Hey folks:
Sorry for the delay. It's been a busy week. Went to the maroon 5 concert a few days ago where I was able to meet the guys before the show! Very cool, they are very normal people who just happen to be in a very famous band.
I'm hoping to get together soon with my friend, Michael Cavanaugh, the guy who did my job in Movin Out originally on broadway. I have some questions for Mike and it always makes me feel good to see someone who's successful at doing this whole thing.
Big shout out today to Charlie and Alec as they audition for the student-run a Capella groups at Lexington High School back home- keep you fingers crossed for them both- they both deserve all the happiness in the world and I certainly hope they find some as a result of their auditions.
Thinking of heading to LA in the next couple weeks to visit my almost-brothers Andy and Chris as well as seeing my college roommate, Alex, in his own Hollywood recording studio: Point of Blue studios: pobstudios.com
As for work, this week is the same as last: Palazzo on the strip- hopefully in the next few weeks I'll get to see some new places. We'll see...
Till next time
J
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Jon's Debut on the Vegas strip: a success!
Greetings all!
I'm writing this from an Italian cucinna in the Palazzo where I just finished my first night of work. I was so busy today leading up to tonight that I completely forgot to eat until just now when I finally was able to exhale.
I spent the afternoon having photos taken and shooing a promo video at the office. This took all afternoon. Then it was off to work.
The gig was a success. Mostly. There are some positives and some negitives but all in all, a very positive experience.
I played at the Palazzo from 7:30-11:30 with a break in between. To begin with it wasn't very full but about halfway through, the audience from "Jersey Boys", which plays litterally next door to the piano bar, flooded the seats and tables and we finally got something going.
I played with a few other players. One was very good, up to even my satisfaction but, not the other two. Not that they were bad guys or bad singers, but they both had this habit of playing drums on the keyboard...which is ok I guess in and of itself, except they each tried to MULTI TASK while playing them. I e figure out their next song. This resulted in sluggish tempos and nothing makes me more insane than having to deal with sluggish tempos ESPECIALLY if it's a product of not paying attention.
But I'm dwelling on the negative. The positive things were that I like the room, I like the pianos and the people I met were nice. Also my new boss, Steve Beyer, came by and expressed his approval of what I was doing. It's always nice to recieve praise from someone important.
One thing that bothered me and probably will tomorrow also is my voice. It wasn't up to par as a result of my recent cold and- did I mention I had a fever and a deep cough?
Please nobody comment on how important it is to take care of my voice. Believe me there is nobody more familiar with that concept than I am.
The good news is that while I work tomorrow, I then have a few days to recuperate.
I am exhausted. I haven't slept well the last few nights: lots on my mind, but now that the gig is over, and the fear of the unknown has been extinguished, I'm suddenly ready to sleep for a week...
Thanks for checking in and reading about my progress. I love being able to share this wonderful experience with my friends and family.
Till next time-
J
I'm writing this from an Italian cucinna in the Palazzo where I just finished my first night of work. I was so busy today leading up to tonight that I completely forgot to eat until just now when I finally was able to exhale.
I spent the afternoon having photos taken and shooing a promo video at the office. This took all afternoon. Then it was off to work.
The gig was a success. Mostly. There are some positives and some negitives but all in all, a very positive experience.
I played at the Palazzo from 7:30-11:30 with a break in between. To begin with it wasn't very full but about halfway through, the audience from "Jersey Boys", which plays litterally next door to the piano bar, flooded the seats and tables and we finally got something going.
I played with a few other players. One was very good, up to even my satisfaction but, not the other two. Not that they were bad guys or bad singers, but they both had this habit of playing drums on the keyboard...which is ok I guess in and of itself, except they each tried to MULTI TASK while playing them. I e figure out their next song. This resulted in sluggish tempos and nothing makes me more insane than having to deal with sluggish tempos ESPECIALLY if it's a product of not paying attention.
But I'm dwelling on the negative. The positive things were that I like the room, I like the pianos and the people I met were nice. Also my new boss, Steve Beyer, came by and expressed his approval of what I was doing. It's always nice to recieve praise from someone important.
One thing that bothered me and probably will tomorrow also is my voice. It wasn't up to par as a result of my recent cold and- did I mention I had a fever and a deep cough?
Please nobody comment on how important it is to take care of my voice. Believe me there is nobody more familiar with that concept than I am.
The good news is that while I work tomorrow, I then have a few days to recuperate.
I am exhausted. I haven't slept well the last few nights: lots on my mind, but now that the gig is over, and the fear of the unknown has been extinguished, I'm suddenly ready to sleep for a week...
Thanks for checking in and reading about my progress. I love being able to share this wonderful experience with my friends and family.
Till next time-
J
Monday, September 12, 2011
Only a slight delay
Greetings all-
It's been a few days since I've had anything really to report: actually I'm experiencing a little bit of a delay as far as getting started is concerned. Close readers will remember I wad supposed to play last Friday but I didn't have the appropriate attire. Then I wad supposed to start tonight but the casino cancelled the gig for a football game. (I dunno either...)
Anyway, no need to fret, I got my schedule today and I am booked for this week at ye Palazzo as I was supposed to be there today. Another time in my life I may have panicked, but I'm very cool and collected knowing that things are gonna fall right into place on Wednesday.
In the meantime, I'm drinking heavily.
That's not true- that was a joke for Haz and anyone who has seen animal house.
Actually I'm heading over to collect my freshly tailored suits from my new local Men's Wearhouse. Then tonight I may stop by Paris, Paris to see the piano show there. Also at some point I'd love to see "Love" or "Jersey Boys". Actually JB's plays at te palazzo and the piano bar is next to the theatre so we will get the people coming out from the show which is cool.
More later-
J
It's been a few days since I've had anything really to report: actually I'm experiencing a little bit of a delay as far as getting started is concerned. Close readers will remember I wad supposed to play last Friday but I didn't have the appropriate attire. Then I wad supposed to start tonight but the casino cancelled the gig for a football game. (I dunno either...)
Anyway, no need to fret, I got my schedule today and I am booked for this week at ye Palazzo as I was supposed to be there today. Another time in my life I may have panicked, but I'm very cool and collected knowing that things are gonna fall right into place on Wednesday.
In the meantime, I'm drinking heavily.
That's not true- that was a joke for Haz and anyone who has seen animal house.
Actually I'm heading over to collect my freshly tailored suits from my new local Men's Wearhouse. Then tonight I may stop by Paris, Paris to see the piano show there. Also at some point I'd love to see "Love" or "Jersey Boys". Actually JB's plays at te palazzo and the piano bar is next to the theatre so we will get the people coming out from the show which is cool.
More later-
J
Friday, September 9, 2011
...it's a dry heat
Today feels so beautiful walking around, I got the urge to check to see what the temperature was. My phone said it was 93 at about 9:45am PDT. But it's not at all humid. Actually it's quite pleasent. And any wind that you get cools you off immediatly because it cools your sweat down.
Back home, 93 is not the same. It's sticky and gross and is enough to make you consider drastic action. Like moving to the desert...
Anyway, I found a temporary apartment today, signed the papers and am moving in (bringing my suitcase and backpack over) right after lunch-
My new address is
Jon Abrams
3655 W. Tropicana Ave # F3081
Las Vegas, NV 89103
Hope all is well at home and abroad-
J
Back home, 93 is not the same. It's sticky and gross and is enough to make you consider drastic action. Like moving to the desert...
Anyway, I found a temporary apartment today, signed the papers and am moving in (bringing my suitcase and backpack over) right after lunch-
My new address is
Jon Abrams
3655 W. Tropicana Ave # F3081
Las Vegas, NV 89103
Hope all is well at home and abroad-
J
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Slight change in plans
Hey Everyone
I'm writin tonight from the plush, albeit overly ostentatious Encore at the Wynn. I'm listening to two dudes play who I've never met, but I'm sure I'll know them both soon. No cover here but there IS a two-drink minimum. (shucks...)
So at the last writing, I was scheduled to play off the strip tomorrow. This has been changed as a function of not quite having the appropriate attire. Hey, lesson learned. Don't expect to play Vegas in Jeans and a golf shirt...
So tomorrow I'm off to the Men's Wearhouse to buy a couple suits and some shoes, while my dad is kind enough to break into my apartment in Lowell and fedex me some of my favorite Brooks Brothers shirts.
The up side here is that I'll be able to say that my Vegas debut was on the strip: I'm at the Palazzo on Monday. Sure it would have been nice to gig this weekend but I didn't come out here to play to locals in the next town.
I hope to play here where I'm writing from, Encore, sometime next week. A representative from here will be at my gig Monday, so I'll know more after that.
More later.
Oh and a quick shout out to Charlie Coburn as he negotiates his way into the a Capella group of his choice as a freshman at Lexington HS. Charlie will probably be gigging with me in a few years- watch out
J
I'm writin tonight from the plush, albeit overly ostentatious Encore at the Wynn. I'm listening to two dudes play who I've never met, but I'm sure I'll know them both soon. No cover here but there IS a two-drink minimum. (shucks...)
So at the last writing, I was scheduled to play off the strip tomorrow. This has been changed as a function of not quite having the appropriate attire. Hey, lesson learned. Don't expect to play Vegas in Jeans and a golf shirt...
So tomorrow I'm off to the Men's Wearhouse to buy a couple suits and some shoes, while my dad is kind enough to break into my apartment in Lowell and fedex me some of my favorite Brooks Brothers shirts.
The up side here is that I'll be able to say that my Vegas debut was on the strip: I'm at the Palazzo on Monday. Sure it would have been nice to gig this weekend but I didn't come out here to play to locals in the next town.
I hope to play here where I'm writing from, Encore, sometime next week. A representative from here will be at my gig Monday, so I'll know more after that.
More later.
Oh and a quick shout out to Charlie Coburn as he negotiates his way into the a Capella group of his choice as a freshman at Lexington HS. Charlie will probably be gigging with me in a few years- watch out
J
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Seeds of success
Greetings All:
Things are going quite well, which I'm happy to report. Yesterday's meeting with the Steve Beyer agency couldn't have gone better. It was the best possible outcome: they liked me and what I'm doing, and are excited to get me started. Some of the places I can expect to hit pretty soon are Encore at the Wynn, the Palazzo, and the Monte Carlo. And then a few weeks down the line I fully expect to get into the New York New York, Paris Paris and Harrahs. But this wont take shape until at least next week.
For now, I'm heading to meet Steve at a Client venue off the strip, more of a locals hangout, where I'll make my Las Vegas debut on Friday.
Things certainly are moving right along.
Last night I walked up and down as much of the strip as I could. I didn't realize how long it is- I guess because it's so flat and it's easy to see from one side to the other, it gives a false sense of intimacy. Very cool though.
That's all for now. More later.
J
Things are going quite well, which I'm happy to report. Yesterday's meeting with the Steve Beyer agency couldn't have gone better. It was the best possible outcome: they liked me and what I'm doing, and are excited to get me started. Some of the places I can expect to hit pretty soon are Encore at the Wynn, the Palazzo, and the Monte Carlo. And then a few weeks down the line I fully expect to get into the New York New York, Paris Paris and Harrahs. But this wont take shape until at least next week.
For now, I'm heading to meet Steve at a Client venue off the strip, more of a locals hangout, where I'll make my Las Vegas debut on Friday.
Things certainly are moving right along.
Last night I walked up and down as much of the strip as I could. I didn't realize how long it is- I guess because it's so flat and it's easy to see from one side to the other, it gives a false sense of intimacy. Very cool though.
That's all for now. More later.
J
Monday, September 5, 2011
Arrival
Hey everyone-
Just a quick update to say I have arrived in Sin City and am in a cab heading to the hotel for the night. Maybe some awesome food is in order as I'm pretty hungry-
Not all of these posts are going to be enthralling-
Tomorrow might be interesting tho as I have the meeting which will decide if this trip is worth anything or not-
Till then!
J
Just a quick update to say I have arrived in Sin City and am in a cab heading to the hotel for the night. Maybe some awesome food is in order as I'm pretty hungry-
Not all of these posts are going to be enthralling-
Tomorrow might be interesting tho as I have the meeting which will decide if this trip is worth anything or not-
Till then!
J
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