The End of 2009

There's 1.5 days left of 2009 and I'm back at square one. The job I started came to an end a week later thanks to senior managers who have their heads in the clouds and no idea how the little people below them work. I'm greatly pissed off at that. I'm still ill and tired. Panto is over and I'm showless again. I know I need to take a break and rest but it would be nice to have something definite to work on again.

Speaking of panto, it was an amazing experience and I met and worked with so many lovely people that I hope to see again and again in the future. I definitely don't regret doing and am quite chuffed with myself that I managed to get up in front of all those people and sing solo. Go me. Onwards and upwards now.

Just one more evening here with the family then I fly back to London in the morning to get my NYE on and to get on with having a fruitful and fun 2010.

Panto/Weekend Stuff

Just a short email as I need to go to bed soon and be up bright and early in the morning to start work. Exciting, scary etc.

Have had a very busy weekend. I got a call on Friday evening with a filming job offer for the following morning. So after a night of panto -ness and a couple of drinks at the bar, I was dragging myself out of bed on Saturday morning for a spot of filming. I should have details and a link to the finished product soon. Afterwars it was straight to the theatre for the matinee and evening panto performance. Inbetween the shows I stuffed myself with a whole pizza. That was fun. We're having a great run of shows. Some good audiences especially today's matinee crowd - a bunch of very noisy children indeed! Got tomorrow night off before we're back to do it all again on tuesday and that'll take us right up to Saturday. Don't know how I'm going to do it all AND train in the new job. Pass me the Berocca!

It's Begun!

Opening night has been and gone and I don't think we did too shabby. Once the audience warmed up (and had a couple of drinks at the interval) they began to get into the spirit of things more which is always encouraging when you're making a tit of yourself onstage. The show did not pass without incident though. I almost made it to the end when during an amorous moment onstage I lost balance and landed on my bum. It didn't hurt then but it hurt this morning when I got out of bed. Looking forward to seeing what cock-ups the next twelves shows will bring.

On a similar note. We had our final rehearsal on Monday which started out well but quickly descended into mishaps and chaos with broken props, wrong sound/lighting cues and fluffed lines, until we couldn't fight it any longer and played along with the silliest. One of the funniest nights in my life with a great bunch of people.

Now it's time to pack my back and make my way over to the theatre for Show #2. Allon-sy!

Halp!

Request: Can someone please hypnotise me and make me forget about my fear of singing in public so I don't forget all the singing technique I've learned and forget to breathe too so I can sing in chest voice and actually do a decent job of my solo singy bits I have in the show. Ta very much.

That pretty much sums up what's going through my head when it comes to panto rehearsals. The rest of it is fine - lines, routines, set, costumes are all coming together nicely now and it's beginning to look fab!

PS: I really need to control my potty mouth.

Look At Us!

Charging ahead with rehearsals. Got details from the director about plans for the next two weeks in the run-up to the show and it's fair to say that I will have no other life outside panto. Especially if I manage to get some office dayjob in the meantime too. Can't wait to perform it though!

Top 10 Number 11s

Using my time productively and compling my Top Ten list of songs that peaked at number 11 this decade:

Black Eyed Peas - Let's Get It Started
Gwen Stefani - Cool
Pink - God Is A DJ
Artful Dodger feat. Michelle Escoffery - Think About Me
Sugababes - Shape
Brandy - Afrodisiac
Anastacia - Not That Kind
Spice Girls - Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)
Will Young - Who Am I
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean (Re-issue)

Next On The List

So the month is almost over and I've taken part in new play, The Showgirl, and did some cabaret in Network Theatre's 70th Anniversary celebrations. Now it's time to focus on the panto rehearsals so we can pull off a great show in December which will be fun fun fun! I'm very excited about doing it. Especially as I'll be running around on stage in either a fancy frock or pirate gear. Maybe it's a side-effect from my eye problem but I like all things piratey. Fun!

At time of writing I may also have a possible short term "normal" job in the pipeline and if I wasn't going to be busy enough I shall also be stage managing a play at the beginning of December called "Dogging". Just got the script through, it's rude, cheeky and fun. Sounds like I'm summing myself up there!

Both shows will take me up to Christmas and I'm already comtemplating what to do with my life come January. Fresh new evenings and weekends to fill up with fun, creative projects. Bring it on.

Busy-licious!

I'm been trying to plan my social life and it's not going well. I am going to be BUSY! Especially next week when not only do I have ongoing rehearsals for a play AND a cabaret performance (both of which are opening on the same evening!) but I also start panto rehearsals on Sunday too which is another thing to factor in and to make sure I have all the imporant dates down in the schedule. Come the 18th things will have calmed down slightly and I'll only have one production on the go. Maybe by then I can use my free time to integrate myself back into the working world and pay my way like everyone else.

In the meantime I have updated and set up my Stage Jobs profile and website. It's all in the early stages but it's time to put myself out there more. Need a job, gotta work!

Headshots

Oooh la la... had a photographer friend take some headshots of me. Waiting for the CD of images if me in all my photoshopped & thespian glory but in the meantime, here's a preview:


And one of me trying to pose and look interesting:

Time Out

I'm currently taking some time out and have gone home to do some family stuff (as well as doing some pondering about my life and all that sails in her). I've been fitted for my bridesmaid dress, tomorrow I get to meet my "all grown up" 13-month old neice again followed by helping my Dad celebrate another milestone birthday on Saturday. Then back to London on Sunday where I will be thrust back into the thick of it. Next week is looking pretty busy already. Ooh-err!

Innersound Photoshoot

A recent photoshoot I did for an alternative health company. I got vouchers for some free sessions. Cool!


Other shots from the shoot:

Words I Like

Regardless of what you or anyone thinks about astrology, I saw this a couple of days ago on MSN and I liked it. So I'm going to believe, this time.

LEO - July 24th - August 23rd

Putting your heart into your work will have wonderful results. You're enormously
creative, and can develop new methods which are less expensive and more appealing. If you're looking for work, seek opportunities related to politics, architecture, or
banking. You could find just the sort of high profile job that brings out the best in you. People respond well to your warm energy and attracting new clients and customers will make you popular with the boss.

Michael

So lost right now. Everything has changed. Can't believe he's gone.

Me On Radio

I'm still waiting for a copy of the BBC New interview footage but in the meantime I've got hold of the interview I did on LBC yesterday. Thisis only half of the interview, for some reason it won't upload in it entireity so I'm trying to sort that out. But here is the first 6 minutes anyway:

My Michael Jackson Media

I attended Michael Jackson's press conference yesterday and taped some footage. First up is the "teaser" video being played for us while waiting for MJ to arrive on stage:



The second is his "speech" announcing his summer concerts. Lots of screaming!




It's all very exciting! I hope to have footage of my BBC News interview to upload soon.

Photos From The Set

In January I ended up dancing in a club scene in a South Indian/Bollywood film. Below are some shots from the day: