felt safe, welcomed and myself.

And nothing of that has changed. I still love waking up in the morning hearing the neighborhood buzzing: Birds singing, my neighbors chatting away in the street, wishing each other a wonderful day, playing guitars, partying and dogs barking in excitement.

The only difference now is that I have a bit more furniture and friends and neighbors that I consider family. We help each other with everything from rent, careers and love issues.

What is your history as a TV producer?

Art hasn’t always been my business. It has always been part of me, but never something I thought I would end up earning a living on.

Back in Denmark I was a successful TV producer, show runner and developer of new TV formats.

I have produced shows like “X-factor” and “Topmodel” and I have created at lot of shows, amongst them my pride and joy: The social experiment “Married at First Sight” – a TV format that is now being produced in 26 different countries in multiple seasons. It runs on A&E here in the US.

It is a crazy feeling to think that because of an idiotic idea me and a friend of mine got – people all over the world are getting married to strangers, fall in love and some of them even have babies!

Lilo creates mural at Outine At NOHO
You can see Lilo’s mural at Outline at NoHo at 11324 Victory Blvd. North Hollywood, CA  91606

What made you quit the TV industry to become a visual artist?

I always loved telling stories. On every show I have ever worked on I always tried to be true to the people in the show. Whether I produced shows with royals, tattoo artists, doctors, criminals, actors, sports stars or people looking for the one and only, I always made sure to get really close to them to discover the stories and personality trades that would fascinate me and do my best to convert it into stories that were both visual and emotional appealing to others. And hopefully could help change the view, perspective and break down prejudices in the audience.

But as any job you put your heart and hard work into, working on big shows can be stressful and you can easily get lost in telling everybody else’s stories all day.

So almost every night I came home after a 16 hour workday I would go home and doodle: Draw my own stories before I went to bed.

A few would make it on to my own walls, but most of them would end up in the trash. I never considered them anything special. Just my little private doodle outlet. Some of my drawings and paintings ended up in friend’s homes and from them I got offers doing everything from exhibitions to comic books. But I always declined since I never thought of myself as an artist and to be honest I always thought the art world was too posh, uptight and foo foo for me.

A year and a half ago I was redecorating my living room (yes! I have furniture I can move around now!) and needed something on my walls. I looked high and low, but couldn’t really find the right thing. So I decided to make some myself.

After posting it on my private Instagram account with a random hashtag, an art collector from NY contacted me and asked to buy one of my pieces. “Pieces” I thought and laughed it off. To me they were just doodles that made my house look a little more homey. But his message and enthusiasm slowly made me realize that it was time to stop keeping my stories to myself and let them see the light of day on paper.

So long story short: After a lot of hard work I now work on my art full time! And I love telling my stories this way.

I still produce a TV show once in a while when something comes up that I just can’t say no to, but I can feel myself getting more and more comfortable calling myself an artist and I am no longer afraid of the art world. The people I work with are actually not as uptight as I thought. They are really awesome, passionate and inspiring to be around.

Lilo's mural at Outine At NOHO

Tell us about other art projects that you have worked on in the San Fernando Valley or L.A.?

Last year I was asked to be part of a showcase in South Central. It was the first time I showed my work in public. I had shown my work on Instagram of course. But it is easy to hide behind a post online. It was a totally different experience standing in the room being judged live by the audience.

I was nervousited – nervous and exited at the same time, but one thing that really surprised me was that I got horribly shy when people were standing staring at them and judging my work with a drink in their hand.

What is oneline drawing?

Right now I do oneline drawings in black and white.

It is actually a technique i learned in art class in primary school, which many great artists have experimented with before me.

I love the naive simplicity and the fact that one simple black line can end up expressing something. And then It is a really fun challenge to tell a story in one continuous line and creating my own personal style within the constraints.

I get quite a lot of commission requests. But I haven’t done any so far cause I never draw what I see, I draw feelings and stories.

Every drawing tells a really personal story about me which is probably also why I got so shy at my first art show. It felt like I was butt naked in the room, while somebody was shouting out my deepest secrets and desires from the top of their lungs. I was totally unprepared for that, but it taught me a lot about myself and was a very humbling experience.

When inspiration hits me I always put my favorite playlist on and go to work. Most of the time it happens in the middle of the night.

At times like that I can keep going with little or any sleep. And then there are times of course when all I do is garbage.

So ever so often I cancel plans at the very last minute because I am on a roll. It makes me a horrible friend, but lucky for me I have friends, family and a fantastic ex husband who supports me and puts up with it – and me!

PS! This year my art will be featured in Elle Decor, Bravo TV and in Better Homes and Gardens (YAY!)

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 Stay tunes for more news on the new Outline at NoHo. In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek at these new North Hollywood homes.

OUTLINE at NoHo via www.nohoartsdistrict.com

**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo. On Instagram @NoHoArtsDistrict and Facebook @NoHoArtsDistrict.

GEA “Snow” EP Release

With her beautiful, angelic voice, like a gift from the ancients and her spiraling, soaring sounds GEA creates an almost circus like atmosphere full of layered vocals and gorgeous beats where one has the feeling that absolutely anything could happen.

Laura Avonius records under the name “GEA” and her sound is hard to describe.  Her music puts one in mind of Bijork and Julee Cruise, but she’s far more mediaeval and icey in a Nordic way, full of humor and warmth.  She writes song about love, life and whatever the universe seems to be channeling through her.

The songs are haunting, ethereal, full of fascinating percussion and instruments more at home in folk music. But this doesn’t sound like folk music.  Her fluid keys and lovely atmospheric sound design and production create a space all her own.  Avonius was inspired by heartbreak as well on the track “Snow” by the death of a friend.  Our lives give us memories both happy and painful to inspire us to create.

This is a truly lovely EP.  GEA’s sound is epic and polished and inspiring.  Her deeply cinematic sound is hopeful and energized as well as powerfully soothing.  It sounds like victory and peace and we need some peace in our lives right now.  Loved it!

Musicians:

GEA – vocals, keyboard, piano

Mikkoa H Haapoja – bowed lyre, cello, keyboard, beats

Meriheini Luoto, violin

Lassi Kari, contrabass

Sarah Palu, harp

Joonas Hakava, beats

Artist Links

Website  |  Facebook  | Instagram  |  Twitter  |  Soundcloud |  Youtube Channel

Sundogs “Legends in Their Own Minds” Album Release

Classic American rock, an homage to the great bands of the 70s and 80s, musical masters like Steely Dan, Leonard Cohen and Led Zeppelin.  The Seattle-based Sundogs are making the music that they love.

It’s wonderful to hear music played by career musicians with a passion for their art.  These songs are crafted and thoughtful, catchy and complex.  The simplicity of the melodies belays the depth of the lyrics.

They have the irony of a Leonard Cohen record and the sarcasm of Tom Petty with a little jazz mixed in, compliments of Steely Dan.  Each song takes us in a different direction, and there are a lot of songs -12! Which takes me back to when proper albums really existed and liner notes where biblical in length.

This a great album, whimsical and warmly retrospective.  It’s also a video album, with a lot of humor and creativity. These guys work hard that’s for sure!!

Musicians:

Stan Snow: Songwriter, Producer, Vocals and Guitars, etc…

Jed Moffitt: Songwriter, Co-Producer, Vocals and Keyboards

Artist Links

Website

Facebook

Spotify

Youtube Channel

“Life In Boobs, A New Comedic Musical”

Composer and Musical Director – Rachel Lawrence.  Book and Lyrics – Casey Christensen.  Conceived and Produced by Jennifer Goodman and Casey Christensen, Directed by Casey Christensen. 

What can I say about this incredible production?  It’s a musical, but maybe a little more like a musical review, with skits and profoundly funny and thoughtful moments between the songs.

The whole piece is still in workshop form and yet…it’s polished, superbly performed and just excellent.

I saw the show at Upstairs at Vitello’s in Studio City, which is a great venue, a supper club really, and who doesn’t like cocktails and risotto when watching theatre I ask you?  The show got off to a rollicking start with a big opening number involving all the cast setting up the theme of the evening…boobs.  Since I have a pair of those myself I was instantly onboard with the material, as was everyone in the room. (There were a lot of boobs in the house.)

Of course it’s hilarious and the absolutely amazing performers belted out the brilliant songs with passion and a really perfect amount of sarcasm and irony.  There are songs about breast feeding and grabby men, cancer and sexual harassment and every other boob subject you can imagine. I certainly learned a few new names for my cha cha’s as the evening progressed.  But the best thing about this production was the way every single woman in the room felt included and respected and loved and understood.  And how we were all falling about laughing at ourselves.

It was a love letter to the two best friends a women will ever have, even when we wish they were different…which most of us do if we are honest.  It’s so important to make boobs a topic of our conversations.  It really can save lives, spare us lots of embarrassment and remind us that we all have one slightly bigger than the other and that it’s okay!

I hope they keep workshopping “Life In Boobs” and someone wants to make it into a musical movie  or a huge Broadway show…these songs!!!!

Every actress was a gift.  Their voices were beautiful and the camaraderie was so evident. I didn’t know any of them but I was so proud of them all!!  It’s so funny how women can be so supportive of each other, so enthusiastic about projects that touch them and include them and reflect their lives.  I loved this show…can you tell?

If you ever get a chance to see “Life In Boobs” you must. Keep an eye on their website for more productions and workshops.

https://www.lifeinboobs.com

Cast:

Casey Christensen, Sherry Cola, Jennifer Goodman, Sarah Lowe, Sara Montgomery, Lauren Rubin, Lani Shipman, Adriene Visnic, Kayla Page Williams.

What they DON’T tell you about socializing your puppy!

Serious trouble comes from socializing a puppy AFTER they have had their vaccinations.

I can’t tell you how often I hear this dilemma from puppy owners. The vet said they can’t step foot outside of their house until the puppy is fully vaccinated (around 16 weeks old). The internet says the puppy needs to meet 100 diverse people in the first few weeks of having him, which is around the 8-12 week mark.

Both of those scenarios do not give puppy owners an accurate view into what they can and can’t do, why, how and when! It can be maddening so I’m hoping to shed some light and perspective on the issue.

Before we get into the “what should you do or can you do,” let’s go over some facts.

  1. A puppy’s prime socialization time is between 3/4 weeks and 16 weeks old.
  2. A puppy doesn’t finish booster shots until 16 weeks old, then the rabies as old as 24 weeks.
  3. Parvo virus is the dangerous virus your puppy could get (though unlikely) if you were to come into contact with any poop from an animal that has parvo. This is mostly dogs and occasionally other animals like coyotes. It is highly contagious.
  4. Because a puppy’s socialization time starts so early, it is up to the breeder to do much of the work, but you must understand, most of them do not.
  5. A puppy does not “grow out of things” that relate to bad behavior linked to emotional responses. For instance, a puppy that doesn’t want to check out other dogs and puppies. They have an emotional response by moving away, being tentative or stoic. This is not a “phase” they will get over. I know there are some exceptions, but that is the general reality of raising animals. If you don’t work them through things and help guide them regularly, they will not change and sometimes get worse.

The idea of just keeping your puppies inside and just having people over is a terrible idea that is a contributing factor to dogs over the age of six months old winding up in shelters and rescues.

It’s even deemed irresponsible to not fully unpack what puppy owners should do rather then just stay inside and scare them about parvo. With that being said, you must understand a vet potentially feeling the need to protect themselves and make it easy by telling you to stay inside. I have met MANY that unpack what you new puppy owners should do to work with their puppy during these critical weeks, but far too many scare owners into staying in without context. If you are responsible and really look at your surroundings you can do some things outside and must do some things outside we are going to discuss. Then we will go over what to stay away from.

I personally have learned that the missing link in the socialization talk with puppies is quality vs quantity. So when you read online about puppy parties at your house, I encourage you to do that, but also look at the pup you have. That may be scary for them, or they may go crazy with too much attention! If you want to socialize your puppy, you need to find as diverse of situations, sights, sounds and surfaces that you can.

After that first round of boosters, having someone come over to your house, men and women of different size, age and diversity is a great way to help your puppy.

Make sure these guests will listen to you and not get crazy excited. When you first get your puppy you can teach them come and sit easily in five minutes, if they are responding to food. Have the guests do the same thing. Then calm pets around their shoulder and ears rather then reaching for the face (that encourages puppy biting). Picking up the puppy calmly and touching feet, giving food, looking at ears, giving food, holding the puppy differently like on his/her back, etc. That is ideal! If people can’t come to your house you go to them and make sure they have an area you can put the puppy and not worry about ruining a carpet, because accidents are going to happen. Honestly, doing this once a week or at least a couple of times a month for a few months is very valuable. It’s a lot of work, I know, but it is so worth it. You do not have to have a party of 10 people. In fact, I am not a huge fan of that. Meeting people that I know will listen to me and not make the puppy franticly excited is much more valuable to me, even if that is only 1-3 people. I will just visit those three people as much as I can. Having huge parties or having people that go crazy when they see puppies will encourage your puppy to be frantic when they see people, so quality vs quantity.

Socialization with other dogs should be done with another dog you know is fully vaccinated and has a responsible owner.

Make sure you don’t let your puppy overwhelm the other dog or vice versa. Use food and encourage sniffing. Many adult dogs do NOT like puppies and will tolerate very little. This is NOT a chance to teach your puppy a lesson for being pushy. The only way that can even have a chance at working is if there are dozens of positive interactions to every low key correction from the other dog. Often it is very necessary to settle down even a 12-week old puppy from overwhelming and biting another dog that isn’t interested. That is another blog for another time, but you must know you can’t allow that pushy behavior. For now I will mention using food with a tug on the leash to get your pups attention and work on basic obedience around other dogs rather then interaction if you are having that problem with your puppy, until you can get a trainer to help you. Don’t rely on picking your puppy up all the time from bad situations like being pushy with a dog or getting into something in the house. Have a leash on a harness for young pups and guide them away after a “no” and then redirect them to what you do want them to do.
Puppy classes are a GREAT way to socialize your pup or checking online sources of other puppies in your area for playdates. Make sure the pups match relatively in size or a large breed puppy will make your small breed puppy shy or feel the need to protect their space. It’s about creating positive interactions. Many puppy classes will allow you to come after two booster shots and just take off or cover your shoes in a sterile area. If your puppy is overwhelmed or scared, then it may be too much for them and during socialization, make sure the trainer matches your puppy with one other puppy that is a good match to build confidence if needed. I did this a lot when I taught puppy classes and I was shocked at how many clients had bad experiences at puppy classes with driven puppies overwhelming and scaring their pup and all they did was pick up their pup and then put them back down only to be scared again. Make sure you feel comfortable in your puppy class.

That is just the tip of the iceberg! Don’t worry if you don’t have access to kids, classes or very many people. There is more to be done!

  1. At home, play different movies (for sound and light changes…think superhero), radio and different sounds for your dog. You can use youtube or purchase a dog desensitizing sound cd. That way you cycle through traffic noise, fireworks, cat and dog noises, kid noises, etc. This can be played daily at a low level while you are away as well as working with your dog so the puppy gets used to it. Gradually up the sound level. Do this a few days a week. Vacuuming and daily chores are good as well.
  2. Adding puzzle toys like kongs where the puppy works to get the yummy treat/food out is a great idea to layer to the noises that may make your puppy uncomfortable. It will build confidence. (freeze dried is great because it’s healthy)
  3. Find different surfaces for your puppy and puzzle toys for food. Get creative: Carpet is easy, hard floor, slick floor, a plastic lid of some sort that is relatively flat, bubble wrap, etc.
  4. Make sure you are utilizing a front and back yard if you have one (assuming front yard is blocked off from other dogs) Doing this daily while working on come and basic obedience, as well as play, will go a long way in helping your dog build a relationship with you outside and inside. You can even start walks in the yard.I know not everyone can do this and if that is the case, you should work hard on place command and come command inside for week and I’ll explain why below!
  5. Get a travel bag and go outside! If your pup has had one round of boosters start taking your pup to run errands in a travel bag. Take your pup to work and have co workers say hello calmly (if it is okay with your boss). You can get a sling or carry your puppy to the park. Let your pup watch the world go by. It is JUST as important that not every person your puppy sees says hi as it is to have someone occasionally say hi. Use food to reward your puppy when people and dogs, bikes and skateboards, fire trucks and anything new go by. That is why it is a good idea to feed your puppy through training daily meals so you are not relying on treats. (expect your puppy to have an accident while traveling, it happens)There are many pet friendly places you can try as well. Still, take your pup in a carrier of some sort, but it’s a great opportunity to observe. Even stopping by a vet’s office is a great idea as long as the dogs in that office are not barking. Again, keep your pup in the carrier or carry him/her without coddling/snuggling.
  6. If you have been working your puppy on leash in the house, courtyard, yard or even condo hallway, you can use those skills of come and place developed in a week outside! Take a mat, your pup, leash and food pouch and work on those basics infant of your home/apartment daily for 10 minute blocks at the most. Then head down to the park. For extra caution bring a blanket. Find a quiet spot you are able to observe things going on around you and work your pup outside with everything going on. Stick to easy commands like come and sit and target them on the place mat/bed. Even setting up a little travel ex pen with a blanket on your day off is worth it if you live in an apartment building.
  7. If your pup gets anxious and starts jumping and barking at everyone, then you should look for one on one training right away to curb that early!
    A big one is CAR rides! Puppies often get car sick, just a heads up! But working on car rides that are short, gas station stops, post office stops where you can carry your pup in, etc. These are great ways to get your pup out there in the world.

A big misconception is that your pup is outgoing and social now so you don’t need to bother to continue it. Puppies have a need to check things out at an early age. That is why, even though my list seems daunting, those are just ideas. They are not things that need to be done everyday! Quality vs quantity, remember?! But it is important to note that just because you have a friendly puppy, doesn’t mean you stop trying with a three month old. They change so much and it is really something that should be done thoughtfully, but regularly in combination with the training that will help a very driven and excitable dog to exist and not just interact. That is the main goal. When you do this, I don’t mean your puppy is interacting with everything. They just need to be around it, hear it, smell it…life.

Don’t forget, what you do at home really speaks volumes for how your pup will be with people and dogs even if you don’t get to do a lot of socializing and I mentioned MANY examples of what to do at home.

I must make note of my own personal preference when working with puppies with two booster shot rounds. If I have been working with a puppy on basic obedience and they are doing well, there is no reason in my mind I can’t go to a clean park in a very nice, well kept area and spend a little time on concrete in a small space working on come and place and meeting people I feel might be okay to say hi. (you don’t have to let anyone say hi, but you’ll have to get good at politely saying no) With that being said I understand the need to take a blanket for the puppy to work on. (expect accidents) For me the benefits FAR outweigh the low risks to have a well adjusted puppy vs the high amount of nervous, anxious and unhappy dogs I work with daily.

With that being said there are some things I would not recommend.

  1. Stay away from dog parks with your puppy, they often carry disease like Giardia and that is HARD to get rid of, though not life threatening. It is also just a bad place to socialize a puppy.
  2. Stay away from public water areas or an area with any standing water. Many places have public areas for your pet to drink from a water bowl. That is a terrible idea for a puppy. Their immune system cannot handle all of the things on that bowl!
  3. Don’t let your puppy greet another dog or puppy that you do not know.
  4. Keep your puppy away from grass that isn’t in your yard.
  5. Hopefully, that opens your eyes up to some great ideas you can and should do with your pup before they are 16 weeks old, NOT after 🙂
  6. This blog was written for puppies 16 weeks old or younger.

Bethany Wilson

Ruff Beginnings Rehab
818-732-1364
http://www.RuffBeginningsRehab.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/RuffBeginningsRehab 
https://www.youtube.com/c/RuffBeginningsRehab 

NoHo News: Which Show Are You Going to See?

Here’s your NoHo arts community update!

We look forward to sharing lots of fun and unique news, events, profiles and updates on what’s happening in the NoHo Arts District.

Every Thursday we send out our NoHo e-News. Do you get it? It takes 30 seconds. Make sure you sign up, it’s FREE. Sign up HERE>>

This issue of NoHo e-News is about what’s going on in North Hollywood and a selection of some theatre shows. But we have a ton of them. Did you know that the NoHo Arts District has the highest concentration of theatres outside of New York City? Just check out the NoHo Arts District Theatre Guide>>

Here’s a glimpse at what’s going on in North Hollywood. Click on the image and to see the online version of our NoHo News…ENJOY NOHO!

NoHo News: Which show are you going to see?

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**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo. On Instagram @NoHoArtsDistrict and Facebook @NoHoArtsDistrict.

 

The Actor’s Gym & The Whitefire Theatre Present “Working 2020”

Conceived by Bobby Moresco, developed and directed by members of Bobby Moresco’s Actor’s Gym.

Produced by Bobby Moresco, Bryan Rasmussen and Steven Christopher Parker.

Running from April 5 through May 10, Fridays at 8pm
The Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, 91423

What we do is who we are. Or, is who we are why we do what we do? “Working 2020” tells the stories of people whose lives have been changed by what they wound up doing, some well-planned careers, some totally by accident or as a means to an end. All these varied and vividly told stories are profoundly moving moments in lives of those as average and extraordinary as any of us.

Bobby Moresco’s Actors Gym is the magical place that birthed these everyday and important tales. The stories developed by him and the actors take us to every part of America and to many sad and sorry aspects of the human condition. But it’s not all heartbreaking, some of these stories are as uplifting as any I have seen.

There’s a truck driving woman whose struggle to prove her worth to herself and to her late father brings her to the sweet, but hard fought epiphany that she is perfect and need do nothing to prove that to anyone. A young waitress whose desperation to live by her own rules brings her perilously close to disaster, but whose courage inspires a multitude. A rookie firefighter whose instinct to run leaves him alive but alone. An aging hospital orderly whose pride in his life humbles those around him. A man whose mental health has plagued him all his life who finally finds solace and relief. A neighborhood hairdresser, always wishing she could have a ‘bigger’ life realizing the profundity of her contribution to her world. A mother whose autistic son teaches her that the greatest gifts might not always come neatly wrapped. A writer whose first real job is in the dodgy, pornographic edges of the entertainment industry, proves to herself that if she can write ‘that stuff’ she can write anything. The incarcerated drug dealer whose fall from grace left his mother broken and alone, touches us deeply with his regret. And finally a steel worker, so tired of the shafting of the American working class and the destruction of the unions, calls for us all to rise up and stand together against the money machine.

The cast is on stage throughout the entire play, and that gives their words even more gravitas somehow, as if they too bear witness to each other’s precious place in the world. There is something extremely powerful about a group of people sitting together in the darkness really hearing each other as these phenomenal actors breathe truth into the characters and that truth turns the theatre into a church.

When theatre is at its best it can change us, challenge us and unite us. “Working 2020” is like that. Inspired by Studs Terkel’s book “Working,” these beautiful stories developed, written and directed by the members of the Actor’s Gym resonate with the complex sacredness of humanity, sharing the deepest part of who we truly are, good, bad, ashamed and glorious.

We have a primal need to share stories. Before there were gods there were paintings on caves and late nights around fires and the repeated histories of our lives. What we do is important and the older I get the more I realize that more than money or shelter or impressive stuff, we need to feel connected to each other and to have peace with what we contribute to the world. This play is a celebration of that and of the people who we barely notice as we rush around being busy. The people whose lives are what keep the lights on and the coffee brewing and the pain a little less. The play reminds us that these small and purposeful things we do to make each other’s lives better are in the end, the most important things we will ever do.

I highly recommend “Working 2020” at the wonderful Whitefire Theatre…don’t dawdle, the run is short playing only Friday nights at 8 pm through May 10.

http://www.whitefiretheatre.com

Cast: Tom Bower, Tonya Cornelisse, Anne DeSalvo. Elizabeth Grullon, Michael Pare, Thomas Polanski, Goya Robles, Pauline Schantzer, Allan Steele, Joseph Lyle Taylor, and Maureen Teefy. **** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo. On Instagram @NoHoArtsDistrict and Facebook @NoHoArtsDistrict.

Lindsay Guion’s Tips for Building Relationships with Clients as a Personal Manager

Working with celebrities is often seen as a dream job that most people would metaphorically kill for. And although this may be a dream position for some, positions managing and working with celebrities are often much more demanding than anticipated.

Take a personal manager, Lindsay Guion, for example, who also happens to be the Founder, CEO, and Global Chairman of GUION PARTNERS. As the manager of quite a few high-profile individuals from the field of art, music, and more, he is a prime example of what someone who would like to obtain this position should strive to achieve. 

First, according to Mr. Guion, getting a job as a personal manager is based on connections in the market that must be developed for years. This is because this profession is not built like any other due to the fact that there is no clear-cut career path. To put this into perspective, think about an average Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and how their career usually flows. First, they attend college and get their master’s degree in accounting. Then, they get the CPA certification and go work for one of the Big Four accounting firms. After three to five years, they will either downsize to a smaller company or pursue a partnership promotion at their current firm.

With personal managers, however, the only thing that is guaranteed is the time that one must spend learning how to navigate the market and manage people’s assets, schedules, and careers. So, how can these professionals build fruitful connections with their clients that will lead them to more opportunities?

Going Above and Beyond

As with every other profession, Lindsay Guion points out that personal managers are held to a high standard of loyalty and due care. For those unfamiliar, this means that they will be a reliable asset to their employer and must be dedicated to their success. In translation, making sure that the client is satisfied is one of the primary objectives of every personal manager. This is especially true for the ones that are just entering the field and still need to gain enough exposure to attract high-profile customers. 

Recognizing Talent

One of the main ways in which personal managers find celebrities to work with revolves around recruiting them as early as possible. This is why some of the most talented artists in the world had their agents long before they ever reached unprecedented levels of fame. The reason why is that managers play a crucial role in launching someone’s career and helping them establish their reputation. Well, to ensure that this process is handled smoothly, it is crucial that the manager knows how to locate talent and works hard to develop it properly. 

Understanding the Market

One of the most impactful and tangible skills that celebrity managers possess is their seemingly limitless knowledge of the market. For instance, they are the ones who can help their artists and clients figure out what rates they should be charging for their projects, how to set those projects up, who to contact, and much more. After all, the level of one’s success is highly related to their attention to detail. This is particularly true for the entertainment industry where everything must be carefully planned and analyzed before any actions take place. 

Thus, the managers will come into play and help their clients make important decisions that can impact their careers. A real-life example would be a music artist having a concert. Although the public will mostly focus on the thousands of people who might be in attendance, the managers are the ones that have to figure out all the logistics and back-end dealings related to the project. Hence why saying that a celebrity will only be as successful as their manager is resourceful is fairly accurate.

Badari “Dream Journal” EP Release

This is a really interesting EP from an emerging artist with quite a few previous mixtape releases to his name, all very well received.

This time around, with the release of this “Dream Journal” EP, Badari explores his subconscious and the results are fascinating glimpses into fear, loss and a search for peace.

It’s a bit like falling down the rabbit hole and a refreshing choice for a rap artist.  The music is thoughtful, melodic, with twisted rhythms and gorgeous bells and chimes referencing his Indian heritage, as does some lovely vocal inflexions and vibrato.

There’s a real journey here, from track to track.  There’s anger and denial, and a sense of balance and finally some peace, although it’s not too neatly tied.  It’s a story within a story.  His glorious ethnicity and a lifetime of moving around has given him a unique experience to draw from.  Forever the outsider in a country that should embrace the newcomer but often does the opposite.

It’s a challenging listen lyrically. It’s a mirror to this American life seen through his eyes.  Badari is undoubtably a poet and there’s so much pain in these lines.  But there’s hope too and grace and the sense that there’s much, much more to come.  Loved it!!

Producer: tunnA Beatz

Artist Links

Website

Instagram

Twitter

Spotify

Soundcloud

The Garry Marshall Theatre Presents “The Root Beer Bandits, A Rootin’ Tootin’ Wild West Musicale”

The Garry Marshall Theatre Presents “The Root Beer Bandits, A Rootin’ Tootin’ Wild West Musicale.” Book by Joseph Leo Bwarie and Lori Marshall. Music by Rachael Lawrence.

Running from April 4 through 28, Fridays at 7pm, Saturdays at 2pm & 7pm, and Sundays at 1pm

What better way to instill the importance and the magic of live theatre in children than an excellent production like this?

Root Beer Bandits is a wonderfully creative musical filled with brilliant beautifully sung songs, and a storyline with plenty of poignant moments, softly sold life lessons and great big characters.

thumbnail RBB SALOON GIRLS 53

The story is set in the wild west, in a town whose economy depends of their root beer plant.  A couple of no good bandits plot to steal the town’s precious root beer and, at the same time a young pony express delivery girl, masquerading as a boy of course, arrives in the town with a letter for the sheriff.

So the story unfolds with gorgeous songs, hilarious and playful encounters and truly magical performances.  The Garry Marshall Theatre has a knack for these family oriented productions.  They value the importance of promoting fairness, love, forgiveness, equality and friendship, and in each and every one of their productions they become better and better at it.

I highly recommend “The Root Beer Bandits, A Rootin’ Tootin’ Wild West Musicale.”  This is a fun and brilliantly produced musical, with a fabulous set, great costumes and some really talented performers clearing having a lot of fun with this wonderful material.

It’s not a long run, April 4 through 28, so please do yourself and your little ones a huge favor and get your tickets now!!!

http://www.garrymarshalltheatre.org

The Garry Marshall Theatre, 4252 West Riverside Dr., Burbank, 91501

Cast

Clayton Snyder, Grace Yoo, Cloie Wyatt Taylor, Kelly Brandeburg and Josey Montana McCoy

Production Team

Choreographer Christine Lakin

Dramaturge Dr. Katherine Nigh

Scenic design by Tanya Orellana

Costume design by Jessica Champagne-Hansen

Lighting design by JM Montecalvo

Sound design by Robert Arturo Ramirez

Properties designed by Benjamin Warren and Siena LaGambina (Mr. Marshall’s 10-year-old granddaughter).

Casting is by Elizabeth Ayoob

Arrangements by William Stone

Stage manger is Emily Lehrer.

Joan Torres’s All Is Fused “Revolution” Album Release

From the very first track on the album, “Revolution,” it is clear that this is not your average jazz fusion record.

A wall of sound, a complex, spiraling blend of progressive rock, jazz and something otherworldl,y and then you are just as quickly onto something else entirely.

The rhythms transcend and the exquisite flavors of these superb musicians rise and fall as the tracks unfold and unfurl one deeply felt thought at a time.  Boy can these guys play!  I have to be honest and tell you that I do not listen to this kind of music often. It’s just not on my regular rotation. But I think that may change after absorbing this quite extraordinary album.

Torre’s is on a long path, his intention is to forge a career, to carefully and intentionally create a crafted and masterful body of work.  His music is technical, mathematical even, and yet it’s driven by passion and a deep connection to soul and to love.  You can hear the aching of his heart in the motion of the music and the musicians he surrounds himself with share his burdens and his bliss.  Music is about our lives, our loves and the very best parts of who we are as well as those other, darker parts of ourselves we dare not show the world.  It is poetry and it is prayer.  At its most successful, it is every thought in our heads and every feeling in our hearts. This album is a gorgeous testament to humans ability to shrug off the weariness of the world and to dance in the heavens….Absolutely LOVED it.

Music Videos

There Was You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB53kCq7xpg

Producer: Joan Torres

Musicians:

Jonathan Suazo: Alto Sax

Gabriel Vicéns: Guitar

Sergio González: Guitar

Emanuel Rivera: Piano and Keyboards

Fernando García: Drums

Joan Torres: Bass

Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  Bandcamp  |  Soundcloud  |  Youtube Channel  |  Spotify

Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theatre Presents “Let Me Hear You Whisper” and “The Strangest Kind of Romance”

The Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theatre Presents “Let Me Hear You Whisper” and “The Strangest Kind of Romance.” Written by Paul Zindel and Tennessee Williams.  Directed by Katelyn Ann Clark and JC Gafford respectively.  

Running April 5 through May 5, Saturdays at 2PM and Sundays at 7PM

Let Me Hear You Whisper

WHISPER L R SandraVallardes MarieBroderick JenniferCollins JudyRosenfeld FoxCarney photoByDougEngalla 1
L R Sandra Vallardes, Marie Broderick, Jennifer Collins, Judy Rosenfeld, Fox Carney. Photo by Doug Engalla. 

Much is expected of a play whose synopsis deals with animals, vivisection and the forces of good and evil. The performances of this cast walk adroitly across the high-wire to an engaging poignant story void of cloying pathos. The characters of Helen, an unlikely heroine, and Miss Moray are played by Sandra Valladares and Marie Broderick, who artfully balance their performances. Helen starts out almost stoic and yet her nuanced performance portrays the beautiful character arc of a fully realized, sympathetic woman symbolizing the best of humanity. Miss Moray, representing the charming side of evil and the depravity of humanity, adds well to the humor. Just as you feel yourself saddening, up comes a perfectly timed humorous moment. The “Greek” like chorus of Dr. Crocus (Jennifer Collins) and assistants is a brilliant segue. The character of Danielle is refreshingly played by Lareen Faye with expert comic timing, macabre humor and likability even while she’s cleaning in her grisly duties. Finally, the Dolphin, (Fox Carney) the beating heart of humanity was enhanced by superb acting with clear and total commitment. This play represents the fight for humanity, one that we must all engage in and kudos to director Katelyn Ann Clark for guiding this orchestration of the emotional continuum of good versus evil.

WHISPER Lareen Faye. Photo by Doug Engalla
Lareen Faye. Photo by Doug Engalla.

 

The Strangest Kind of Romance

L R Nicola Tombacco, Sherry Michaels. Photo by DougEngalla.
L R Nicola Tombacco, Sherry Michaels. Photo by DougEngalla.

If it’s a Tennessee Williams play, it has to be vibrant, loud and charming and that also demands a great deal of its cast.  This play opens with the energetic, rusty-whiskey voiced, landlady (Sherry Michaels) in a fantastic performance that juxtaposes against the sweet, humble, innocence of the little man (Nicola Tombacco) in all his awkwardness. The landlady’s sensuality and strong advances towards her boarder are a brilliant tango of sex against purity. When the cat makes an appearance it seems a device of the capriciousness of fate, love and obsession. “…a ghost of a person…my body is a shell,” the boarder reminds the audience of the oppression of loneliness. The rhythm is artfully broken up by the performance ofthe landlady’s father-in-law played by Brad Kahn, perhaps representing hope against all else, he is the resistance against proclivities of a lustful daughter, and the forces that suppress the need for human happiness. With perfect timing and adding a much needed dose of reality, the female roomer, (Cynthia Bryant), lends credibility just as the lunacy crescendoes.  The boxer (Robert Michael Grant) brilliantly acts as the catalyst for change and shows the life cycle of the rooming house.  This reviewer was delightfully surprised and charmed by the performance of this cast. Finally, kudos to JK Gafford; the rhythm of the actors and their believability was evidenced by this cohesive direction.

 L R Sherry Michaels, Cynthia Bryant. Photo by Doug Engalla.L R Sherry Michaels, Cynthia Bryant. Photo by Doug Engalla.

I need to add the production skills were remarkable, I had to remind myself that these plays, set in different worlds, were taking place essentially in one room, thanks to the brilliance of Kenny Harder (lighting), Doug Haverty (graphics) and Doug Engalla (photography/videography), those details were noticed and were much appreciated.

http://www.thegrouprep.com

10 Reasons Why It Rocks To Be a Blogger

There’s been a big rave about blogging going around for years now, and we think it’s time for you to start your own!

Beginning bloggers often worry about how to reach audiences, putting themselves out in the public, and expenses. The good news is, there’s often no budgeting involved in blogging, especially in a free space. Reaching an audience and being in the public eye can be intimidating and very easy to stress about, and though easy it’s easy to stress about the reasons you shouldn’t be blogging, we’re here focus on the reasons you should be!

  1. You’ll Start Ignoring The Things That Don’t Matter

The deeper you dig into blogging, the more you’ll learn about yourself. When we’re constantly learning about the things we enjoy, and the things we don’t, we open doors for endless possibilities, but only for things that truly matter. When you get into the habit of blogging, you’ll slowly begin to study things in life you really connect with.

  1. You’ll Meet and Connect With Others

Speaking of connecting with things, you’ll start connecting with more people. These people will also offer you new perspective and after that happens, it’ll be a never-ending cycle. Connecting with others is important because it’ll give you more room to be creative and open up to inspiration around you.

  1. It’ll Help You Stay Consistent

If you struggle with consistency, blogging is a great way to hold yourself accountable. Once you decide you want to be consistent, and ready to make that commitment, you’ll get used to habits and rituals, which will ultimately help you reach your goals.

  1. Money Will Be a Plus

Did we mention that blogging is an effective way to make some extra money? These days it’s beneficial to have more than one stream of income, and what better way to do that than being creative? Sounds like a deal, right? Maybe now that car insurance payment won’t be such a hassle.

  1. You Get to Express Your Creative Side

The best form of creativity is the one where you’re allowed to be free. Blogging gives you absolute creative control—no one can tell you what to post, when to post, and how to post. Blogging is strictly about the things that bring you joy.

  1. It’s Not Expensive

When starting out, it’s easy to feel like you have to have an expensive website to engage viewers. However, your website will attract a larger audience if your content is good quality, but don’t worry, there are a ton of websites that offer free templates so you can start building your blog. One more thing, don’t be worried about building it from scratch, that’s what the templates are for.

  1. It’ll Help You, Help Others

Blogging can help others see different perspectives about any area of life. Often, when your blog builds traffic, it’s usually from people who are looking to be persuaded or informed about a specific topic. Realize it or not, you’re actually being a service to them, and upon being a service to them, you allow them to be a service to others as well. It’s a plus on both sides, and not to mention, it could even drive more traffic to your blog.

  1. Your Writing Will Flourish

Blogging is a great way to expand your skills as a writer. Many people get into blogging when they want to become more serious about their writing, and using a blog is the perfect foundation for practice. The neat thing about using it to write, is that you’re consistently writing, and when an action is consistent, no matter what, you’ll get better at it. The more you write, the more you’ll realize the potential to venture off into other avenues of communication, like writing books, poetry, or creating writing templates for others.

  1. A Platform to Share Your Voice

If you just want to be heard on topics you care about, start a blog. Even if at first there isn’t any engagement or you have no audience, it just feels refreshing to be able to get what you want to say out loud.

  1. A New Hobby

Are you dying to try something new? Something that isn’t so mundane? Blogging is a great past time, but not just past time aimlessly, it will help you achieve all of the above, while helping you to build a craft. It’s a hobby, not something you have to be experienced in, but we promise that if you’re consistent this hobby could turn into a great opportunity.

Top Three Crime (Prevention) Tips

Top three crime prevention tips for the NoHo Arts area.

Senior Lead Officer John Catalano from the LAPD North Hollywood gives us some quick tips to help keep us safe.

1. No matter where you park your car, DO NOT leave ANYTHING inside your vehicle. This is just an easy opportunity for criminals. Backpacks, laptop computers , a purse or any electronics big or small. If nothing is visible – there is nothing to steal.

2. In our pedestrian friendly community, biking is encouraged and very popular. So is Bike theft. Take the necessary precautions needed to keep it secured. Invest in a quality bike lock. Don’t leave it unattended and know your bikes serial number. It would also help to have a photo available to help identify it later.

Side note : If you think leaving it on your second story balcony of your residence is a very safe location, you are wrong. Street level balcony thefts are easy and often. Today we have criminals who like more of a challenge and an upper balcony is not much of a deterrent.

3. Do not use your $1000 cell phone or laptop as a seat saver for you to go to the restroom or to get a refill at your favorite coffee shop. Neither your seat nor your electronics will be there when you return. Guaranteed.

While I do not monitor social media for calls for service or complaints, feel free to email me at 32740@lapd.online if needed.

**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo. On Instagram @NoHoArtsDistrict and Facebook @NoHoArtsDistrict.

ANNIVERSARY GIFTS: SHOULD YOU STICK TO THE THEME IN 2019?

 

Every wedding anniversary is an important milestone in the life of a couple, however there are some years that stand out more than others. There is so much to look forward to each year, anniversary gifts included. If you are one such person who finds it difficult to choose gift after gift each passing year, why don’t we help you with suggestions possible anniversary presents.

Some couples like to stick to the traditional gifts that match each year, but others would rather switch things up with modern anniversary gifts by year. Whichever category you fall into; our list will act as an anniversary gift guide for giftings for each of these special milestones.

Fifth
Traditional 5th year anniversary gifts according to Weddingforward, traditional anniversary gifts, have a wood theme. So, if you’re a stickler for tradition, you could consider a sentimental item mounted on wood or a wood picture frame. And if you live in a wooded area, a lovely hike for just the two of you during the day wouldn’t hurt either.

For a modern touch, couples choose silverware for the 5th wedding anniversary. Is there a set you know your wife has been eyeing in her favourite colours? Or a handy tool your man could use in his tool shed. Don’t forget a card hallmark anniversary gift as they are made from paper which is equally made from wood.

Tenth
Tin or Aluminium come to mind for traditional 10th wedding anniversary gift ideas. Think tin ware souvenirs at the end of a romantic getaway or even a metal storage box. If you’re however leaning towards modern 10th wedding anniversary gifts, then diamond jewellery is the name. From earrings, to rings and diamond studded cuff links, you have quite a list of options to choose from for wedding anniversaries. 

Fifteenth
Traditionally, crystal is given when marking the 15th wedding anniversary. This could be a sparkly brooch for her or a crystal wine glass set for him with a mementos monogram. Modern gifts for the fifteenth anniversary are watches. Knowing the type your spouse will like, there is a range of tastefully designed watches to choose from for him or her.

crystal earrings 206363 1920

Twentieth
The twentieth wedding anniversary is a milestone worth celebrating indeed. How better than to give your loved one a thoughtful gift to show your appreciation for their time at your side. There is no love without giving, and lovers of tradition usually give China themed gifts to mark this point in their lives. If you’re open to a splurge, this could be a trip to China or a China themed location. It could also be a China set that you both will enjoy using.

Modern gifts for this milestone are platinum themed. Think wristwatches and platinum pendants and other assorted jewellery for your significant other.

Twenty fifth
Popularly known as the silver jubilee, it is no surprise that modern times and tradition are a match for wedding anniversary gifts on this one. Silver is the theme of choice for the all too important 25th wedding anniversary.

So, while you might have gotten it wrong in the past, try to get it right with this milestone. Engraved silver pens or jewellery wrapped in a special silver gift wrap should do the trick.

Thirtieth
At this point in your lives surely it is worth a splurge to celebrate the years you have been together. This is why it’s no wonder that the traditional wedding anniversary gifts for the 30th year is pearl themed, and for the modern day it is diamonds. Take your pick and find a way to blend romance and creativity together.

Does your love enjoy eating oysters, or would he or she prefer diamond jewellery, cabinet hardware, or even a visit to a Pearl farm? Either way, this is one milestone you should surely commemorate with a thoughtful gift.

Thirty fifth
Such a colourful year in the life of a couple. The 35th year is the time for Coral traditionally and modern day Jade. These two themes go hand in hand, and we’re guessing it should be easy to take a pick or combine them. Consider marriage anniversary gifts of dinning out on seafood with candles and coral napkins, or even underwater adventures at a tropical island if you are up for it. 

Fortieth
The year for rubies is the fortieth. Watch the smile on the face of your loved one as you gift them with jewellery of rubies, ruby glass goblets, or even something as simple as a red dress. The theme for both traditional and modern day 40th wedding anniversary gifts is rubies, so celebrate this year in style.

Forty fifth
Sapphire is the theme for a 45th wedding anniversary, whether traditional or modern gifts for anniversary. Think rhythm-and-blues or sapphire-studded jewelry for the absolute best forty fifth wedding anniversary gift ideas.

Fiftieth
This here is the golden jubilee, the one which must be celebrated by you both and the whole family. The only theme worthy of this year both traditionally and modern day, is gold. Lovely gifts of gold; from gold watches to lavish bouquets of golden tulips or roses, wrapped in beautiful gold wrapping paper and other anniversary materials.

For an event, you could attend the opera and give the tickets tied with a gold ribbon bow, toasting afterwards with an elegant dinner and extra bubbly.

While each year is just as special as the last, there are wedding anniversary themes and anniversary gifts that can make every single year with your loved one memorable. We hope our wedding anniversary ideas have been able to help you with inspiration whether you’re a stickler for tradition or you’re a modern day millennial seeking anniversary gifts by year modern. If you need even more ideas, you could try registering for subscription boxes. Here is to wishing you many more years of love and happiness. 

Must-Visit Destinations For Digital Nomads

It’s 2019 and the first quarter of the year is fast running out.

And it isn’t surprising if you consider yourself a digital nomad (people who work online and can’t stay in one place for long) but are yet to take that bold step towards achieving your New Year resolutions, be it in personal life or career-wise. In fact, it’s still early and you can easily catch up if only you start now. From looking for a new destination for your vacation to finding a new job, no one can stop you if you have the will. If this sounds like you, then you must be sourcing out for a new place to visit and we are here for you. Check the following must-visit destinations list for digital nomads, to help you decide:

Qingdao, China

This alluring seaside city proudly displays an amazing blend of both the German and Japanese architecture. It has a favorable climate throughout the year, so you can comfortably work as you explore the beach views and treat your taste buds with delicious seafood. The free, reliable Wifi will make you want to prolong your stay and if you have some cash to spend, you can always opt for the local 4G mobile services. The seaside apartments range from around $435.

Santiago, Chile

If South America has been your dream destination, then you have more reason to visit Chile. You see, this country enjoys one of the best internet broadband and no good news beats this one for a digital nomad. And it’s a beautiful city Santiago is a die-for destination as it contains good neighborhoods from around $500 per month and dynamic free Wi-Fi throughout the various cafes. You just have to get the login-key and you will be good to go. Spend your free time hiking, surfing or simply socializing.

Valencia, Spain

 

Valencia is an excellent definition of a classic town. And if you thought that makes it boring, then you’re completely mistaken. On the contrary, this key Mediterranean port town is surrounded by various cafes and restaurants that offer free Wi-Fi. The beaches are also magnificent, something that makes it one of the top stopovers of Mediterranean cruise sailings. Apart from working, you will get the chance to discover many cultures, the rich history, an exciting nightlife, and various cuisines. An open mind is all you need.

Ko Samui Thailand

The Gulf of Thailand has been richly blessed with a trail of islands (Ko Tao, Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan) But of all the three, Ko Samui makes the perfect destination for cyber nomads. First, it’s the largest and secondly, there’s easy access to it via sea or air. And the most important of them all is the incredible free Wi-Fi zones than the other two. You can work from your hotel room or by the sea as you stretch on the white sand. Life over there is pretty affordable at around $260 per month, in a villa.

If you consider yourself a digital nomad or would like to join the fast-growing trend, then you must select your next destination with caution. It should have all the tools you need to work and relax. And that includes free/affordable, reliable internet connection, affordable accommodation and a little bit of fun. We hope you found the above list helpful. It, however, isn’t exhaustive, so feel free to explore and add to it!

My Affair with FARRAH FAWCETT & How I Survived The ’80s! (Or, The Day VICTORIA PRINCIPLE Stroked Me!)

Oh, the 1970s & ’80s! What fun we had!!

How I wish I could roll back the time and re-experience those amazing fun-filled years!

My TRUE account is not about the bad or negative, but only the good, fun & funnier.

Let’s go back in time, shall we?

Before any social media.

Before #metoo, #timesup, gun rights activists, hard-line militias, religious freedom advocates, LGBT-endless abbreviations, cell phones & all other social and technical distractions and radicalisms, we had simple one-on-one human communication.

What a concept, eh?

My story begins in 1976 when Elton John, Diana Ross, Wild Cherry & the Bee Gees were ruling the radio waves.

Charlie’s Angels had just premiered, and America fell in love with Farrah Fawcett. At the same time, her red-hot poster in a red one-piece swimsuit with the golden blonde bouncy messy hair and erect nipples had captured the nation.

What was not to love?!

I was a young 16-year-old gay boy obsessed with the ‘Farrah phenomenon’ and many other celebrities of the time.

I typically used my weekends to write fan letters to movie stars.

Even the local postman would make inquiries, “Who’d you hear from today, Waide?”

I had a reputation and there was always a new letter or picture addressed to me from a celebrity that I had written.

Except for Farrah. I didn’t have an ‘in’ with her.

One day, out of the blue, my grandmother handed me a piece of paper. “This is Farrah’s parent’s address. It’s the best I could do. Write her mother and see what happens.”

I was overjoyed! She never told me how she happened upon it. She always kept it a secret.

I immediately sat down to write a letter to Pauline Fawcett. I told her my love for her daughter and how absolutely beautiful I thought she was. I explained my interest in films, TV, Charlie’s Angels and how it would mean the world to actually talk to her.  I included my phone number.

I knew, more than likely, I’d never get a reply. I mailed it and forgot about it.

Two weeks later, I got a phone call. It was Pauline! And, she told me how sweet my letter was and how she wanted to meet me. Days later, with my mother accompanying me, we met at Houston’s high-end department store, Sakowitz.

It was a match made in Heaven!

All three of us hit it off perfectly and became instant friends.

Weeks passed. I spoke to Pauline by phone on a regular basis. She told me how Farrah would be calling me the next time she was in town for a visit.

That day came!

“Hello?”

“Hello, Waidy?”

(It was Farrah, and yes, she called me Waidy!)

“Yes?”

“This is Farrah…”

The conversation was short. But she explained that if I had time, and my mother was OK with it, she’d love to have me as her guest on her next film shoot. She just didn’t know when. Time would tell. I told her I loved her and I looked forward to meeting her…

Weeks passed.

I got a call from Pauline. She was in Acapulco, Mexico with Farrah shooting the film “Sunburn” and wanted to know if I’d like to be their guest for the week. Of course, my mother granted permission, and the next thing I know, I was on a plane to Acapulco.

When I got off the plane, a studio driver was there to meet me and ushered me into a limousine. I had no idea what to do or what was going to happen. I was simply there, along for the ride!

Within minutes, I was escorted to a trailer and entered…

Farrah was sitting on a couch in a large oversized T-shirt blow-drying her hair.

“Hi, Waidy, I’m Farrah.”

It was that simple!

“Hi.”

“Go ahead and find a seat while I finish my hair. I saved you some press clippings to read when you get bored.”

She pointed to a stack of papers on a shelf.

She started the conversation about her mother and how she was so excited about having a ‘new’ friend, and we would be friends, too.

❤️❤️❤️

Everywhere she went, I went, and always with a bodyguard.

She introduced me to her co-stars Charles Grodin, Alejandro Rey and Jorge Luke. All three were handsome, dapper, dashing and all treated her like the perfect gentleman.

Amusingly, she placed me between these leading men while traveling in the limousine. She knew I would enjoy the ride!

Later that day, we went shopping, with the bodyguard right there on top of us, she walked into a jewelry shop and chose a beautiful stone embedded in gold on a gold chain.

The price was $10,000.00.

She wrote a check right there on the spot. The sales lady wrapped it carefully in its box, handed it to Farrah, who handed it her bodyguard.

It was as simple as that!

Saturday night came and I was alone with Farrah in her bungalow. We were getting ready for an evening of dinner, music and dance. She chose skin-tight black leggings, similar to those worn by Olivia Newton-John in the end portion of “Grease.”

But, she couldn’t decide on what top to wear. That’s where I came in!

She tried a white satin button-down.

We both shook out heads no at the same time. She removed it, flashing me her breasts and those famous erect nipples.

She tried a nude-tone sweater.

No.

Too warm for an Acapulco night.

Again, she took the sweater off, flashing me those breasts.

She knew I was a gay teen in heat… just not for her!

“Let’s try something shear.”

“Sure.”

“How’s this?”

It was a very jaw-dropping see-through-pull-over blouse. A perfect fit! And, it enabled everyone to see it all!

We both nodded our heads an affirmative yes.

She topped it all off with a pair of high heels and that $10,000.00 necklace!

That Saturday night we went disco dancing.

At the discotheque, it was fun to watch how the general public reacted to her. When we went out onto the dance floor, with a portion of the crew, (and, the bodyguard), she was like a human magnet. She exuded sex appeal and she knew how to turn on the SEX.

The rest of the week was about staying at Farrah’s side and ‘enjoying the ride.’

I met so many wonderful people in Acapulco and I appreciate the time I was allowed to spend on set learning the ABCs of filmmaking. It was my first bonafide introduction to Hollywood!

“When you move to L.A., Waidy, look me up. You have my phone number now. We’ll have fun!” She said as she hugged me good-bye.

It was back to Houston to live a normal life.

❤️❤️❤️

I officially became ‘legal’ on August 15, 1981. At exactly midnight, I turned 18 and was allowed to walk into my first gay club. In this case, it was The Copa at Richmond & Kirby. The Copa was known as the club with the best music and drag shows. The Sunday Night performances boasted some of the best drag talent in America. The Copa took ‘illusion’ very seriously. It was a business and craft. You just didn’t perform there for fun. You had to earn a booking through national competitions.

And, the term Diva was NOT handed out to just anyone. It was a term that was sacred and earned through major hard work.

*Even to this day, I have yet to see drag shows that eclipse those at The Copa of the 80s.

They were known as The Fabulous Five: The Ultra Hot Chocolate/Larry Edwards, Donna Day/Donald Shelton, Tasha Cole/Jery F. Kohl Faulkner, Naomi Simms/Newman Braud & Tiffany Jones/Ken Whitehead.

These amazing performers/illusion artists reined in drag throughout the 1980s. People from all over the world came to see this music and dance show that was packed with magical and colorful numbers that always finished with the audience in a standing ovation and cheering for more!

Other high-profile Houston dance clubs I frequented in those early stages of coming out, and that were also a dominate force in Pop/Rock/Punk/R&B music, were the Loading Dock, Different Drum, Parade, Numbers, JRs & the Mining Company, Escape & the mother-lode of all gay dance clubs RICH’S! in the heart of downtown.

Vinyl dance mixes and long versions were a huge market for the music industry in the early 80s. Fleetwood Mac, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Chaka Khan, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Culture Club, Olivia Newton-John, Billy Idol, ABBA were all major sales draws. In Houston, there was only one place to go for the most current and hot club mixes:

THE RECORD RACK owned by Bruce Godwin.

DJs, club owners, celebrities and promoters were constantly shopping there. It was the place for vinyl!

August 1, 1981, MTV bowed and introduced itself to the world, and everything in music, dance and fashion changed overnight.

Madonna was shocking and Michael Jackson was thrilling!

In 1982 I went to beauty school and got my Certificate and Licensing in Cosmetology.

By 1984, the greatest year of music, according to Billboard Magazine, I was ready to embark on my journey to Hollywood. It was September, and with a packed suitcase, I moved.

✨✨✨

It didn’t take me long to figure out that Hollywood was a tough business town.

You’re either made for it, or you’re not.

There’s always someone prettier… or, uglier around the corner vying for the same job that you’re after.

It also took me several months to get enough courage to and go to the world-famous Jose Eber Salon in Beverly Hills. Jose was the hairstylist to the biggest stars and celebrities in Hollywood, if not the world. Anyone who was anyone went there to have their make-overs done. He was the definition of a true ‘celebrity stylist.’

It was the summer of 1985 and I was pretty wasted from the days heat. I wore a white t-shirt and faded blue jeans and sneakers. I was ready to face my challenge.

I walked into the salon and the first person to approach me was Jose!

I was terrified!

“May I help you?”

“Yes. I want to work for you.”

“Are you licensed Cosmetologist?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Why do you want to work for me?”

“Because you’re the best in the business.”

“When can you start?”

“When do you want me?”

“Tomorrow morning. The Ladies at the front desk will help you with the paperwork.”

He turned and walked away.

It was that simple.

A young woman approached me. “He likes you. He never does that.” 

One of the requirements to work at the salon was that everyone had to sign an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement). NDAs were taken very seriously back then. Even today, I take them seriously. Your word and actions are everything to your employer. Don’t betray or break trust.

The only exception to breaching an NDA is if you honestly witness illegal activity.

My first week at Jose’s found me meeting and greeting the rich and famous. I had a natural knack for carrying on conversation with high-profile clients. I was hired as an assistant, so my job was to shampoo, condition, prep the client and babysit.

Elizabeth Taylor preferred to come to the salon after hours, as did her friend Michael Jackson. Lisa Hartman-Black, Stevie Nicks, Pia Zadora, Dustin Hoffman, Susan Blakely, Bo Derek, Priscilla Presley, Patricia Hearst, The Pulitzer Family, Ed McMahon and his wife Victoria Valentine, Cher, Linda Gray, Victoria Principle, Harry Glassman, Bianca Jagger, Tatum O’Neal, Corey Hart, Kenny Ortega and George Hamilton would drop in on a weekly.

That was the new normal for me.

During my first week, Farrah had her appointment. I had kept my employment there a secret because I wanted to surprise her. When she came in, she sat in Jose’s chair and they discussed her hair. When I approached, he stepped between us.

“What do you want?”

Farrah saw me.

“Oh, Jose, it’s Waidy! He’s my friend. Let him stay by me.”

She held my hand and I stayed by her side the whole time.

After her appointment, and she had left, Jose pulled me aside to give me a direct order:

“So, you’re Farrah’s friend? That’s good. For now on, when she comes in, you are the only one to deal with her. Many of the stylists here don’t like to deal with her because she can get too particular about her hair when I’m not here. She’ll need you to calm her. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir. I’m happy to.”

“Good. You may sometimes have to go to her home to do an errand or two. You will be paid to do that. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir. Happy to do it.”

That was my introduction to Personal Assistant work for celebrities and the rich.

Tipping was a science in the 1980s. The clients made a game out of who could tip the assistants and stylists the most. Everyone wanted that title of most generous. Yes, there were the ultra-bad tippers, cheap, … but, I won’t mention them.

The most ultra-gracious of tippers were Cher, Lisa Hartman-Black, Linda Gray, Victoria Principle, Ed McMahon and Jose, himself.

In fact, Jose made it a point to have an all-expense paid Christmas party for all of his employees and give each of the assistants a $100.00 bill in their Christmas card.

*A little-known fact about Jose is he was also one of the TOP donors and philanthropists to AIDS organizations and LGBT charities during the HIV epidemic of the 80s and 90s. He gave millions.

He was never content with basic or simple Beauty. He took the subject very seriously. He expected the best from his Artists. Period. But, he would also reward you well when you did well.

Enter, Victoria Principle: Smart. Sexy. Strong. Filthy Rich.

And, a wonderful flirt!

It seemed every time I shaved my face, it would always be the same day she had her appointment. We would talk shop and she never failed to reach over and gently stroke my cheek… not once… not twice… but, three times. Twice with her palm and once with her fingertips.

I was in gay-boy Heaven!!!!!

“Oh, Waide, your face is soooo soft. How do you do it?”

“Soap and water.”

“No way! Can I touch you again?”

“Of course.”

And, she did.

And, again!

The 1980s beauty industry was very different from what it is now.

Gays pretty much ruled the salon world. Very, very few straight men were attracted to the industry.

When a straight male hairdresser joined the Team, the female clientele pounced!

It was amusing to watch these women, most of them married, do anything and everything possible to bang the guy.

Even if it meant cornering him in the Coloring Department and begging him to let them go down on him.

Which did happen on occasion…

Like my mother always used to tell me, “Women lie just as much as men do. And, usually, it’s about sex.”

I spent approximately five years at the Jose Eber Salon. This included one year at the Beverly Center branch when it occupied the ground floor on La Cienega Blvd.

I had great times there.

I enjoyed my party romps and social events with Farrah and other stars.

Assisting the rich and famous came with its perks. And, it is what you make it.

I miss the freedoms of the 1980s. We really were better off without cell phones, iPhones, social media platforms and everything else that now assaults our lives and distracts us from being human.

Our tech world has destroyed the intimacy in our lives.

By 1992, Farrah had gone her way and I had gone mine. A natural parting of ways; only to look back and have wonderful memories that last a lifetime.

I’m so grateful I was a part of the 80s. We had fun! Simple fun!

If you were born during that time, or after, and missed it … well… I can leave you with this…

BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU’VE HEARD!

Y. Dan Rubinstein “Don’t Break What You Cannot Fix” Single Release

“Don’t Break What You Cannot Fix” feels like a love song, or at least a conversation between two lovers, but it’s a little more complex than that.

This is a very subtle protest song, naming no names, merely the methods and the results of lies, bullying and ignorance. Rubinstein clearly has a lot to say and very vigorous opinions on the state of our world, and that’s great.

Setting those opinions to music, beautifully played guitar, gorgeously produced with warmth and honesty is inspired. There’s a simplicity to this record that I love. Clever lyrics and thoughtful themes woven through the track make it strangely commercial. It puts me in mind of Sting or Leonard Cohen. Poetic, focused and moving.

It seems this single is a preview of a soon to be released album, let’s hope the album is as interesting as the single. I love music that holds true to its inception. Music that retains the purity of the idea of what the writer wants it to become. It’s so easy to over do or over produce or pump music full of every idea you have in your head. It’s always far far better to distill down to the essence of a melody or the simplest versions of the lyric.  “Don’t Break What You Cannot Fix” is a great example of when less really is more…Loved it!

To learn more about Y. Dan Rubinstein’s debut album “Stolen Moments” click HERE>>

Producer:Kenny Schick, Basement3 Productions

Musicians:

Y. Dan Rubinstein

Artist Links

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Soundcloud

Youtube Channel

Spotify

**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo. On Instagram @NoHoArtsDistrict and Facebook @NoHoArtsDistrict.

The First Year

How did you get started in the business? What is the best way to get an agent or a manager?

When should I join the union (SAG-AFTRA, Actor’s Equity, AGVA). These are questions I get all the time and in my case, they all happened to me.

Many years ago a tennis patron, Ron Gorton Jr., at the club in Connecticut where I worked as a tennis professional, asked me to be in his movie. I was not an actor. I had never trained as an actor, nor did I know anything about the theatre, let alone plays. We had a long chat one night after the last of the tennis players left and he told me about his crime drama and that I would be perfect as the right-hand man of this crime boss. He told me that I looked like the character of “Octavio.” I had no idea what to say, except for the fact that I might ruin his movie because, as much as I loved movies, I was not an actor. He asked me about my life. I told him that I studied music in school and that I was a musician in the early 80s playing some of the local clubs in L.A. He listened politely and asked me about my days as a player. I told him I had a very short career, but that I loved giving the audience a show. I would make trick shots at the most improbable times and I would hesitate just enough, running after a ball so I could dive onto the court and make the shot. Once again he listened intently and, around the time dessert came around, he announced to me that I was an actor and the clubs and tennis stadiums were my stages and movie sets. I couldn’t argue with that logic and I agreed to be in his movie.

Three weeks later I arrive at a casting call held at a high-end fitness center and, after meeting Ron and his producers, I was officially offered the role two weeks later.

October 6, 1989 marked the first time I was ever on set. It was a night shoot and the scene was my character and the crime boss, along with two heavies, exiting a large black car and entering a strip club. The words, call time, 2nd AD, makeup, wardrobe, marks, key light, action and cut were part of a magical language that these dream makers would utter welcoming me to my new found bliss, a home away from home, a world where I never knew I belonged. It wouldn’t be until after the holidays in early January 1990 when I would set foot on that set again. This time we would be filming inside the strip club and have a shoot-out in the basement of the club.

This time the call-time was 5:30 am in Bridgeport, Connecticut. I walked in and saw lights, cameras, grips and men with headphones and a long stick with a microphone attached. We were on  location in an actual working strip club. For my first job to spend 16 paid hours in a strip club in the company of strippers (exotic dancers), near a craft services table with any food you could think of wearing a shiny suit preparing for my first gun fight with squibs (explosive bullet hits). It was magical and exhausting. By the fourteenth hour, the crew and cast were exhausted and I was warned by the wardrobe mistress that they did not have a spare shirt, so I couldn’t mess up my part in the gunfight. I was squibbed with four packets of blood hooked up to a car battery. The crime boss, along with me and the two other gangsters sat at a table facing our adversaries. There would be a discussion, an argument, and finally, a gunfight fight. The stunt coordinator was very kind and encouraging. He laid a mattress behind my chair, so when I fell, I wouldn’t hurt myself on the concrete floor of the basement. On action, I was supposed to listen for my cue, I would say my lines, then an actor sitting across from me pulls put a gun, but I am supposed to draw mine first and only pull the trigger after the initial shot. I get hit with four shots and fall backwards unto the mattress. I had only one take to do it right. We all had one take to do it right. ACTION, is what I heard and in a flash, I listened for my cue, I spoke my lines, I waited for the first shot and then fell backwards. I did all this and lay motionless until I heard the word CUT. I also felt an incredible pain in my chest and the smell of burning flesh. I thought I had actually been shot and I was dying on the set of my first and presumably last movie I would ever be in. After a long silence, I heard the crew roar with excitement and cheers. We had got it in one take. The stunt coordinator came over to me and said that I was great and that I looked like I was really shot. That’s when he saw the smoke emanating from my bloodied shirt. I got second degree burns because someone forgot to place a pad under the squibs. I didn’t care. It was such an amazing experience and now I was part of film history. It was just the beginning. I had to join SAG the next morning and I had an agent a week later. There are no rules in this profession called show business, just work and the absence of work. I’ll always be thank to Ron Gorton Jr. for giving me my first role and for seeing in me the actor that lived inside.  The film, “A Walk With Death” was released in 1993.

NoHo News April 4: ART. Life in Boobs. Singin’ in the Rain. Big Hair. Ugly Sign. Pit Bulls.

NoHo News: ART. Life in Boobs. Singin’ in the Rain. Big Hair. Ugly Sign. Pit Bulls.

Here’s your NoHo arts community update!

We look forward to sharing lots of fun and unique news, events, profiles and updates on what’s happening in the NoHo Arts District.

Every Thursday we send out our NoHo e-News. Do you get it? It takes 30 seconds. Make sure you sign up, it’s FREE. Sign up HERE>>

This issue of NoHo e-News is about what’s going on in North Hollywood and a selection of some theatre shows. But we have a ton of them. Did you know that the NoHo Arts District has the highest concentration of theatres outside of New York City? Just check out the NoHo Arts District Theatre Guide>>

Here’s a glimpse at what’s going on in North Hollywood. Click on the image and to see the online version of our NoHo News…ENJOY NOHO!

NoHo News: ART. Life in Boobs. Singin' in the Rain. Big Hair. Ugly Sign. Pit Bulls.

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**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo. On Instagram @NoHoArtsDistrict and Facebook @NoHoArtsDistrict.

DG Adams “Nest of Vipers” Album Release

There’s something very ‘punk’ these days about music that sounds like the musicians are actually playing the instruments and the singers are inhaling before they exhale…if you know what I mean.  I happen to prefer my music more human than automated. DG Adams’ album “Nest of Vipers” is thankfully free from the confines of electronica and autotune.  It is full of the divine flaws of live recordings, the sentimental passions of a love for jamming, and the turn of a thoughtful phrase.

It’s no surprise to me that Adams is an actor and a Shakespearean one at that.  The themes are dramatic; death, love, war, despair.  The vocals are layered and harmonized, poignant and cinematic.  The whole album feels like a performance piece in fact.  More rock musical than rock concert.  It even has a little comic relief with the track “Platonic Lovers,” neatly placed at the end of the second act.

The production is warm and welcoming, the musicians excellent and the songs playfully diverse, folky, Spanish, rock, soul and even a little Elizabethan.  Its honesty reminds me a little of Pink Floyd or David Bowie or Joni Mitchell…that same kind of wistful mournfulness.  These songs are straight from the heart, really compelling and gorgeously theatrical….loved it!!!

Artist Links

Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  Twitter  |  Bandcamp  |  Soundcloud  |  Youtube Channel

Musicians:

DG Adams: songwriter, vocals, acoustic and electric guitars

Vinay Lobo: acoustic and electric guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, percussion

Shane Wilson: drums, congas

Anna Katarina: bg vocals, keyboards

Aline Bobbin: bg vocals, violin, viola

Céline Hodler: bg vocals

Keigh: bg vocals and keyboards

The Lodge

The Lodge is a hidden gem in East LA.

Obscured by a large tree, the art deco façade is easily swallowed up by the hustle of Western and its surrounding corner markets and appliance stores. Street parking is your parking choice du-jour when visiting The Lodge, but its location feels specially curated as part-and-parcel of its exhibitions.

Alice Lodge is founder and current director of the Lodge. Founded in 2015, this special space has already seen an expansion from its original one-room gallery. Speaking of good art coming in small packages, 2015 also heralded The Mini Show. The Mini show featured the single room of the Lodge which was replicated as a miniature diorama gallery-goers could interact with. The Mini show featured (and was co-curated by) Clare Crespo, who even painted original mini artworks to hang on the wall of this miniature Lodge.

Although the Lodge specializes in local, LA talent, The Lodge has already hosted two international shows since its 2015 inception. The recent exhibition, Landscapes by David Black closed on March 31st. The forthcoming exhibition promises Timothy Isham & Raymond J Barry, an LA actor. Landscapes was David Black’s second solo show at The Lodge, and heavily features car culture in LA, with recurring motifs. Several recurring motifs are rattlesnakes, and in Landscapes, doves.

Using all natural light, David Black introduces an interesting patterned effect to his photography. His LED light technique stipples the naturally lit landscapes and cars. Although not originally from LA, Black understands the heart of the city, and captures car culture removed from both the 50s and Chicano car culture. Black somehow bridges the strange space between the average Angeleno, and the city’s car history. He does this all while imbuing the photographs with a sort of modern, advertisement texture. This comes to no surprise, since Black’s day job is working as a photographer for big houses such as Nike.

April 13th is the opening reception for The Lodge’s upcoming exhibition featuring Timothy Isham & Raymond J Barry. The Lodge gives us an opportunity not just to explore art in our local community, but to explore artists from local circles we might not know are in the art world. I’m thrilled to have been exposed to such a robust and special gallery in the heart of East LA, and The Lodge promises us this is only the beginning of their community building and exhibiting.

The Lodge:         
http://www.thelodge.la/

Closing Exhibition:
David Black, Landscapes
February 16 – March 30, 2019

Forthcoming Exhibition:
Timothy Isham & Raymond J. Barry
April 13th – May 11, 2019 

Hours:
Thurs – Sat
12pm-6pm (or by appointment) 

Location:
1024 N. Western Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90029

LA Get Down

North Hollywood resident Matthew ‘Cuban’ Hernandez participates in the third annual LA Get Down Festival April 5-27 during National Poetry Month.

Greenway Arts Alliance (Whitney Weston and Pierson Blaetz, co-founders and co-artistic directors), in association with Da Poetry Lounge, presents the third annual LA Get Down Festival,  celebrating hip-hop and spoken word. The festival runs April 5 – 27, 2019 during National Poetry Month. Events will be held at the Greenway Court Theatre (544 N. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles). Da Poetry Lounge co-founder Shihan Van Clief serves as the festival artistic director.

The LA Get Down Festival will play host to the 11th anniversary of InkSlam, L.A.’s national premier poetry festival with awards sponsored by Greenway Arts. The festival also features Atlanta-based Poetry vs. Hip-Hop; invitational team and indie slams from all over the country from youths to adults; showcases; workshops; and other events. North Hollywood resident Matthew ‘Cuban’ Hernandez will facilitate writing and performance workshops via his organization Spoken Literature Art Movement.

Matthew ‘Cuban’ Hernandez - LA Get Down Festival via www.nohoartsdistrict.com
Matthew ‘Cuban’ Hernandez – LA Get Down Festival via https://www.instagram.com/matthewcuban/

“Greenway has been a gathering place for who’s who in the spoken word poetry movement. The Get Down Festival is a curated window into this revolutionary art form. We are thrilled to be celebrating National Poetry Month in April with our Festival presentation, so If you are a playwright, screenwriter, actor or anyone interested in being inspired by original expression, come hang out with the poets,” said Greenway Arts Alliance co-founder and co-artistic director Pierson Blaetz.

“Spoken word expands all ages and cultures, we’re excited to have such a diverse schedule of talent leading the workshops this year, they embody the true spirit of Greenway’s commitment to arts and education,” added Greenway Arts Alliance co-founder and co-artistic director Whitney Weston.

“The LA Get Down Festival has importance beyond the City of Los Angeles. One of the main reasons is the lack of any National competition. With the National Poetry Slam’s governing board dissolving at the end of 2018, the ‘nationally’ sanctioned slam event is defunct. The LA Get Down allows teams from all over the country to compete against each other, during our InkSlam competition,” said LA Get Down Festival director Shihan Van Clief.

Van Clief continues, “The hope this year with the festival is to broaden our range of poetic programming, giving opportunities for poetry to be presented in a way that expands on what and how poetry can be consumed by an audience. We have themed nightly events, such as Poetry vs Hip-Hop, we also have Heartstorms, which is poetry packaged as an ensemble piece based around one poet’s work. We also have the team competition in which eight teams from around the country compete against each other for cash prizes.”

“Poetry is very much a niche art form, but with the Get Down we have the ability to show folks that the best way to find an appreciation for it is to experience it in a different capacity than what they’ve been used to. And hopefully, that’s what they get from this year’s festival,” he concludes.

North Hollywood resident Matthew ‘Cuban’ Hernandez will participate in this year’s LA Get Down Festival.

Matthew ‘Cuban’ Hernandez - LA Get Down Festival via www.nohoartsdistrict.com
Matthew ‘Cuban’ Hernandez – LA Get Down Festival via https://www.instagram.com/matthewcuban/

Matthew is a poet, speaker and performance coach from Jacksonville, Florida. He has toured as far as Abu Dhabi and nearly every major city in the United States and Europe, performing, teaching and coaching poetry. A teaching artist for nearly 10 years, Matthew has spent the last four years working in youth detention centers across Los Angeles County. He has opened for artists such as Wu-Tang and has performed for platforms such as BuzzFeed and NPR. Matthew is also a three-time Southern Fried Poetry Slam champion and an award-winning poetry coach. Cuban’s favorite activity is making people feel great; sometimes he does this through poetry.

Matthew is also the author of “3032,” a collection of poems paying homage to the address number of his childhood home in Florida. The book explores the dynamics of his childhood, and how they influenced his path in educating incarcerated youth.

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How did you first become enamored with poetry?

I’m a first generation Cuban-American poet from Jacksonville, Florida.

I first fell in love with poetry in the bars and night clubs of Duval County in Florida. I dabbled on the page a bit and some adults took notice, sneaking me into 21 and over spots where poetry was the late night entertainment. I fell in love with the poet’s power and passion and knew right away that I was capable of the same.

I began working with youth when I was just a youth myself. Beginning at 17, I would volunteer my time in the youth centers of Jacksonville. Just a year or two following, I began my own youth poetry organization called Shattered Thought.

What are you doing at this year’s LA Get Down Festival?

Planning and facilitating writing and performance workshops on behalf of my organization, Spoken Literature Art Movement. One workshop will be led by our alumni teaching artists in training. The other will be led by myself and my partner, Alyesha Wise-Hernandez.

I taught workshops last year and I participated in the group and individual poetry slams a couple of times years before.

How can local youth participate in the L.A. poetry scene?

Plenty of ways! Here are a few organizations that work with youth poets. They all provide some type of free programming.
• Street Poets
• Say Word
• Get Lit-Words Ignite

Any words of advice for aspiring young poets?

• Be inspired, but be on a path to discover your own voice. Don’t try to sound like everyone else.
• Don’t try to become a poet for fame or popularity.
• Be ready to not be perfect. Writers learn the most via the edits.

Don’t miss this year’s LA Get Down Festival!

LA Get Festival via www.nohoartsdistrict.com

WHEN:

April 5 – 27, 2019 during National Poetry Month

WHERE:

Greenway Court Theatre
544 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036

TICKETS>>

**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo. On Instagram @NoHoArtsDistrict and Facebook @NoHoArtsDistrict.

The Big Oak Theatre Presents “Last of The Red Hot Lovers”

The Big Oak Theatre Presents “Last of The Red Hot Lovers.” Written by Neil Simon and Directed by Patrick Hart. 

“Last of The Red Hot Lovers” runs March 30, 31, April 6,7,13 & 14 at 3pm

The Big Oak Theatre, 22200 Chatsworth Blvd, Chatsworth CA 91311

The chance to see a Neil Simon play isn’t one to be missed.  This genius of comedy and social commentary was the most prolific writer of our times…probably of any times in fact. 

He’s also the most decorated, receiving more combined Oscar and Tony nominations than any other writer.

thumbnail Elaine Barney 5 edit

The Big Oak Theatre’s production of his play “Last of The Red Hot Lovers” is totally faithful to the spirit and hilarity of the original.  Set in the 60s in New York, the hero, Barney Cashman, is a middle-aged, married fish restaurant owner who wants to join the sexual revolution before it’s too late.  A generally harmless, gentle soul with no experience in adultery, he fails miserably at each of his three attempts at an affair.  Once with a man eater who pursues him at his own restaurant, once with an actress he met in the park who turned out to be mad as a hatter, and lastly and very ill advisedly, with his wife’s best friend, who merely sought revenge against her own philandering husband.

It’s all a delightful recipe for disaster. As the play unfolds and Barney becomes more and more desperate to consummate some kind of anything, we begin to understand his yearning for adventure, however misguided and delusional.

These brilliant and richly drawn characters would give any actor a dream of an excuse to flaunt their skills.  Funny, paranoid, brutal, timid, sweaty, nervous, depressed and depraved are just some of the nuances of these roles and these particularly entertaining actors absolutely revel in them. 

Everyone is brilliant.  Each firmly placing their own stamp on these now iconic characters…bravo!

thumbnail Jeanette, Barney 2 edit

It’s a laugh out loud play, Simon’s words are of course brilliant and timeless, as are his situations, characters and story.  Poor Barney….so completely unaware of the luck of his life, so oblivious to the misery of other people’s. His journey is so well written and in this production so well cast and so well executed.  

It’s a lovely theatre, tucked away in the wilds of Chatsworth, up against the mountains in the delightful farmyard of Big Oak.  In this quaint and charming setting sits this highly professional theatre and a superb company of actors supported by the brilliant Patrick Hart and his lovely wife Bonnie. 

I highly recommend “Last of The Red Hot Lovers” at The Big Oak Theatre in Chatsworth.  But don’t dawdle!! The run is short, so get your tickets fast!

http://www.bigoaktheatre.com/Reservations.html

Cast:

Andrew Meglio – Barney

Nova Dejhemani – Elaine

Liz Fenning – Bobbi

Virginia Brazier – Jeanette

Production Crew:

Patrick Hart – Director, Set Design, Executive Producer

Bonnie Hart – Executive Producer

Jessica Haganey – Stage Manager

Adam Cota – Lighting Design

Sherman Ellison – Sound Consultant

Barbara Leiner – Box Office

Karen Lehman, Denise Greenhut, Chenoa Neilson – Hospitality

Robert Arach – Tickets

Patrick Ames “All I Do is Bleed” EP Release

What a little gem…slightly odd and sweetly original. Patrick Ames’s EP “All I Do is Bleed” is a magical glimpse inside a warm, thoughtful and strangely familiar mind.

The music is vastly different from track to track, atmospheric, choral, rock n roll, deeply romantic Spanish.  But they all seem to fit together somehow, like the corners of our fractured souls.

I suppose the common denominator, what holds it all together, is Patrick and the beautiful, soulful and haunting voices of his two sublime songstresses, Chana and Mikaila Matthews.   I love that the music feels live, it feels fresh and real, and as if we are sitting in some wood-lined room with them all while they record.

This music vibrates through you as you listen.  The guitar is warm and full of bass and boldness.  The vocals hum like monks in a seminary, pure and aching and transformative.  Just gorgeous.

The songs are performed, they are theatrical and dramatic and passionately cinematic.  Patrick has a love for live performance and is often to be found in local venues in and around San Fransisco.  After listening to this EP a few times I have a bit of a yen to seek him out.

I love this EP.  It’s quirky and clearly deeply personal and full of memory.  Music should be like that, don’t you think?  At its best, all art should be like that…

Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  Twitter |  Soundcloud  |  Youtube Channel  |  Spotify

The Group Rep Presents Agatha Christie’s “The Secret of Chimneys”

The Group Rep Presents Agatha Christie’s “The Secret of Chimneys.” Directed by Jules Aaron.  Produced for the Group Rep by Kathleen Delaney and Kevin Hoffman, Jr. 

I personally love Agatha Christie, and the Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theatre has the rarely seen Christie play, “The Secret of Chimneys,” a comedy spiked with a murder mystery, and directed by the incomparable Jules Aaron.  And, it’s fun, fun, fun. 

The Brent country estate south of London sets the scene for our mystery of missing jewels, royalty and an international oil conspiracy.  It’s 1947, and there is a bearded stranger, missing princes, and unfortunately one dead prince.  But there are secrets in this manor house, and Anthony Cade (Lee Grober) has arrived to delve into its secrets, and await the arrival of Prince Michael.  Does Cade know where the missing jewels are?  Just exactly what does he know?  Well, Mrs. Lottie Lomax (Michele Schultz) and her assistant Bill Eversleigh (Dave Buzzotta) are handling the arrival of the Prince from Lord Caterham (Lloyd Pedersen) and they are quite anxious as to proper preparations for the royal arrival. 

L R DaveBuzzotta DanielLench GabrielleSigrist DougHaverty photoByDougEngalla
L R Dave Buzzotta, Danie Lench, Gabrielle Sigrist, Doug Haverty

Staying at the estate is Virginia Revel (Stasha Surdyke), your typical Christie proper ingénue who takes a shine to Anthony Cade.  The feeling is mutual, but Anthony and Virginia find a stranger shot dead in the chamber, which leads to all of us wondering ‘who done it’, and who the stranger is.  Superintendent Battle (Daniel Lench) from Scotland Yard and Monsieur Lemoine (Todd Andrew Ball) of the French Surete, our FBI counterparts, are actively investigating.  Rounding out the attendees are Lord Caterham’s daughter, Lady Eileen “Bundle” Brent (Gabrielle Sigrist), and Herman Banks (Bruce Nehlsen), as well as Housekeeper Treadwell (Michele Bernath) and both Monsieur X and Prince Michael’s security person, Boris (both played by Doug Haverty).

Wonderfully acted by all the cast, championed by the always amazing direction by Jules Aaron, “The Secret of Chimneys” is a great evening.  The set by Chris Winfield is, as usual, fantastic.  Costumes by Angela M. Eads, beautiful.  The wigs by Judi Lewin truly set the scene.

L R StashaSurdyke LeeGrober photoByDougEngalla
L R Stasha Surdyke, Lee Grober

I love English humor, and I love a murder mystery, so I definitely feel “The Secret of Chimneys” is the show to see.  Who doesn’t like a good murder mystery?  We all love them.  Have a great evening.

Enjoy!!!!!!!!

Cast:  Todd Andrew Ball, Michele Bernath, Dave Buzzotta, Lee Grober, Doug Haverty, Daniel Lench, Bruce Nehlsen, Lloyd Pedersen, Michele Schultz, Gabrielle Sigrist, Stasha Surdyke – Understudies: Kait Haire and John Schroeder.                                                                                                                        

Director:  Jules Aaron

Producers for the Group Rep:  Kathleen Delaney and& Kevin Hoffman, Jr.

Set Design:  Chris Winfield

Costume Design:  Angela M. Eads

Light Design:  Addison Calvin

Sound:  Steve Shaw

Makeup/Wigs/Hair:  Judi Lewin

Dialectician:  Linda Brennan

Assistant Directors:  Victor D’wayne Little & Kevin Hoffman, Jr.

Photography/Videography:  Doug Engalla

Public Relations:  Nora Feldman

Graphic Design:  Doug Haverty + Art & Soul Design

Lonny Chapman Theatre

10900 Burbank Blvd

North Hollywood, CA 91601

Buy Tickets and Information:  www.thegrouprep.com    or    (818) 763-5990

Show Times:  March 29 – May 5, 2019;  Fridays and Saturdays 8:00 pm;  Sundays at 2:00 pm

                         Talk-Back Sundays after matinees April 7th and April 21st

Tickets:  General Admission:  $25;   Students/Seniors with ID: $20;    Groups 10+:  $15

Running Time:  Approximately two hours and five minutes with two 10 minute intermissions.