At some point in our relationship, almost every friend of mine has asked me if I like a certain artistor what artists am I listening to? My response seems to surprise everyone: I don't really listen to music.
Oh, I did! For many years I'd devour whole discographies of an artist or composer I liked. Billy Joel, Yes, Rush, Styx, Bela Fleck, Kansas, Bernstein - I've probably heard every single recording by or about these people. But, in the last five years, or so, all that has changed. These days, when driving in the car I'm either listening to NPR news, WMNF news, a burned CD of some podcasts (my favorites are Inside Home Recording, Geek Speak, NPR Technology, NPR Religion, On the Media, KCRW's To the Point, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, and Talk of the Nation Science Friday), or a book on CD. As far as the car is concerned, I've gotten to the point where I'd rather not listen to anything than listen to music. Now, this isn't all the time, but for the most part it holds true.
Home is a different matter. I work at home in my office. So, pretty much all day long I have to listen to the music I'm working on (this can get really old really fast!). It also means I can't have any music or TV running while I'm working. Sometimes, if what I'm doing is cleaning up notation, which is pretty much just a visual thing, I'll listen to a stream of AIR America or a podcast from my computer. When I'm not working, I'm usually watching TV, writing, or playing a computer game, so, once again, there's not much chance to listen.
This is so unlike how I used to be. I came up in the days before CDs and ipods. I remember never going anywhere without my walkman (it was so cool, it had all these extra bells and whistles - I think I paid around $200 for it) and a bunch of cassettes in my bag. My car always had a premium cassette player and speakers. When CDs came in, I would buy a Discman and use a tape adaptor. My car was always full of shoeboxes or CD booklets with hundreds of CDs. Once, when my car was broken into right outside my house, I had a CD booklet with 120 CDs stolen. I was devistated.
These days, though, I'm fine listening to people talking. Occasionally, I'll listen to a CD Amanda's burned for me with a bunch of stuff she likes - her taste and mine are pretty similar. But other than that, it's pretty much just all talk all the time. Hmm, how apropos!
Friday, July 28, 2006
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Monday, July 24, 2006
On Sleep Schedules
You know that stereotype of a musician who awakens at noon and doesn't sleep until 6:00 am? That's me. Well, actually, it's go to sleep around 3:00 or 4:00 and wake up around 10:00 or 11:00. I know, my god, what a slacker, right? For the last 15 or so years, I've felt kinda bad about my schedule. I mean, everyone else is waking up between 6:00 and 7:00. These are the contributing members of society. These are the ones who understand that you've got to work for a living. It's only those crazy kids, those slackers with no job, who would wake up so late. I mean, jeez, they've lost half their day waking up that late!
It took me a long time to realize that I'm no better or worse than those going to sleep at midnight and waking at 6:00 or 7:00. I'm just different. I don't have an office to get to. There's no traffic jam I need to hear about on the radio. I have no kids who have to be in homeroom by 7:15. Oh, I suppose on occasion I'll have a meeting at 9:00 or, ugh, an early flight. But, for the most part, there's nothing I'll need to do before noon. So, why should I wake up?
I've always liked late night and early morning (12:00 - 4:00). It's peaceful. Our pets are docile and sleepy. The house is dark and quiet. No one's going to call (and, let's face it, if someone does call - somebody probably died). I do a lot of work at night. It's a great time to write, compose, orchestrate, etc. Just pop on some headphones and get to it.
SIDEBAR: Some years ago, when I was roomates with Fadi in Tampa, we lived on the second floor. One night, our downstairs neighbor knocked on our door and asked us to turn down our music. She must be mistaken, I assured her, I was using headphones - ok, sorry, good night. 15 minutes later she knocked again and said she was sure it was coming from above. I finally realized it was me making the noise - as I was working with headphones, my foot was keeping time by stomping on the floor! I apologized, offered her a beer, and said goodnight. Half an hour later, she had to come up again - apparently, I'm not aware of just how often my foot taps to the music!
For years, I felt a little ashamed about my schedule. To this day, I grimace if, when I answer the phone, the other party asks if they just woke me. I don't know why. I'm as productive as anyone else. Hell, sometimes I'm a downright workaholic (interspersed, of course, with periods of abject laziness). Maybe when we move to Portland everything will equal out. I mean, if you think about it, I'm just living on a west coast schedule. But, more likely, I'll just shift back another couple of hours.
It took me a long time to realize that I'm no better or worse than those going to sleep at midnight and waking at 6:00 or 7:00. I'm just different. I don't have an office to get to. There's no traffic jam I need to hear about on the radio. I have no kids who have to be in homeroom by 7:15. Oh, I suppose on occasion I'll have a meeting at 9:00 or, ugh, an early flight. But, for the most part, there's nothing I'll need to do before noon. So, why should I wake up?
I've always liked late night and early morning (12:00 - 4:00). It's peaceful. Our pets are docile and sleepy. The house is dark and quiet. No one's going to call (and, let's face it, if someone does call - somebody probably died). I do a lot of work at night. It's a great time to write, compose, orchestrate, etc. Just pop on some headphones and get to it.
SIDEBAR: Some years ago, when I was roomates with Fadi in Tampa, we lived on the second floor. One night, our downstairs neighbor knocked on our door and asked us to turn down our music. She must be mistaken, I assured her, I was using headphones - ok, sorry, good night. 15 minutes later she knocked again and said she was sure it was coming from above. I finally realized it was me making the noise - as I was working with headphones, my foot was keeping time by stomping on the floor! I apologized, offered her a beer, and said goodnight. Half an hour later, she had to come up again - apparently, I'm not aware of just how often my foot taps to the music!
For years, I felt a little ashamed about my schedule. To this day, I grimace if, when I answer the phone, the other party asks if they just woke me. I don't know why. I'm as productive as anyone else. Hell, sometimes I'm a downright workaholic (interspersed, of course, with periods of abject laziness). Maybe when we move to Portland everything will equal out. I mean, if you think about it, I'm just living on a west coast schedule. But, more likely, I'll just shift back another couple of hours.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
On The LARYS
There are over one hundred televised award ceremonies each year on American TV. The most popular are the Oscars (I ocassionally watch), The Emmys (never watch), The Grammys (hell no) and The Tonys (ocassionally). These over-rated schlock-fests gather all the luminaries of a particular industry in one room with tuxes and gowns. For the most part, I hate award ceremonies. They always seem slightly unreal. There's an air of self-love that drives me crazy.
Well, here in the Tampa Bay area in the community theater community we have the Larys. Many years ago, a publication called the Grapevine was created to keep members of the theater community involved in local goings-on. It was only natural that the Grapevine would become the central point for an award cermony. For years, the Grapevine has been organizing the Larys (named for the son of the Grapevine's editor). I've attended 5 or 6 ceremonies. I've been nominated and won and lost as an actor, music director, and director. Many people in the community (including many friends) wonder why I'm so ambivalent about them.
Essentially, it boils down to what's important to me. I've been doing theater for a couple of decades now. I don't do it for the honors. Now, I would be dishonest if I said that I don't care whether people enjoy my work or not. But, I take my congratulations (and criticisms) throughout the year with a grain of salt. I know that my work as a music director and director is good but could definitely be improved. I'm striving toward improving it all the time. There are people in the community who need these kinds of accolades much more than I do. And there are many talented and deserving people out there who enjoy the Larys.
When all is said and done, the Larys aren't a critical evaluation by one's peers - and they don't claim to be. In fact, the categories are labeled "Favorite" (as in Favorite Actor in a Leading Role). Well, honestly, I don't care whether I'm the favorite.
Add to this the fact that I'm uncomfortable dressing up and that I'm uncomfortable receiving half-hearted congratulations and greetings from people who really couldn't care less and you'll begin to see why I'm really not interested in the Larys.
I realize that this probably sounds arrogant, but it's the way I feel. Think about it. Whenever you watch one of these things, when the winner is announced, do you ever say, "Oh, I hadn't thought that would be the case - bravo!" No. We already have our minds made up as to who should win. So, in reality, as each category is announced, a few people say, "Yep, that's exactly who should win," while many others say, "No way! Zebediah was robbed!" So, when all is said and done, we've already made up our minds - the award doesn't actually mean anything.
So, that's how I feel. It won't win me any popularity contests - hell, it may even keep me from winning a Lary!
Well, here in the Tampa Bay area in the community theater community we have the Larys. Many years ago, a publication called the Grapevine was created to keep members of the theater community involved in local goings-on. It was only natural that the Grapevine would become the central point for an award cermony. For years, the Grapevine has been organizing the Larys (named for the son of the Grapevine's editor). I've attended 5 or 6 ceremonies. I've been nominated and won and lost as an actor, music director, and director. Many people in the community (including many friends) wonder why I'm so ambivalent about them.
Essentially, it boils down to what's important to me. I've been doing theater for a couple of decades now. I don't do it for the honors. Now, I would be dishonest if I said that I don't care whether people enjoy my work or not. But, I take my congratulations (and criticisms) throughout the year with a grain of salt. I know that my work as a music director and director is good but could definitely be improved. I'm striving toward improving it all the time. There are people in the community who need these kinds of accolades much more than I do. And there are many talented and deserving people out there who enjoy the Larys.
When all is said and done, the Larys aren't a critical evaluation by one's peers - and they don't claim to be. In fact, the categories are labeled "Favorite" (as in Favorite Actor in a Leading Role). Well, honestly, I don't care whether I'm the favorite.
Add to this the fact that I'm uncomfortable dressing up and that I'm uncomfortable receiving half-hearted congratulations and greetings from people who really couldn't care less and you'll begin to see why I'm really not interested in the Larys.
I realize that this probably sounds arrogant, but it's the way I feel. Think about it. Whenever you watch one of these things, when the winner is announced, do you ever say, "Oh, I hadn't thought that would be the case - bravo!" No. We already have our minds made up as to who should win. So, in reality, as each category is announced, a few people say, "Yep, that's exactly who should win," while many others say, "No way! Zebediah was robbed!" So, when all is said and done, we've already made up our minds - the award doesn't actually mean anything.
So, that's how I feel. It won't win me any popularity contests - hell, it may even keep me from winning a Lary!
On My Blog
So, after months of watching each of my friends, one by one, begin setting up blogs, I've finally decided to take that step myself. I've decided to make my blog the place I can go to state my arguments on my favorite issues and/or the issues of the day. I'm hoping all of you will want to post comments and start conversations on the subjects. Anyone who knows me knows that I love to talk. (Amanda would probably see that as my number one problem!) I love to exchange ideas, learn something new, and really get down to the nitty-gritty.
So, here goes. As the days go by, I'll be posting about music, theater, words, history, politics, people, and anything else that floats my boat (and I'll try to avoid obvious cliches like "float your boat").
Please, if something interests you, makes you mad, needs clarification, is spelled wrong, or whatever, comment freely.
So, here goes. As the days go by, I'll be posting about music, theater, words, history, politics, people, and anything else that floats my boat (and I'll try to avoid obvious cliches like "float your boat").
Please, if something interests you, makes you mad, needs clarification, is spelled wrong, or whatever, comment freely.
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