Greetings and salutations!!
In my last post, the outlook was pretty grim. Now, all is good in my kingdom! I have secured a new day job. I'll be working for Kmart Monday-Thursday nights. Yes, Kmart. A company that is stable, cares about customer service, and isn't difficult to get to...and they were hiring. They were really really flexible and understanding with my schedule. I have a schedule block in place so that I can continue to play gigs Friday-Sunday nights...I can't work after 4PM those days. This gives me enough time to get home to Rogers Park and head to where ever I'm going...and get there by about 6PM [seems like i can get nearly anywhere in the city in about an hour]. This makes me extremely happy as it means that I don't have to move in with my sister in Indy, I greatly appreciate her offer and I think it would be fun for a short term thing, but I love Chicago.
Gigs
Not a whole lot on the horizon. Cam's Tie is playing 1 Slam in July and 2 Slams in August. I don't have another theater gig lined up. It appears that my teaching studio is going to start up again soon though-I've had interest from two potential students.
I'm also in the early stages of forming another band. Ever since I studied with Tom Mendel in 2006, I've wanted to form a Motown/Funk/Soul band playing Detroit's music from the 60's & 70's. From Marvin Gaye to Sly & The Family Stone to James Brown to Stevie Wonder. So, I'm starting to arrange some charts, find players, and give this a shot. The band will be white guys from the Midwest playing Detroit's music. Yeah, I'm NOT ruling out using black or other minorities, it's just-most of the cats I've played with are typically middle classish white guys...in the Midwest. I'll be leading this band from the bass chair. I'll also be the principle arranger, booking agent, band manager, etc. All that I want from my players is to show up, play their best, and leave. Not a democracy, a much more friendly dictatorship. I'm taking my time with the players-I want to get the best cats for the job even if it means NOT using some of my friends. This is a business that is fun, not fun that is a business.
More to come as I figure stuff out.
all the best.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Mid-Late June
Greetings my loyal followers....
Evita is in the final shows. We had a sing through tonight as a refresher for the last 4 shows. We're doing Friday & Saturday shows the next two weeks. It should be fun. It'll be weird not playing this show anymore, but hey. The show picked up either 6 or 8 Jeff Awards including Best Musical Non-Equity, Best Music Director, and then a few best actors awards. Pretty hip.
Cam's Tie at the Slam. Cam's Tie is still going strong. Scottie is subbing out Sunday the 21st, so I thought what better time than to bring in a buddy from Lafayette? Yep. The drummer that I played with all the time in high school had just moved up to Chicago, so it seemed like the perfect time to have him join me on his first Chicago pro gig. His name is Tanner Lee. We played for nearly everything at Jeff High School together. I'm looking forward to it. If things go well, he'll be my top choice sub for when Scott is unavailable. A part of it is, I'm excited to see how it feels after the few years it's been since we played together last. Add in that this environment is about as relaxed as you can get, it pays well, and it's at the GREEN MILL.
Side tangent about the rest of life...
I'm looking for a new day job. I have 3 shifts left. If i don't find something new, I'll be moving to Indy for a while. I'm hoping for less than 3 months. I don't want to lose what I have here in Chicago by moving to Indiana for much time. It'll cost me a bit of green to make the Mill gigs, but I think it'd be worth it. Instead of doing 3 Sundays a month, we'd probably just do 2 a month. It's a bit of a drive to be making at 10PM. Ok, it's a bit of a drive because I'm a horrible driver that has been thrilled to NOT drive much the past 4 years. I'm vastly more comfortable getting on a bus or train and just remembering to get off at a given stop. Yeah, it's not not the same as being able to leave whenever I want and not carry gear. However, I'll take walking 6 blocks with my DB w/it's wheel, an amp on a cart, and 2 electric basses in a back pack gig bag while going down stairs. Why? Because I don't have to screw with cars and driving. $86 for unlimited rides on the CTA. I couldn't park for that much.
So, if any of my readers know of any places that are hiring, let me know-please. I've been using: CarrerBuilder.com, Monster.com, Yahoo Hot Jobs, Craigs List, and SnagaJob.com, in addition to walking around looking for "Help Wanted" signs. I have extensive retail experience-7 years and I can work a flexible schedule. The only times that i can't work are: Sundays after 4PM and for a chunk of the year I play shows on Friday & Saturday nights.
all the best.
Evita is in the final shows. We had a sing through tonight as a refresher for the last 4 shows. We're doing Friday & Saturday shows the next two weeks. It should be fun. It'll be weird not playing this show anymore, but hey. The show picked up either 6 or 8 Jeff Awards including Best Musical Non-Equity, Best Music Director, and then a few best actors awards. Pretty hip.
Cam's Tie at the Slam. Cam's Tie is still going strong. Scottie is subbing out Sunday the 21st, so I thought what better time than to bring in a buddy from Lafayette? Yep. The drummer that I played with all the time in high school had just moved up to Chicago, so it seemed like the perfect time to have him join me on his first Chicago pro gig. His name is Tanner Lee. We played for nearly everything at Jeff High School together. I'm looking forward to it. If things go well, he'll be my top choice sub for when Scott is unavailable. A part of it is, I'm excited to see how it feels after the few years it's been since we played together last. Add in that this environment is about as relaxed as you can get, it pays well, and it's at the GREEN MILL.
Side tangent about the rest of life...
I'm looking for a new day job. I have 3 shifts left. If i don't find something new, I'll be moving to Indy for a while. I'm hoping for less than 3 months. I don't want to lose what I have here in Chicago by moving to Indiana for much time. It'll cost me a bit of green to make the Mill gigs, but I think it'd be worth it. Instead of doing 3 Sundays a month, we'd probably just do 2 a month. It's a bit of a drive to be making at 10PM. Ok, it's a bit of a drive because I'm a horrible driver that has been thrilled to NOT drive much the past 4 years. I'm vastly more comfortable getting on a bus or train and just remembering to get off at a given stop. Yeah, it's not not the same as being able to leave whenever I want and not carry gear. However, I'll take walking 6 blocks with my DB w/it's wheel, an amp on a cart, and 2 electric basses in a back pack gig bag while going down stairs. Why? Because I don't have to screw with cars and driving. $86 for unlimited rides on the CTA. I couldn't park for that much.
So, if any of my readers know of any places that are hiring, let me know-please. I've been using: CarrerBuilder.com, Monster.com, Yahoo Hot Jobs, Craigs List, and SnagaJob.com, in addition to walking around looking for "Help Wanted" signs. I have extensive retail experience-7 years and I can work a flexible schedule. The only times that i can't work are: Sundays after 4PM and for a chunk of the year I play shows on Friday & Saturday nights.
all the best.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Cam's Tie in NY Times!!
Greetings,
Cam's Tie in the NY Times print and web!
Ok, so we're not named, but we're in the pictures and audio. If go click on this link Cam's Tie in NY Times you can view the page. Once you're there, the audio on the audio slideshow & backing the poets is us. Hip eh?
Evita
We're doing the 4 more shows. June 19th, 20th, 26th, & 27th. I'm a little dissapointed that we're only doing 4 more shows, but eh. I'm partially motivated by ::gasp:: money. Yeah, I lose my day job by the end of this month & I don't have anything lined up beyond Slams. It's been a fun run and a great experience.
Cam's Tie in June
We're playing the 7th, 14th, and 21st backing the Uptown Poetry Slam at the Green Mill. Preshow music starts about 6:45PM, $6 cover, 21+. This is my favorite gig. It's a relaxed atmosphere, totally improvised, and the venue is killer. The people at the Green Mill are amazing-from the bartenders & waitresses to the poets and patrons.
all the best.
Cam's Tie in the NY Times print and web!
Ok, so we're not named, but we're in the pictures and audio. If go click on this link Cam's Tie in NY Times you can view the page. Once you're there, the audio on the audio slideshow & backing the poets is us. Hip eh?
Evita
We're doing the 4 more shows. June 19th, 20th, 26th, & 27th. I'm a little dissapointed that we're only doing 4 more shows, but eh. I'm partially motivated by ::gasp:: money. Yeah, I lose my day job by the end of this month & I don't have anything lined up beyond Slams. It's been a fun run and a great experience.
Cam's Tie in June
We're playing the 7th, 14th, and 21st backing the Uptown Poetry Slam at the Green Mill. Preshow music starts about 6:45PM, $6 cover, 21+. This is my favorite gig. It's a relaxed atmosphere, totally improvised, and the venue is killer. The people at the Green Mill are amazing-from the bartenders & waitresses to the poets and patrons.
all the best.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
