It Takes a TEAM!

I'm in reflective mode this week as I bask in the success - and recover from the weight - of Thunderbelly: The Musical.
With a team of 25 Cast, Crew, and Musicians to manage, the project has been an enormous workload - for everyone.  And with a series of hurdles to overcome along the way, there were times when I wondered if we were ever gonna get to the end! If you've ever been involved in Community Theatre, you'll know exactly what I mean.  If you've ever Produced and Directed Community Theatre, you'll have your own 'war stories' to tell.
But now - at the end of the project - here's what I reckon is worth sharing;

• to each one of you who was there for the final presentations after last performance - this was undoubtedly the best team I've ever worked with on a show. The way this final group bonded together was incredible.
• A good team relies on each other....every single person has a job to do.....each member of the team supports and encourages the others....each person does the job they've been called to do.
• Every member of the team brings their own unique skills and talents to the project ....each member has their strengths and their weaknesses.  The mark of an excellent team is that all contribute what they can - between us, the strengths and weaknesses are balanced out.
• This team had incredible focus and commitment.  Combined with their generosity of spirit and their care for each other,  it's no wonder that it was an unbeatable TEAM.

The results are evident and speak for themselves.  You only had to be there to see it in action.
And that's WHY it's addictive and why we all go back for more.
It's called Community.

 

Onstage and On Form

Why ~ Community?

So often I'm asked by friends with puzzled looks on their face/s ..."WHY do you put all this effort in when you get so little or nothing out of it?"  And it's not easy to articulate an answer when we live in a world where there is an expectation of what's in it for me?
Yup!  I'm back in the middle of a big theatre production where surplus profits are being donated to a local NFP - the Merewether Community Kitchen.   And that means, as writer/director/producer I'm overwhelmed with rehearsals, costumes, props, sets, sound, lights, promotion, - those myriad details that go in to putting on a production.
And I do that willingly because
a)  this is one of my creative 'voices'
b) I get to mentor, challenge, and develop others in their craft (with the satisfaction involved in seeing them achieve)
c) I get to bring laughter and happiness to so many people, participants/audience/recipients
d) I get to make a difference in individuals lives and in my community
e) ...and a dozen other reasons including the sheer joy and fun of seeing it all come together.
....BUT don't give me too many accolades .....
do you have any idea of how MANY members of the community get involved?
Let's hear a big round of applause for;

• the performers who give up their Sunday afternoons for @ 3 months plus an evening through the week to get to rehearsals.....not to mention the hours they put in learning lines, moves, choreography, lyrics ..... for no tangible reward
• the technical crew ...a Set Director who spends hours of time creating and building a set to fit each production ....a Sound Director who comes to every rehearsal to plan his strategy and technical requirements for the show.....a Lighting Director who utilises extensive skills to create the atmosphere to fit the show 
• the musicians who give up their Sunday's too for rehearsals and an occasional mid-week evening as well
• the volunteers ...ladies who manage the door, help distribute promotional material, the helping hands who assist with moving, building, making, the various bits to showcase the production.... and the helpers who lend a hand to set up and pack up the chairs .....these folks don't even get a round of applause to say thanks !

.....all of these people - and me - must be nuts!  But we are part of our community.  And so are YOU

.....So next time you're sitting at home alone with your telly and tech gadgets, wondering if life is going by at a blur....it probably is.   Engage with your community ..... get along to a local performance of something, celebrate the members of your community doing SOMETHING in, and for, your community.  That's the stuff that connects and builds a community  
You never know, you just might enjoy being an active part of that community.

Cruisin' into silly season

If you're working or living in the Newcastle city and surrounds I've got a great idea for a November Hump Day .... Wednesday 18th Nov ....from 6-9 ...I'm doing a cruisy duo with the oh-so-fabulous Master guitarist Steve Cowley. 
What a great way to wind down after a mid-week working day, chill out with a couple of drinks, enjoy some delicious food, and kick back to some fabulous music...someone else does the dishes and you can groove home for an early night of peaceful slumber.

We're doing an evening of "through the cracks" - some songs that I DIDN'T get to play this year [oh, well ok ...and a couple of favourites that I didn't get to play enough!]  Some rare pieces, and plenty of Originals [cos I've been so busy playing covers this year that I haven't played my own music since - FOREVER!] ... and some delicious instrumentals from Steve - cos he doesn't get to play his favourite pieces much either!

So, if you've been to any of my shows at The Dungeon this year, you're likely to have seen/heard Steve playing and undoubtedly have been blown away by one of Newcastle's best kept secrets.   shhhhhh ...if the rest of the country finds out I may never get to play with him again!  I don't often get the chance to duo with Steve so this is a rare treat - you AND I - are going to enjoy.

We're playing at the new FogHorn Brewhouse at 218 King Street Newcastle ....there's no cover charge, the beer I'm told is amazing and so much variety, the food is getting the thumbs-up all 'round ... and you KNOW the music is going to be just up your street!  Again, its Wednesday 18th November at 6pm
Join us, why don't you?  No reason to say no. 

Roundup Time

Well, this month sees the end of my Theme shows for the year ...and wow, what a year it's been!  I begin production for my new Theatre work at the beginning of November and that's going to be an intense focus until the show opens in March.  {you can get a sneak preview here: Shhhhhh!}

with Steve Cowley and Dave Pudney at The Dungeon

There have been more highs and very few lows during 2015.  It's been such a joy working with the amazing musicians that have joined me onstage this year.  And haven't we tripped down some lanes remembering some great music!
If you missed some of the shows, you might get a chance to see a couple of them next year thanks to one or two great supportive venues.  Speaking of which, I'm truly appreciative of those venues who support quality live music AND look after their musicians too as increasingly, venues are getting greedier at the expense of their entertainers.

And one of the fascinating things that have raised my curiosity this year is watching people at a live gig peruse the CD's and replace them.  I watch them reading the jacket - looking for a familiar track perhaps?  Something that they know.  Indie songwriters rarely record covers of other songs - what's the point?  There's a full article about this on my website ...if you'd like to read more click on the link here: Try the Jacket for Size
So if you've been part of the audience this year .....THANK YOU for coming along to support independent local music and I look forward to sharing some new musical journeys and experiences in the next year.