Well, as a follow up to my last post: Ben's first pitch has been rescheduled to THIS friday. Stay tuned for that! So instead of going to the game last Friday, I went and got coffee with him instead. It was then that I had the pleasure of hearing some of the mixes of his album Ivan Strega. DANG! That's all I can say that would be radio-friendly. It sounds great. It sounds different, cohesive, completely his own flavor and sound. It is going to be a great album :) We also talked about playing some shows together in the future, which I will naturally keep everyone updated on when we do.
But to begin a new post: I read The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde last night, all in one sitting. Great book. And I was indeed taken by the concept of human duality. Only it made me think that I am more of the trinity type. Home, creativity, and performance. Those are my three. And while they all feed and nurture each other, they also fight terribly. There is only so much time in a day, and only so many days in my life... It can be quite a struggle for me to feel fulfilled and at peace when I am being tugged in so many directions. This has always been the case for me, I have always been juggling a sort of trinity in myself. The domestic, the magician, and the mime... And then there are such things as distractions, both worthy and unworthy of my attention that I must tend to as well... What I am trying to say, is that I struggle constantly to make peace and harmony out of these three. And through it all, I struggle even harder to lift everyone else above me to their own peace. I suppose that you could say that transcendence is my goal. More for others than for myself. But I also frown on talkers who don't walk their own talk. So the only option left for me is to hope that I can find transcendence in myself and that others will follow suite. It is a mad, sad, and sick world out there right now. And the hardest thing for me to do is to help myself, when all I really want is for others to get the help that they need. But I suppose truth has never been an easy pursuit, nor is it easy to find it through art. And so I will leave you with the fact that I am trying, and hopefully someday I will find what it is that I am looking for, so I can clue everyone else in. But until next time, wish me luck in my madcap ways, as I promise that they are intended to be fruitful.
xo
-Dion
Monday, August 30, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Network the network / Opening Pitch
Wow! These last few days in particular Scobra and I have been slaving away on the internet trying (and I am now starting to believe that we are succeeding) to link up all of the peeps and loose threads. 18 hour days of it at that! On one hand, it is exhausting and tedious work... On the other hand, well, we are bringing all 5 fingers together to form a... Fist? You get the idea! But through all of it, I must say that I am meeting lots of new people and artists, and that makes me feel exhilarated and happy overall.
I have also been confronting one of my fears: booking shows. Not just booking RTB, but booking the whole night, and finding other bands to play with. This is an admittedly silly fear. But I am the kind of person that takes responsibility very seriously (and I am also secretly very shy...). And so I have been nervous to take on the responsibility of making the venue and other bands happy by creating a successful event. I have also been out of the Seattle music scene for a little while, so I really had to just search out new acts that I had never heard of before. But since taking the plunge, I am just now starting to feel like I may pull it all off! Lots of really great artists are getting involved, and some of my favorite venues are down for the count! So while nothing is set in stone yet, and most of the work has still yet to be done, I'm also starting to get pretty jazzed about the whole process. I'm still sweating, mind you... But now the sweat is more be-be (bb????) sized, and less bullet.
In any event, my brain is partially fried from all of this! So forgive any awkwardness that comes across in this post. This evening will give me a moment of fun and rest though. Ben Shepherd (Soundgarden, Ivan Strega) is (shhh! it's a secret...) throwing the opening pitch for the Seattle Mariners game. Scobra and I went out last Friday to celebrate the mixing of his album. And he invited us to come see the more sporty side of him. Having known Ben for a long time, I can say with absolute confidence that the catcher will not be disappointed by his throw. He's a dang accurate 90 mph sorta pitcher... So wish me a good beer and some peanuts at the Ol' Ballgame!
xoxo
-Dion
I have also been confronting one of my fears: booking shows. Not just booking RTB, but booking the whole night, and finding other bands to play with. This is an admittedly silly fear. But I am the kind of person that takes responsibility very seriously (and I am also secretly very shy...). And so I have been nervous to take on the responsibility of making the venue and other bands happy by creating a successful event. I have also been out of the Seattle music scene for a little while, so I really had to just search out new acts that I had never heard of before. But since taking the plunge, I am just now starting to feel like I may pull it all off! Lots of really great artists are getting involved, and some of my favorite venues are down for the count! So while nothing is set in stone yet, and most of the work has still yet to be done, I'm also starting to get pretty jazzed about the whole process. I'm still sweating, mind you... But now the sweat is more be-be (bb????) sized, and less bullet.
In any event, my brain is partially fried from all of this! So forgive any awkwardness that comes across in this post. This evening will give me a moment of fun and rest though. Ben Shepherd (Soundgarden, Ivan Strega) is (shhh! it's a secret...) throwing the opening pitch for the Seattle Mariners game. Scobra and I went out last Friday to celebrate the mixing of his album. And he invited us to come see the more sporty side of him. Having known Ben for a long time, I can say with absolute confidence that the catcher will not be disappointed by his throw. He's a dang accurate 90 mph sorta pitcher... So wish me a good beer and some peanuts at the Ol' Ballgame!
xoxo
-Dion
Monday, August 23, 2010
Money Money Money
When I was 16, I was in a production of Cabaret. Oddly enough, throughout high school I was never cast in any school plays, so I went and worked in professional theatre instead. And so (even though I was a tad under age...) I was Rosie, a Kit Kat girl. In the show, one of my favorite pieces to perform was the song "Money". It started out with all of us Kit Kat girls being lead on stage in black slips with our wrists all tied together on one long rope. The MC and two dominatrix hench-women lead us all in our dance of desparation as we writhed together below them. The finale was when paper money was grabbed from the bosoms of the dominatrix and thrown over our heads as we all fought and scrambled for it. Money money money... Paper paper paper...
I still wonder about it... money. It is a piece of paper (which hasn't been backed by any tangible assets for over 30 years). And yet we die for it, kill for it, cry for it. It is dirty, literally filthy. Covered in shit, dirt, and coke. But we still pray for it, and live our lives in it's name.
Today, I read in the news that California just opened up the country's most expensive school ever built. Never mind Cali's non-existent budget, the drop out rates, or the infrastructure. Why they have a shiny new object!
I also read that it will now cost $300 in the Phili to acquire a "Bloggers License"... which may be required...
I am also, personally, disappointed and disgusted at the concept of having to pay money to submit my music to booking agents. It seems to be a new revenue model of sorts - 'Would you like to play this show? Submit your EPK to our famous establishment for only $45 and you could be chosen to play!" Mind you, you will not be paid for your gig, you will PAY FOR YOUR GIG. Sound like the lottery? Only more expensive? And yes, folks do win the lottery. And yes, I suppose if you invite submissions from all over the world, you will have a lot more work going through all of them. And yet - I believe a booking agent, or just yourself acting on your own behalf (along with some cozy connections...) is probably far more effective than paying money for what will most likely be nothing.
If money really made the world go around, we'd all be somewhere else right now. As in: not on a world that is rotating on it's axis. Money comes, money goes. Sometimes money is a shell, sometimes it's a coin, or paper, or a number in a computer... But none of it holds any tangible value. Food is real. A home is real. Commerce with a community is real. And ART is real to every person on this earth. But 'that clinking clanking sound' of money is a passing thing. So I do my best to not walk to the rhythm of it, but rather to the rhythm of everything else that is real.
p.s. click on the title of this post to see/hear the song of which I write :)
xoxo
-Dion
I still wonder about it... money. It is a piece of paper (which hasn't been backed by any tangible assets for over 30 years). And yet we die for it, kill for it, cry for it. It is dirty, literally filthy. Covered in shit, dirt, and coke. But we still pray for it, and live our lives in it's name.
Today, I read in the news that California just opened up the country's most expensive school ever built. Never mind Cali's non-existent budget, the drop out rates, or the infrastructure. Why they have a shiny new object!
I also read that it will now cost $300 in the Phili to acquire a "Bloggers License"... which may be required...
I am also, personally, disappointed and disgusted at the concept of having to pay money to submit my music to booking agents. It seems to be a new revenue model of sorts - 'Would you like to play this show? Submit your EPK to our famous establishment for only $45 and you could be chosen to play!" Mind you, you will not be paid for your gig, you will PAY FOR YOUR GIG. Sound like the lottery? Only more expensive? And yes, folks do win the lottery. And yes, I suppose if you invite submissions from all over the world, you will have a lot more work going through all of them. And yet - I believe a booking agent, or just yourself acting on your own behalf (along with some cozy connections...) is probably far more effective than paying money for what will most likely be nothing.
If money really made the world go around, we'd all be somewhere else right now. As in: not on a world that is rotating on it's axis. Money comes, money goes. Sometimes money is a shell, sometimes it's a coin, or paper, or a number in a computer... But none of it holds any tangible value. Food is real. A home is real. Commerce with a community is real. And ART is real to every person on this earth. But 'that clinking clanking sound' of money is a passing thing. So I do my best to not walk to the rhythm of it, but rather to the rhythm of everything else that is real.
p.s. click on the title of this post to see/hear the song of which I write :)
xoxo
-Dion
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Dang
Wow... Belltown's first annual Founder's Day Festival was a hit! And to be honest, our set brought the house down and stole the night! It was wonderful, dreamy even. And I have to thank everyone that was involved from the bottom of my heart. I spent many of my own hours building a set, rehearsing, and working with a growing team of folks that were also part of the show. And what a team! Stone Crow Designs (headed by the amazing Jennifer Charkow) put a whole line together from design to construction and runway in a matter of weeks! Marcia Burgess and her crew of assistants did out of this world hair/makeup. Mandie Liscious made my costume, gloves, and headpiece in less than a month flat. We had Avataria of Philli fly all the way out to the west coast to DJ and sing backup vocals with us... Ahh, and the list could go on. Stage management by Joshua and Charlie, merch by miz Ginny, Dance piece by Erin and Sam. More foxy moves from Stella Rose... Goodness, we had a serious team of folks pulling this show-mobile forward. I also have to thank my pops for running the whole outfit and helping get our set built and put on stage.... Is the outro music playing already? So many people to say "THANK YOU!" to.
But again, WOW. Scobra mixed the show, and I have to say, we sounded like a million bucks, our tracks bouncing off of the walls of all the buildings downtown. Crisp, clean, and clear.
And now, we have even more shows in the works. Bookings from folks that saw our throw-down, so you can expect an even bigger show next time!
Putting this show together was an exciting first step for me (and perhaps everyone else... but I haven't asked them specifically yet...). I feel like it is a hot 'square one' for our future shows, and I am now looking forward to 'square two'. More fashion, more dance, throw in some aerial work and pyro, and I think you are looking at 'square three'. We're getting there... all contacts in order... just need the venue. But I am rambling, babbling out of happiness. I am happy. Simply put. I am happy and thrilled that this show and everyone involved came together and gave something fresh and new to the audience. Really entertained them. And everyone involved is down for the next one! What could be better than that?
Okay, I'll go now, otherwise I may overflow with all of this gooey happiness and ruin my computer ;)
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
-Dion
But again, WOW. Scobra mixed the show, and I have to say, we sounded like a million bucks, our tracks bouncing off of the walls of all the buildings downtown. Crisp, clean, and clear.
And now, we have even more shows in the works. Bookings from folks that saw our throw-down, so you can expect an even bigger show next time!
Putting this show together was an exciting first step for me (and perhaps everyone else... but I haven't asked them specifically yet...). I feel like it is a hot 'square one' for our future shows, and I am now looking forward to 'square two'. More fashion, more dance, throw in some aerial work and pyro, and I think you are looking at 'square three'. We're getting there... all contacts in order... just need the venue. But I am rambling, babbling out of happiness. I am happy. Simply put. I am happy and thrilled that this show and everyone involved came together and gave something fresh and new to the audience. Really entertained them. And everyone involved is down for the next one! What could be better than that?
Okay, I'll go now, otherwise I may overflow with all of this gooey happiness and ruin my computer ;)
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
-Dion
Friday, August 13, 2010
AHHHH!
I barely have time to even type this! But the Founder's Day Festival show is coming together! We are playing this Sunday, and now have about 20 people in our show. Fashion runway, dancers, trannys, freaks, lushes, we've got all that is oddly aesthetic. Plus, I built a beautiful backdrop and set for the show (hard work!!!). It's going to be a show to remember :)
But now I have to go to the dress/tech rehearsal....
I'll fill in more after the show.... honestly, it's that madcap right now.
xoxoxoxox
-Dion
But now I have to go to the dress/tech rehearsal....
I'll fill in more after the show.... honestly, it's that madcap right now.
xoxoxoxox
-Dion
Monday, August 2, 2010
Busy Bee
Ha ha, so this may be a bit of a silly post. But I just realized that the title is also the name of the funky corner store across the street from where I am living. Back when I first moved to this neighborhood as a teenager, this hood was still solidly 'hood'. The busy bee was missing a whole section of their wall, so they used to keep these two really agro dobermans chained outside of the missing section. At full-vicious extension of their chains, they would get just out of biting-reach of you as you walked through the aisle past the ice cream... Since then, they have put a wall back up... classing up the joint as it were...
But now to what I really meant to write about: I have been a busy bee myself these last few days. Working my butt off on the album, and all things related. More wonderful guest artists are joining the ranks. Tim McGovern of The Motels is hopping on board. I am very excited to have yet another brilliant and hard working artist be a part of this project!
I have also been doing a lot of work on our upcoming show at Seattle's Founder's Day Festival. We're talking fashion runways, troupes of dancers, people flying in from all over the country to see us... It's going to be proper pandemonium. My only hope is that it is also harmonious. And as it is all starting to come together, I am feeling more and more confident that it will be.
Today I am also having my first fitting for my costume that is being designed by the lovely Mandie. I can't wait to see and feel the rough draft on me. Last week we went and picked out the fabric (black, silver lace, and royal purple), and now I get to see the beginnings of life in this outfit. :)
-Work, work, work. I've got more to do, and so I must go. Such is the life of a busy bee.
p.s. If you click on the title of this post, it will link you to the new mixes of a few of the songs that are going on the album. Sneak a peek if you wish :)
But now to what I really meant to write about: I have been a busy bee myself these last few days. Working my butt off on the album, and all things related. More wonderful guest artists are joining the ranks. Tim McGovern of The Motels is hopping on board. I am very excited to have yet another brilliant and hard working artist be a part of this project!
I have also been doing a lot of work on our upcoming show at Seattle's Founder's Day Festival. We're talking fashion runways, troupes of dancers, people flying in from all over the country to see us... It's going to be proper pandemonium. My only hope is that it is also harmonious. And as it is all starting to come together, I am feeling more and more confident that it will be.
Today I am also having my first fitting for my costume that is being designed by the lovely Mandie. I can't wait to see and feel the rough draft on me. Last week we went and picked out the fabric (black, silver lace, and royal purple), and now I get to see the beginnings of life in this outfit. :)
-Work, work, work. I've got more to do, and so I must go. Such is the life of a busy bee.
p.s. If you click on the title of this post, it will link you to the new mixes of a few of the songs that are going on the album. Sneak a peek if you wish :)
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