While reading for the Casting Directors on Monday night, I realized I've worked with just about every generation of person possible in one casting session: old men, middle-aged women, teenagers, tweenagers, old women, and my-aged guys and dolls. Another great reading experience, in which I learned so much. They have me on stand-by to read Friday morning, and with nothing else to do, I told them I'd be glad to do it.
I showed-up on time for my shoot Tuesday morning; my coaching Wednesday morning, less so.
The shoot was a lot of fun, and it was great to re-unite with the ol' VFS crew. It was just nice to be acting in something again. I played a "rocker", complete with some lovely black eye shadow that is seemingly permanent. I scrub my eyes out, and it still seems to be there. I don't mind it so much. Makes my eyes all purdy-lookin'. If it wasn't so freaky to apply, I'd wear it everyday. For real.
I was called Monday for a pre-screen (WHY can't they just call it an audition ... why?) on Wednesday at the Broadway Casting Office. It was for a Sci-Fi Channel Mini-Series called DRAGONSTEEL. Now, it is not mandatory to capitalize "DRAGONSTEEL", but I feel that a combination of those two words demands the caps lock button to be utilized. I was thinking of bolding it ... we'll wait and see if I book or not.
DRAGONSTEEL is right up my geek alley, with dragons, swords, elves, warriors, goblins, and the titular DRAGONSTEEL, which is an object that (and I swear I'm not making this up) does everything. It just does everything. Don't ask how. Luckily with this one they sent the full script. All 182 pages of it. I'll admit, I wasn't so high on the project after reading the synopsis and the character's sides, but I really dug the script. Admittedly, it's not treading terribly original ground, but it hits all the right marks for the genre. A fine piece of escapism. The character I was pre-screening for is the main warrior, an unlikely anti-hero with a tortured past. Awesome.
Onto the coaching this morning, I don't know why I haven't fully learned to double-check my cell phone alarm for "am"s and "pm"s, or learned to just trust my biological clock. I arrived a half-hour late, but the coaching went well. After the coaching I headed for the gym where I received a surprising phone call.
A chap who received my phone number from a Casting Director wanted me to record a voice-over for a short film he made over the Christmas break. Tomorrow at noon I record my blurb. Always nice to be asked.
After the gym, I had my aud-- I mean, pre-screen. In my coaching, we had the idea for the first scene to polish one of my shoes: this gives the body something to do, the actor something to concentrate on besides giving lines. An effective technique, I almost think of it as cheating, but this isn't bowling; this is acting, there are no rules. Since I had to work right after the pre-screen, I figured to just act in my work dress code. Black shirt, black pants works well enough for a tortured warrior. Plus, my chain-mail pants don't fit like they used to.
Now, I thought my costume choice was flawless, but there's something about Vancouver, with it's 20,000 restaurants that makes a server/expediter dress code easy to identify. If polishing one shoe in front of the Casting Director didn't feel weird enough, he just had to make a comment on my clothes.
"Where do you wait?"
"Nowhere, if I book this role," is what I didn't say, but may have been a clever response. He was just concerned that I only had one shined shoe to wear to work, and so was I.
Speaking of, the last of the dry-runs took place Wednesday. It's been a sweet week of free food, and no customers. The place opens this Friday, and that's where it gets nuts. I'm working six days the first full week we're open, with only Tuesday off for my Scene Study Class. I just hope the hourly rate is nice, although working six days'll pay nicely, just so long as I don't go out for work every night like I did Sunday night.
Well, there was a reason I wanted to do this while I'm young.
Showing posts with label Cactus Club Cafe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cactus Club Cafe. Show all posts
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Too Much To Expect, Not Too Much To Ask
Working at Cactus Club has been about what I expected so far: busy spurts, sore feet, learning curve, and a little messy. What I didn't expect was having my fingers smell like vinegar from buffing cutlery. Apparently it gets the spots out. Who knew. While on the subject of vinegar, I also heard that a cap-full in a load of darks will prevent the colours from fading. I tried it with my new black shirts, and so far it's working. So far.
I received an e-mail from someone who read my "You're Hired" Blog, asking me to help them get a job at Cactus. I know I mention the fact that anyone can read this, but complete strangers takes that to a new level.
On Wednesday I had to pick-up my SUPER-SECRET-OH-MY-GOD-I-SHOULDN'T-EVEN-BE-SAYING-THIS sides for a Battlestar Gallactica audition. Just grad the envelop in the bush outside my agency, and don't make eye contact with anyone. Oh well, it's for the series finale, so I won't have to do that again. This was actually for two characters, so I figured I had twice the chances to book on this one.
When I arrived at Brooksbank, I found out a certain someone would be in the room: the director. A little surprising, but he was a cool guy, having my do a few takes for each character. My agent says he's an "actors director", of which I've always been a fan. I certainly prefer that to the "gaffers director", no offense to any gaffers out there.
I was supposed to meet-up with my friend Sara (fellow Cactus employee, at the location where I'm training) after work, but an audition came-up. Luckily, one came-up for her too, for the same show at the same Casting Director's office, at around the same time. And she had a car to get us there. Boo-ya.
The show was "Kyle XY", an ABC Family show about a dude who has a mysterious past and no belly button. The role was "Burly Guy". I don't know why I'm being sent-out for these huge parts (I mean "huge" in character description, not role size) like "Beefy Jock" and "Burly Guy", but hey, I'll take 'em. I'm dying to book something, I don't care what it is at this point. This session also had the director in the room, which I thought was unusual for first auditions, but the last two days have proved otherwise. The actual audition went well, the sides seemed a bit awkward, and there was a highly awkward moment in the room, but it worked for the scene, and the director liked it enough that he didn't have to see another one.
After all this auditioning, it'd be great to be just be offered something. Well, wishes do come true. I have been asked to act in a VFS Port Short this Tuesday, which is extremely flattering. The Port Shorts are, well, shorts written by the VFS writing class. I was supposed to act in one last September, but mandatory OFA Level 2 training nixed that. I've made sure I had work and my agent free-up my Tuesday morning for this. Can't wait to do it, and maybe this one will hit VFS' YouTube channel.
Is that too much to ask for?
I received an e-mail from someone who read my "You're Hired" Blog, asking me to help them get a job at Cactus. I know I mention the fact that anyone can read this, but complete strangers takes that to a new level.
On Wednesday I had to pick-up my SUPER-SECRET-OH-MY-GOD-I-SHOULDN'T-EVEN-BE-SAYING-THIS sides for a Battlestar Gallactica audition. Just grad the envelop in the bush outside my agency, and don't make eye contact with anyone. Oh well, it's for the series finale, so I won't have to do that again. This was actually for two characters, so I figured I had twice the chances to book on this one.
When I arrived at Brooksbank, I found out a certain someone would be in the room: the director. A little surprising, but he was a cool guy, having my do a few takes for each character. My agent says he's an "actors director", of which I've always been a fan. I certainly prefer that to the "gaffers director", no offense to any gaffers out there.
I was supposed to meet-up with my friend Sara (fellow Cactus employee, at the location where I'm training) after work, but an audition came-up. Luckily, one came-up for her too, for the same show at the same Casting Director's office, at around the same time. And she had a car to get us there. Boo-ya.
The show was "Kyle XY", an ABC Family show about a dude who has a mysterious past and no belly button. The role was "Burly Guy". I don't know why I'm being sent-out for these huge parts (I mean "huge" in character description, not role size) like "Beefy Jock" and "Burly Guy", but hey, I'll take 'em. I'm dying to book something, I don't care what it is at this point. This session also had the director in the room, which I thought was unusual for first auditions, but the last two days have proved otherwise. The actual audition went well, the sides seemed a bit awkward, and there was a highly awkward moment in the room, but it worked for the scene, and the director liked it enough that he didn't have to see another one.
After all this auditioning, it'd be great to be just be offered something. Well, wishes do come true. I have been asked to act in a VFS Port Short this Tuesday, which is extremely flattering. The Port Shorts are, well, shorts written by the VFS writing class. I was supposed to act in one last September, but mandatory OFA Level 2 training nixed that. I've made sure I had work and my agent free-up my Tuesday morning for this. Can't wait to do it, and maybe this one will hit VFS' YouTube channel.
Is that too much to ask for?
Friday, May 23, 2008
A Class Act
If I ever open-up an acting school, that's what I'm calling it. With a possible "With William C. Vaughan" attached to the end to make sure people know what's what and who's who.
When last we left our hero(?), I was auditioning for the Scooby-Doo Prequel. Well, the audition went well. Not much more to say than that.
After I did the "Doo", I was called to audition for the most far-off thing for which I've been sent-out for so far. A 35-year-old gay Russian geologist who is blasting-off 400 million miles away from earth. Yeah. I thought a coaching was in order.
Optimally, I'd get a dialect coach, but without a phone number for one and with limited time, I could only get an acting coach. I wanted a dialect coach for the accent, but after working the scene once with the acting coach it turned-out my faux-Ruski was acceptable. This is the first time I've coached with this particular teacher (another VFS instructor). His methods are a little different, but he really helps bring the character closer to the actor, to make the scene more real. I got a pretty good reaction from the Casting Director at Brooksbank, so the coaching paid-off. Whether I got the role or not, I gave a good audition, the most real and natural I've done thus far. Given the challenging role, I'll chalk that up as a success.
I was supposed to go back to set for "I Love You, Beth Cooper" on Wednesday, when I received a called from the 2nd AD telling me they may need me instead on Thursday ... or not at all. Y'see, the 2nd AD told me that Chris (as in Columbus) has cut the scene together (as in "edit", not "erase" or "discard") and he found that the scene can work without my shot. So, Wednesday afternoon, before my first Cactus Club shift, I get the call telling me they don't need me anymore. And that's the end of that tale. I'm pretty disappointed, but hey, it's out of my hands. All that's left to be done is book the next role ... hopefully with more lines and, if I'm lucky, a shot of my face. Here's hopin'.
The worst part about not going to set is that I had to pay for my haircut instead of getting hair and make-up to do it for free. I got my ears lowered on Thursday at a place called "The Chop Shop", which has a kind of 50's car-motif thing going. It looked way too cool for me, but I excel at being a round peg in a square hole and fitting into places I don't belong. Or not.
Like I mentioned, I had my first Cactus Club shift Wednesday at the Ash St. location. It was trial by fire, and I certainly didn't expect to be walking with a tray and running food to tables on my first day, but aside from a handful of table-number-screw-ups, I did alright. I had a second shift added Thursday because I wasn't going to set (dang) and therefore I'd be missing the opening night of Indiana Jones (daaAAAAaang). I did better that night, felt more comfortable. It's way more hectic than security, which is a good thing, as two hours can pass without even noticing it when it gets busy. It'll be a hard-working, short-staffed summer, but I hope to be serving within a few months. It's all up to me. And them, part of it is up to them.
It's my last Friday at Black Box, tomorrow's my last shift. I shall miss it so. Paladin's treated me well, and the people at Black Box have been great. My Manager said there's always a job for me at Paladin, so I know that, even in my darkest hour, I at least won't be homeless. Not working graveyards has been a great choice, and the hours got worked-around if an audition came-up. I need to keep telling myself that once I reach server at Cactus, I'll be making more money. It's the name of the game.
To bookend on the acting class theme, I finally registered and paid-in-full for a Scene Study Class with one of my favourite VFS instructors, in a class specifically for VFS Alumni. I've wanted to branch-out and try classes with instructors I've never had before, but I know I can still learn a lot from this guy. It's been ten months since I've graduated and taken a real acting course, so this is way overdue. It promises to raise my audition-success quotient by 200%!*
*Results not typical.
When last we left our hero(?), I was auditioning for the Scooby-Doo Prequel. Well, the audition went well. Not much more to say than that.
After I did the "Doo", I was called to audition for the most far-off thing for which I've been sent-out for so far. A 35-year-old gay Russian geologist who is blasting-off 400 million miles away from earth. Yeah. I thought a coaching was in order.
Optimally, I'd get a dialect coach, but without a phone number for one and with limited time, I could only get an acting coach. I wanted a dialect coach for the accent, but after working the scene once with the acting coach it turned-out my faux-Ruski was acceptable. This is the first time I've coached with this particular teacher (another VFS instructor). His methods are a little different, but he really helps bring the character closer to the actor, to make the scene more real. I got a pretty good reaction from the Casting Director at Brooksbank, so the coaching paid-off. Whether I got the role or not, I gave a good audition, the most real and natural I've done thus far. Given the challenging role, I'll chalk that up as a success.
I was supposed to go back to set for "I Love You, Beth Cooper" on Wednesday, when I received a called from the 2nd AD telling me they may need me instead on Thursday ... or not at all. Y'see, the 2nd AD told me that Chris (as in Columbus) has cut the scene together (as in "edit", not "erase" or "discard") and he found that the scene can work without my shot. So, Wednesday afternoon, before my first Cactus Club shift, I get the call telling me they don't need me anymore. And that's the end of that tale. I'm pretty disappointed, but hey, it's out of my hands. All that's left to be done is book the next role ... hopefully with more lines and, if I'm lucky, a shot of my face. Here's hopin'.
The worst part about not going to set is that I had to pay for my haircut instead of getting hair and make-up to do it for free. I got my ears lowered on Thursday at a place called "The Chop Shop", which has a kind of 50's car-motif thing going. It looked way too cool for me, but I excel at being a round peg in a square hole and fitting into places I don't belong. Or not.
Like I mentioned, I had my first Cactus Club shift Wednesday at the Ash St. location. It was trial by fire, and I certainly didn't expect to be walking with a tray and running food to tables on my first day, but aside from a handful of table-number-screw-ups, I did alright. I had a second shift added Thursday because I wasn't going to set (dang) and therefore I'd be missing the opening night of Indiana Jones (daaAAAAaang). I did better that night, felt more comfortable. It's way more hectic than security, which is a good thing, as two hours can pass without even noticing it when it gets busy. It'll be a hard-working, short-staffed summer, but I hope to be serving within a few months. It's all up to me. And them, part of it is up to them.
It's my last Friday at Black Box, tomorrow's my last shift. I shall miss it so. Paladin's treated me well, and the people at Black Box have been great. My Manager said there's always a job for me at Paladin, so I know that, even in my darkest hour, I at least won't be homeless. Not working graveyards has been a great choice, and the hours got worked-around if an audition came-up. I need to keep telling myself that once I reach server at Cactus, I'll be making more money. It's the name of the game.
To bookend on the acting class theme, I finally registered and paid-in-full for a Scene Study Class with one of my favourite VFS instructors, in a class specifically for VFS Alumni. I've wanted to branch-out and try classes with instructors I've never had before, but I know I can still learn a lot from this guy. It's been ten months since I've graduated and taken a real acting course, so this is way overdue. It promises to raise my audition-success quotient by 200%!*
*Results not typical.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Surpassing Expectations
The "Scooby-Doo" audition went well, well enough to get called back; for another part. The reason I hope this gets picked-up as a series, is just that: the incidental roles that come with episodics. My agent once told me that a few years ago there were something like 14 episodics shooting in Vancouver and currently there are about ... four or so ... but don't quote me on that. Seriously, don't.
Like I said, episodics are good. Not only is there the chance that you could be cast for the pilot and be a series lead and have a decent, constant paycheck for a while, but also there's the aforementioned incidentals that may only have a few lines in one episode, or turn into a recurring character (popping-up every now and again) or even a series regular (in about every episode, but not a major character.) Any way you slice it, it's a nice piece of working pie for actors, and that's a good thing. Unless you hate pie and actors, in which case buddy, yer readin' the wrong blog.
I was asked to read for Brooksbank again on Thursday, this time putting in a full eight-hour day. I'm going to keep tight-lipped on what I read and who I saw, because my agent and his daughter warned me against spilling my guts about the projects and screwing myself professionally. Remember, I'm broadcasting this for the world to see with my big fat name emblazoned right on the front page, I'd hate to shoot my career in the foot by accidentally mentioning a secret project and/or name. What I can say was the reading was, again, a real learning experience, and a tonne of fun. It's really interesting to see what actors can get away with in the room, and it's going to free me up for future auditions because, like my second term Audition Technique teacher drilled into our heads: It's your audition. Really, the Casting Director shouldn't object to anything that helps the actor give the best audition possible. Mistakes are allowed, and perfectly OK, even I messed-up a few times. That's the beauty of taping. Luckily my screw-ups weren't severe enough that they didn't want me to read for them again, because they asked me to do another full day on Friday, which I had to turn-down because I had Cactus Club Expo Orientation that morning, and my security job in the afternoon. I wish reading was my full-time job, that would be sweet. I still don't know what they're paying me but, heck, I'd do it for free (but don't tell them that.)
This security gig is going to be tough to leave. As I write this, I'm watching the Dallas/Detroit game, and am fully intent on watching the Philadelphia/Pittsburgh game tomorrow. I can Blog, chat on MSN/Facebook/the phone pretty much all weekend, and the people I work with in the afternoons are pretty cool. They're sad to see me go, and who can blame them. Trust me, I've seen the alternative, and as far as security guards go, I'm pretty dang personable. Heck, that's a big reason I'm leaving: My people skills can be better utilized elsewhere.
I've hashed-out a training schedule at a different Cactus Club location, just so I'll be trained-up by the time the new restaurant opens. First impressions are important, and the first few weeks of being open are going to call for nothing less than a top-notch effort from everyone. I don't know what to expect, but it's going to be fun, no matter what I have to do to make it so. I used to get a certain rush from being busy at previous jobs, and unlike my current job, boredom will not be an issue at Cactus Club.
I finished the novel of "I Love You, Beth Cooper". It was very funny, and looks like it will make for a fine film. Highest recommendation. Speaking of, my agent told me they might want me on set for Thursday the 22nd, instead of Wednesday the 21st. I'm free for whatever, so long as they give me fair warning and don't mind cutting my hair. I haven't cut it in over two months because I didn't want to screw continuity, and also because they can cut it for free. Yeah, I'm cheap like that. Free haircuts, so long as I keep booking roles. My agent is expecting me to do two more times by years end.
I hope I can surpass his expectation.
Like I said, episodics are good. Not only is there the chance that you could be cast for the pilot and be a series lead and have a decent, constant paycheck for a while, but also there's the aforementioned incidentals that may only have a few lines in one episode, or turn into a recurring character (popping-up every now and again) or even a series regular (in about every episode, but not a major character.) Any way you slice it, it's a nice piece of working pie for actors, and that's a good thing. Unless you hate pie and actors, in which case buddy, yer readin' the wrong blog.
I was asked to read for Brooksbank again on Thursday, this time putting in a full eight-hour day. I'm going to keep tight-lipped on what I read and who I saw, because my agent and his daughter warned me against spilling my guts about the projects and screwing myself professionally. Remember, I'm broadcasting this for the world to see with my big fat name emblazoned right on the front page, I'd hate to shoot my career in the foot by accidentally mentioning a secret project and/or name. What I can say was the reading was, again, a real learning experience, and a tonne of fun. It's really interesting to see what actors can get away with in the room, and it's going to free me up for future auditions because, like my second term Audition Technique teacher drilled into our heads: It's your audition. Really, the Casting Director shouldn't object to anything that helps the actor give the best audition possible. Mistakes are allowed, and perfectly OK, even I messed-up a few times. That's the beauty of taping. Luckily my screw-ups weren't severe enough that they didn't want me to read for them again, because they asked me to do another full day on Friday, which I had to turn-down because I had Cactus Club Expo Orientation that morning, and my security job in the afternoon. I wish reading was my full-time job, that would be sweet. I still don't know what they're paying me but, heck, I'd do it for free (but don't tell them that.)
This security gig is going to be tough to leave. As I write this, I'm watching the Dallas/Detroit game, and am fully intent on watching the Philadelphia/Pittsburgh game tomorrow. I can Blog, chat on MSN/Facebook/the phone pretty much all weekend, and the people I work with in the afternoons are pretty cool. They're sad to see me go, and who can blame them. Trust me, I've seen the alternative, and as far as security guards go, I'm pretty dang personable. Heck, that's a big reason I'm leaving: My people skills can be better utilized elsewhere.
I've hashed-out a training schedule at a different Cactus Club location, just so I'll be trained-up by the time the new restaurant opens. First impressions are important, and the first few weeks of being open are going to call for nothing less than a top-notch effort from everyone. I don't know what to expect, but it's going to be fun, no matter what I have to do to make it so. I used to get a certain rush from being busy at previous jobs, and unlike my current job, boredom will not be an issue at Cactus Club.
I finished the novel of "I Love You, Beth Cooper". It was very funny, and looks like it will make for a fine film. Highest recommendation. Speaking of, my agent told me they might want me on set for Thursday the 22nd, instead of Wednesday the 21st. I'm free for whatever, so long as they give me fair warning and don't mind cutting my hair. I haven't cut it in over two months because I didn't want to screw continuity, and also because they can cut it for free. Yeah, I'm cheap like that. Free haircuts, so long as I keep booking roles. My agent is expecting me to do two more times by years end.
I hope I can surpass his expectation.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Tables Turned
I just got a phone call from one of the people at my Agencies office asking me to be a reader tomorrow morning.
For the uninitiated, a reader is just the person who, well, reads the opposite character or characters in an audition. They stand by the camera and provide a cue/eye line for the actors auditioning. This will be for "Smallville" and will be for my peeps at North Shore Studios.
I'm really privileged just to be asked to do this, and it'll also give me a chance to be on the other side of the audition. The pressure will be off ... or it may be augmented. If I screw-up during an audition, that's a ratio of one standard screw-up-per-day, but if I screw up a couple of these, it'll be a ratio of a coupla-screw-ups-per-day. Ah well, mistakes happen. I'm glad my incredible friend Sara let me read for some of her on-tape auditions for practice. It certainly paid-off.
Friday night was the Celebration of Hires for the new Cactus Club. The staff there is going to be huge, 165 or so, and it looks like we'll need every last one of them to keep the place running. Big expectations for that location, and I couldn't be more stoked to be a part of it. I'm nervous about it, but once I start working, I'm sure I'll take to it like a Steelhead Salmon to the beautiful, deep-lake waters of Lois Lake.
Saturday night was the General Manager Orientation, which handles how the restaurant is ... handled. After that was our Food Orientation, sans real food, which made learning about the dishes really, REALLY hard. I hit-up my mom's afterward and ran into some people I haven't seen in a while. Sunday night, I maintained my catch-ups when I went to dinner with a friend I haven't seen in over a year. He's in Nanaimo and works for the plane company there, so he can fly into Vancouver for free, which is a nifty perk.
Someone remind me tomorrow, between the gym, reading and working to wish my dad a happy birthday. No gift in the mail (sorry, dad) but he's got a massive IOU for ... something big in the future. He knows I owe 'im.
For the uninitiated, a reader is just the person who, well, reads the opposite character or characters in an audition. They stand by the camera and provide a cue/eye line for the actors auditioning. This will be for "Smallville" and will be for my peeps at North Shore Studios.
I'm really privileged just to be asked to do this, and it'll also give me a chance to be on the other side of the audition. The pressure will be off ... or it may be augmented. If I screw-up during an audition, that's a ratio of one standard screw-up-per-day, but if I screw up a couple of these, it'll be a ratio of a coupla-screw-ups-per-day. Ah well, mistakes happen. I'm glad my incredible friend Sara let me read for some of her on-tape auditions for practice. It certainly paid-off.
Friday night was the Celebration of Hires for the new Cactus Club. The staff there is going to be huge, 165 or so, and it looks like we'll need every last one of them to keep the place running. Big expectations for that location, and I couldn't be more stoked to be a part of it. I'm nervous about it, but once I start working, I'm sure I'll take to it like a Steelhead Salmon to the beautiful, deep-lake waters of Lois Lake.
Saturday night was the General Manager Orientation, which handles how the restaurant is ... handled. After that was our Food Orientation, sans real food, which made learning about the dishes really, REALLY hard. I hit-up my mom's afterward and ran into some people I haven't seen in a while. Sunday night, I maintained my catch-ups when I went to dinner with a friend I haven't seen in over a year. He's in Nanaimo and works for the plane company there, so he can fly into Vancouver for free, which is a nifty perk.
Someone remind me tomorrow, between the gym, reading and working to wish my dad a happy birthday. No gift in the mail (sorry, dad) but he's got a massive IOU for ... something big in the future. He knows I owe 'im.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Something For Nothing
Really the only things to report since my last post of ten days ago are that I've been shortlisted for Night at the Museum 2 (as of last Monday) and I didn't get called to set (on Friday.)
For all I know that NATM2 short listing may now be an un-listing, and if it is I'm hoping te get a re-listing to audition for some other part (ala 1492's other production known as, say it with me now, I Love You Beth Cooper.)
Other than not auditioning, the past week was filled with a lot of not working and not getting any younger. I went up a mountain on Wednesday. That was fun (and expensive), but at last I was able to look down from the heights that I look up to everyday. At last, I was able to look down upon my world be as tall as I feel (look for pictures to come soon, none of them taken by me.)
Monday I meet at Cactus Club to hash-out a training schedule, get all my training manuals. I find it mighty ironic that I pass the time at my current job by studying for my future job, and I guess that's technically what I was doing when I worked on auditions at work.
That's about all to report for now, so without further ado, here are some random thoughts:
- Happy Pot Day, pot heads! I'm sure glad there's at least one day (or two, if you count July 1st ... and some other random day I can't recall, but it's on lamp posts all over town, so keep an eye out, y'hear?) dedicated to smoking of your beloved "Sweet Leaf". I never understood the appeal of pot, I've tried to distance myself from it as much as possible.
Why? Because I know it would take me under if I started. Really, I don't need anything else in my life to make me lazy and give me cravings for junk food; I can manage that well enough stone sober, thank you very much. Vancouver is a city where people smoke it on the streets and no one bats an eye (unless they get smoke in it, ow) and it's quite popular among the kids my age.
"More people do it than don't," a friend of mine from back home once argued, and it took a lot to stifle the urge to echo the words of my dear, sweet muddah "if more people jumped-off a bridge than didn't, would you?" (I always thought that was the dumbest parental phrase in world until she added "well, what if there was water underneath?" THEN I would do it.)
- This morning I saw one of those planes dragging a banner ad. This particular ad was for a local College. How do you explain that to the registrar's office? There's bound to be a question on some application form that looks like this:
29A. How did you hear about this College? (Please CHECK ALL that apply):
i. ( ) Friend/Family
ii. ( ) Newspaper Ad
iii. ( ) Radio Ad
iv. ( ) Television Ad
v. ( ) Internet pop-up Ad
vi. ( ) Public Transportation Ad
vii. ( ) NASCAR Bumper Ad
viii. ( ) Hockey board Ad
ix. ( ) An airplane dragging a banner Ad
29B. If you checked "xi." what else, if anything was being advertised? (Please CHECK ALL that apply):
i. ( ) BUY WAR BONDS
ii. ( ) THE FORD MODEL T ... NOW IN RED!
iii. ( ) DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN
iv. ( ) DRINK COCA-COLA ... NOW 100% COCAINE-FREE!
v. ( ) SEE "JVLIVS CAESAR" PERFORMED AT THE BRAND NEW GLOBE THEATRE
- What's with student film-makers and zombie movies? I swear, every single living film-maker has made one at some point in their career, most of them making them in their early days. I don't dislike the genre, but ... c'mon, enough with the zombies already. What about ... botany? Not enough flicks happening about botany, and I can't see why: No need for crappy make-up or gore effects, and plants are always the first to show-up and the last to leave. Heck, it's like they've never left their mark since they were placed there. They are truly the ideal performers (although some trees come-off as a bit wooden.)
As you can tell, I'm heinously bored, and shall stop myself here before I cause anymore damage to myself and others.
For all I know that NATM2 short listing may now be an un-listing, and if it is I'm hoping te get a re-listing to audition for some other part (ala 1492's other production known as, say it with me now, I Love You Beth Cooper.)
Other than not auditioning, the past week was filled with a lot of not working and not getting any younger. I went up a mountain on Wednesday. That was fun (and expensive), but at last I was able to look down from the heights that I look up to everyday. At last, I was able to look down upon my world be as tall as I feel (look for pictures to come soon, none of them taken by me.)
Monday I meet at Cactus Club to hash-out a training schedule, get all my training manuals. I find it mighty ironic that I pass the time at my current job by studying for my future job, and I guess that's technically what I was doing when I worked on auditions at work.
That's about all to report for now, so without further ado, here are some random thoughts:
- Happy Pot Day, pot heads! I'm sure glad there's at least one day (or two, if you count July 1st ... and some other random day I can't recall, but it's on lamp posts all over town, so keep an eye out, y'hear?) dedicated to smoking of your beloved "Sweet Leaf". I never understood the appeal of pot, I've tried to distance myself from it as much as possible.
Why? Because I know it would take me under if I started. Really, I don't need anything else in my life to make me lazy and give me cravings for junk food; I can manage that well enough stone sober, thank you very much. Vancouver is a city where people smoke it on the streets and no one bats an eye (unless they get smoke in it, ow) and it's quite popular among the kids my age.
"More people do it than don't," a friend of mine from back home once argued, and it took a lot to stifle the urge to echo the words of my dear, sweet muddah "if more people jumped-off a bridge than didn't, would you?" (I always thought that was the dumbest parental phrase in world until she added "well, what if there was water underneath?" THEN I would do it.)
- This morning I saw one of those planes dragging a banner ad. This particular ad was for a local College. How do you explain that to the registrar's office? There's bound to be a question on some application form that looks like this:
29A. How did you hear about this College? (Please CHECK ALL that apply):
i. ( ) Friend/Family
ii. ( ) Newspaper Ad
iii. ( ) Radio Ad
iv. ( ) Television Ad
v. ( ) Internet pop-up Ad
vi. ( ) Public Transportation Ad
vii. ( ) NASCAR Bumper Ad
viii. ( ) Hockey board Ad
ix. ( ) An airplane dragging a banner Ad
29B. If you checked "xi." what else, if anything was being advertised? (Please CHECK ALL that apply):
i. ( ) BUY WAR BONDS
ii. ( ) THE FORD MODEL T ... NOW IN RED!
iii. ( ) DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN
iv. ( ) DRINK COCA-COLA ... NOW 100% COCAINE-FREE!
v. ( ) SEE "JVLIVS CAESAR" PERFORMED AT THE BRAND NEW GLOBE THEATRE
- What's with student film-makers and zombie movies? I swear, every single living film-maker has made one at some point in their career, most of them making them in their early days. I don't dislike the genre, but ... c'mon, enough with the zombies already. What about ... botany? Not enough flicks happening about botany, and I can't see why: No need for crappy make-up or gore effects, and plants are always the first to show-up and the last to leave. Heck, it's like they've never left their mark since they were placed there. They are truly the ideal performers (although some trees come-off as a bit wooden.)
As you can tell, I'm heinously bored, and shall stop myself here before I cause anymore damage to myself and others.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
"You're Hired"
Alright, so my good, great buddy Sara suggested I come in to the restaurant where she works and apply for a job. It's a little place called Cactus Club Cafe, and it was one of the first "out here" chains I visited when I moved to Vancouver.
When I lived in Nova Scotia, being part of youth ministry there, we would go out for wings and beer after our youth nights every week. The locations changed over the years, but the idea remained: a social outing with friends to unwind a recap the night/week, and it was always good times. Well, they had the same idea (I think FD brought it over with him) at the parish in Richmond where I sing in the choir. When I first arrived they'd head to the Cactus Club, and I found it quite delightful. To be fair, if there's a place that'll put food in front of me I will likely give it top marks, but Cactus maintained a pretty high level of quality food-wise as long as I've been here.
So with my extremely light work schedule, I made time to visit her yesterday afternoon, and enjoy some of that rockin' CCC chow. I brought my resume, which when combined with my weak-sauce application form made it glaringly obvious that I've had no experience in serving tables, which is what I was gunning for. You can make some serious coin handling hot plates, just ask Sara, my roommates, and any other class members of mine out here who come home with their pocket-seams struggling to contain their tips.
I wasn't guaranteed an interview and there was a management meeting going on when I visited, but I go an interview anyway. I turned-on the William C. Vaughan charm, and was told that I'd be great at that location ... for the kitchen. Not my first choice, but I'd work it if I had to. Then the interviewer recommended I check out the new Cactus Club they're building downtown. I've read about this place, with it's 20' ceilings, authentic art and suspended dining room located in the middle of the business district, this place is literally going to be the hottest restaurant in Vancouver once it's open (June 2nd). The interviewer said to grab a shirt and tie and look alive, because the Regional Manager was going to be on-site to oversee hiring, and he's keeping an eye out for sparkling personalties. Welp, you know what that means.
SHOPPING SPREE!
I headed to the only place I knew with clothes that looked as good as fabric as I do as flesh and bone: Sasso. Again introduced to me by the Richmond contingent, this place specializes in imported European clothing at surprisingly good prices and just moved downtown (corner of Nelson & Granville) in the last few months. I wanted a shirt and tie, and I came out with more than I bargained for, but that didn't surprise me. Let it be known, if you walk inside that store you're almost guaranteed to go from looking at it on the rack to looking at it on your rack (if you're female) in a matter of seconds. And the staff won't let you stop there, just be open to what they give you and know when to say no.
I ended-up saying "no" to a fair bit, but I also said the most expensive "yes" ever at a clothing store, but hey, it's all an investment: for the interview, and for auditions, and it ain't hurtin' the ol' self-esteem neither (fun fact: for those who don't know, that flamboyant blue shirt and vest combo that I sport in my head shot comes from the very store you've just read about.)
I planned on going at around noon today, but I went to the gym first, and then the Princess kept being in another castle, so I didn't get there until the late afternoon, sporting my brand-new shirt, tie, blazer, jeans and sense of confidence.
I rolled up in there and the guys at the front table asked if I was there to audition for "So You Think You Can Dance"
"NO! I'm here to apply for the Cactus Club here, STUPID!" would have been the wrong thing to say, but I enjoyed their playfulness, and told them that I was there to be the best employee in the history of Cactus Club, which may not have been the right thing to say either, so instead I just played-along and said,
"Yeah, should I just get set-up at the front there?"
Then we got down to brass tacks and when they asked I told them that I was there to be a server, BUUUTTT I knew I'd have to start at a lower position first.
"Well, we're hiring Porters right now."
Awesome. I don't really know what a Porter IS (like a bar-back, right, like he helps, uh, "port" stuff around?) but I'd do if it got me to a serving position someday.
So I fill-out another applications form. I hate these because they really make my credentials look awful.
Did you go to University?
Y
How many years did you attend?
1
Did you graduate?
... N
Did you just give-up on that and try acting instead?
Y
List your previous employment experience, with the most current first.
Security Guard, Call Centre Agent, Video Store Clerk.
Are you freaking kidding me?
... N
I slogged through that double-sided nightmare once again, and then the interviewer took a seat in front of me.
"Are you American?"
"No, I'm from Halifax, I've just taken extensive acting training to get rid of may accent."
"Oh, so if you drop that you're saying 'car', 'far', 'bar' (all with hard "r's")?"
"Pretty much, yeah."
We jawed through the typical interview questions, and he said I'd make a good Porter, being a good size, and not being afraid of a little physical labour. I told him I can do pretty much any job I'm trained to do, and I like to joke-around but get down to business when necessary.
"You're hired."
Just like that. Like I said, the place opens June 2nd, so the training will start in the middle of May. I need to get a "Serving it Right" number (legally required to serve alcohol in BC) and I'll meet with them next week to receive the manuals to start to read-up on everything. The other thing they need from me is more people, so you heard it here first, Vancouverites: if you're looking to apply, tell 'em Willie sent'cha.
(Ironic quirk of the day: Securiguard was going to have me patrol the same set of buildings that Cactus will be a part of. Now the guard becomes the guarded. I feel so secure.)
When I lived in Nova Scotia, being part of youth ministry there, we would go out for wings and beer after our youth nights every week. The locations changed over the years, but the idea remained: a social outing with friends to unwind a recap the night/week, and it was always good times. Well, they had the same idea (I think FD brought it over with him) at the parish in Richmond where I sing in the choir. When I first arrived they'd head to the Cactus Club, and I found it quite delightful. To be fair, if there's a place that'll put food in front of me I will likely give it top marks, but Cactus maintained a pretty high level of quality food-wise as long as I've been here.
So with my extremely light work schedule, I made time to visit her yesterday afternoon, and enjoy some of that rockin' CCC chow. I brought my resume, which when combined with my weak-sauce application form made it glaringly obvious that I've had no experience in serving tables, which is what I was gunning for. You can make some serious coin handling hot plates, just ask Sara, my roommates, and any other class members of mine out here who come home with their pocket-seams struggling to contain their tips.
I wasn't guaranteed an interview and there was a management meeting going on when I visited, but I go an interview anyway. I turned-on the William C. Vaughan charm, and was told that I'd be great at that location ... for the kitchen. Not my first choice, but I'd work it if I had to. Then the interviewer recommended I check out the new Cactus Club they're building downtown. I've read about this place, with it's 20' ceilings, authentic art and suspended dining room located in the middle of the business district, this place is literally going to be the hottest restaurant in Vancouver once it's open (June 2nd). The interviewer said to grab a shirt and tie and look alive, because the Regional Manager was going to be on-site to oversee hiring, and he's keeping an eye out for sparkling personalties. Welp, you know what that means.
SHOPPING SPREE!
I headed to the only place I knew with clothes that looked as good as fabric as I do as flesh and bone: Sasso. Again introduced to me by the Richmond contingent, this place specializes in imported European clothing at surprisingly good prices and just moved downtown (corner of Nelson & Granville) in the last few months. I wanted a shirt and tie, and I came out with more than I bargained for, but that didn't surprise me. Let it be known, if you walk inside that store you're almost guaranteed to go from looking at it on the rack to looking at it on your rack (if you're female) in a matter of seconds. And the staff won't let you stop there, just be open to what they give you and know when to say no.
I ended-up saying "no" to a fair bit, but I also said the most expensive "yes" ever at a clothing store, but hey, it's all an investment: for the interview, and for auditions, and it ain't hurtin' the ol' self-esteem neither (fun fact: for those who don't know, that flamboyant blue shirt and vest combo that I sport in my head shot comes from the very store you've just read about.)
I planned on going at around noon today, but I went to the gym first, and then the Princess kept being in another castle, so I didn't get there until the late afternoon, sporting my brand-new shirt, tie, blazer, jeans and sense of confidence.
I rolled up in there and the guys at the front table asked if I was there to audition for "So You Think You Can Dance"
"NO! I'm here to apply for the Cactus Club here, STUPID!" would have been the wrong thing to say, but I enjoyed their playfulness, and told them that I was there to be the best employee in the history of Cactus Club, which may not have been the right thing to say either, so instead I just played-along and said,
"Yeah, should I just get set-up at the front there?"
Then we got down to brass tacks and when they asked I told them that I was there to be a server, BUUUTTT I knew I'd have to start at a lower position first.
"Well, we're hiring Porters right now."
Awesome. I don't really know what a Porter IS (like a bar-back, right, like he helps, uh, "port" stuff around?) but I'd do if it got me to a serving position someday.
So I fill-out another applications form. I hate these because they really make my credentials look awful.
Did you go to University?
Y
How many years did you attend?
1
Did you graduate?
... N
Did you just give-up on that and try acting instead?
Y
List your previous employment experience, with the most current first.
Security Guard, Call Centre Agent, Video Store Clerk.
Are you freaking kidding me?
... N
I slogged through that double-sided nightmare once again, and then the interviewer took a seat in front of me.
"Are you American?"
"No, I'm from Halifax, I've just taken extensive acting training to get rid of may accent."
"Oh, so if you drop that you're saying 'car', 'far', 'bar' (all with hard "r's")?"
"Pretty much, yeah."
We jawed through the typical interview questions, and he said I'd make a good Porter, being a good size, and not being afraid of a little physical labour. I told him I can do pretty much any job I'm trained to do, and I like to joke-around but get down to business when necessary.
"You're hired."
Just like that. Like I said, the place opens June 2nd, so the training will start in the middle of May. I need to get a "Serving it Right" number (legally required to serve alcohol in BC) and I'll meet with them next week to receive the manuals to start to read-up on everything. The other thing they need from me is more people, so you heard it here first, Vancouverites: if you're looking to apply, tell 'em Willie sent'cha.
(Ironic quirk of the day: Securiguard was going to have me patrol the same set of buildings that Cactus will be a part of. Now the guard becomes the guarded. I feel so secure.)
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