All
day. All day I have thought about this, knowing I
have to write SOMETHING, but having no idea how to. So
I'll basically just take you through the night, and
tell you exactly what happened.
So
last night we have the storm of the century in LA.
A downpour that I hadn't seen since the
night of the Comedy Store in 2001 (so not really the
storm of the century huh? LOL):
"Now,
the only thing that could ruin this night at this
point would be a blizzard. Something that would keep
our people from coming out. Well in LA, they call
blizzards "rain". And holy SHIT did it start raining.
This is not good. Simply put, people will not come
out. I laughed at Murphy for a moment, and simply
concentrated on getting there in one
piece."
It
then hit me that it was November 12th...exactly 2
years after to the day. How poetic huh? Well this
rainstorm was a little more crazy. Snow in Watts
crazy. Now it's technically hail, but tell that to all
the black kids running around in the snow today making
angels and having snowball fights. It had to be the
cutest thing I've ever seen. These kids had NEVER seen
snow before - they were havin' a ball.
ANYWAY,
I had to rush like a madman after work to get things
set-up as the guy who usually runs the lights at this
theater informed me yesterday that he wasn't
gonna be there. In fact, no one would - he gave me the
keys to the place and said good luck. (sigh). So
I set up the old light rig I had back in the 90s
and thought "well this will certainly be a one-man
show won't it" There's so many on and off cues,
especially in part 2... oh well.
So
I get there and the infamous
"publicist" couple gets their early.
They had asked if they could help out
since Jess wasn't gonna be around taking
the door for me. If you don't remember,
these are the people that gave me the idea
to get a publicist back in
Entry
#280.
They were actually the people sitting
waiting for me to start during my
LA premiere.
Here I'll zoom
in
on 'em for you. LOL. Very sincere people -
a true rarity in this city.
So
anyway, about 11 showed up. The show went beautifully.
Unfortunately there was one older couple there that I
knew wasn't gonna enjoy it. The lady is a patient from
work who has just been so supportive and excited
through all my physical transformations - and I've
tried to politely warn her, but she really wanted to
come. She actually said nice things afterwards, but
the guy she came with skipped out pretty quick. It
doesn't really phase me like it used to...as I know
the talent comes through no matter what the characters
are saying...but I always think of my
grandmother. I'll have less raunchy material soon
enough. Bottom line - the show is exactly what it
should be for a guy my age. The characters are all
early twenties - a rather raunchy time
anyway.
So
afterwards the Bowyer's took me out to dinner. They
had asked earlier in the week if I'd be free after and
I said yes. I'm so freakin' humbled by that you
know? I want to say "Oh you really don't have to
do that..." but you can only do that so much before
it's just rude. So I was as thankful and grateful as
I could possibly be. Oddly enough we went to
Dalt's, an old Columbus hang-out that I didn't
even know was here, and we of course talked more about
the publicist.
In
all my 4 years of keeping this detailed journal, I
have never forgotten such an important piece, but
I was so dumbfounded at the moment I forget
what she said to me. It was something along the lines
of them wanting to invest in me. To make sure
I got this publicist, and that money didn't stop
the "roll" that I'm on right now. To which
I replied in almost a rude manner:
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?"
I
don't know if they thought I was offended, or
angry - but honest-to-GOD I nearly peed myself. In my
mind I'm thinking "You're gonna buy me food, and give
me money? Are you high?". I finally said: "Uhm,
Ok, so what's the agreement here? How's this gonna
work". And she said it in no uncertain
terms:
"You
agree to succeed."
They
then went on to explain how long they had been out
here, both pursuing their acting careers, and other
various enterprises in showbiz and the bottom line
was, they simply believe that much in me. They've seen
the show, they've gotten to know me, they obviously
sense my sincerity and they just want to see someone
really make it. It's very much a "Pay it
Forward" scenerio. I mentioned that the
initial fee is really just the tip of the iceberg and
they just said: "Will cross that bridge when we
get there...for now - just get there".
Everything
I could possibly type at this moment is cliched beyond
words. I am so humbled, so honored, so shocked,
so everything...that anyone would believe in me that
much. Granted, they have talked to me at work for the
better part of the year, and it's amazing how much can
come across in say a dozen 2 minute
conversations...but this is just unbelieveable. It's
these types of generosity that just fill me with...
with power. From the listener that sent Jess and
I $500 back in 2000 (and has since bought 5
copies of everything I've ever done just to give to
friends) to hell, even Charlotte who, although it
soured, put her money, heart and soul into me
believing I had what it takes. Granted it would all be
coming back to her, but it was still the same type of
recognition that just blows me away.
But
all day I've been in this sort of...well funk really.
I know I should be bouncing off the walls, but
I feel very heavy for some reason. I feel a
responsibilty now that is much deeper. It's the same
responsibility I feel to every person who ever
listened to "The Late Show" or who ever bought
any of my CDs or DVDs and truly gave me their support.
I have to do this for them. And now there's an
even greater example of people that really just want
someone they know and like - pull it off. So all
I can do now is push it as strong as I ever have.
And it goes without saying that these are the people
that you help out when you get to that point in your
career that you can. These are the sincerely great
people you have to be lucky enough to run into
in this city to make it. I can't tell you how
rare that is. Michele Greene is one of those people as
well. Someone you know is just trying to be a friend
and give any advice where it's possible. I feel like
the luckiest guy on the planet right
now...
...and
tomorrow we shoot my scenes for her pilot. It's a tide
people. It's this absolute wave of positivity that is
leading me right back to where I was before. I
send out the money order, DVDs, letter and headshots
to the publicist tomorrow (or Saturday depending on
how long it takes for me to get this letter perfect) -
and chances are I'll know if they accept me by the end
of the year. I know I overanalyze way too damn much
but you'd be crazy to ignore the signs here. It is
still a longshot that a company this big takes me on
as a client...but it's a longshot I'm feeelin' baby.
I mean could more things happen in one year or
what?
I'll
let you know how tomorrow goes...most likely won't
have any video of anything - but maybe I can get them
to run something off onto my digital 8 tape. I'll just
have to play it by ear. Man it's gonna be a blast.
Wish Jess was freakin' HERE for all this! AHHH.
