Day 365 of 365

• Day 365 of 365

And so it is here, our 1 year anniversary for Top of the Bottom Pile! 365 days have come to us through a long, but fun, journey. Where are we now in comparison to 365 days ago!? Oh the stories we can tell you. An idea to gather a few comedians and work as a business was our goal. Step one was accomplished. Next, we designed a Brand to market and get into the public eye. Top of the Bottom Pile was born. Finally, but still far from least, we set out to network with everyone and anything. Including signs, light post and garbage cans. Of course on occasion any person we met had more to say than signs, light posts and one garbage can.

Us three monkeys are pushing forward into a second year of possibilities. With a tour being finalized, and some other interesting things in the works, Top of the Bottom Pile came around to make our goals a success. Work together beyond being associated with one another. There is more in working as a team than just being a name among names. Each member has a strong value about them. A skill that helps push Top to the next level. Those involved on Top benefit from each person putting in hard work. I am proud to be among the few willing to work as hard as we all do. These guys took a chance on an idea that was lost on arrogance, jadedness and tunnel vision of others.

365 days, man, that time went and gone. Yet, we all continue to move forward. Look back at your own year. What did you want to accomplish, and what have you accomplished? These are questions you should be asking yourself. Can you change the outcome of your life? What about the life's of others? Just because you are one person doing comedy, doesn't mean you have no friends. Our motto; Support the supporters! So much more can change in this business if so many of us stand together. Are you good enough to be the best of the worst? Do you want people to look at you and be their second best choice? There is a beautiful place awaiting us all on the Top Of The Bottom Pile!!!

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour I Am On)

The few Devils we see

• The few Devils we see

There is an old biblical saying “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn't exist...” How powerful of a statement? What if we look at it bit by bit? Imagine what power Lucifer would have if he could truly get us all to believe he doesn't exist? Then he could come and go as he sees fit. Having power over all of us, while talking directly with us. That's a lot of power to give anyone. Belial could be your friend; actions you make; family members; Cop; Lawyer (The Devil's Advocate) is a great example. Now, to me, this is far from a religious thought. As religious as I am, I personally do not believe in the Devil. However...

This statement is truthful on multiple levels. Look at yourself as the Devil. Even your lack of actions as a Devil. Entertainers are really great at two things; A) Being filled with a deep Ego and B) Being the first to put themselves down to the point of not believing in themselves. That must be some battle inside a person. Thinking you are so amazing that people should just want your artistic expression, yet on occasion, that same artist of entertainment feels they could always do better. That, the work they are showing you isn't good enough. Entertainers become their own Devil doing these two things. Pushing people away till they want nothing to do with us simply by thinking we are awesome, or have no faith in our ability is scary.

If you don't believe in yourself than how can anyone else? Giving your surrounding world a gift to want nothing to do with you manifests with your attitude. I was once immersed in music entertainment. It was my life; I knew nothing else. Then I began seeing what it all was. In an art form designed for your ears, no one was listening to anyone but their own voice. No one cared about anything but themselves. I have an extremely deep, and painful, love/hate relationship with music now. Dealing with musicians, even any entertainer. It saddens me greatly when I am directly witness to an “Entertainer Ego”. The ideals these people have. We are in this together, yet so many people push others away. I want to know there is hope.

“Even the strong are defeated in a war of many when you are standing alone.” ~ Lord Telmorn Altayon

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour I Am On)

What is happening

• What is happening

How does a person succeed in this business? What busy you ask? The entertainment business. That's why you are reading the “Traveling Adventures of a Resilient Entertainer” – By the way, thank you for reading! I am going to give a basic outline of what a person needs to do so they can bring their dreams to reality. Then, I am going to show you what people are doing. Because, honestly, how many people can you count on your hand that are in the business you want to make a living at that are also successful? Even on a local aspect, some of them should be doing something by now. A business, if not successful and earning income by their 3rd year, must close. Yet, entertainers are doing 10 – 20 years still putting the time into their day job to make a buck.

1) Foundation; save 18 months worth of capital so you can give yourself an opportunity to say “YES” to your life.

2) Network, Market, and Practice; Build those relationships up so you can say “It's who you know”, grow your Brand through Marketing and have people “Know who you are”, then Practice your Skill and the business you are in.

3) Have a Social HUB attached to a well designed Website; Learn to speak with people not to them, sell on your website what you want people to have and express yourself through your Social HUB.

4) Selflessness; Remember success has nothing to do with you, it is always about other people.

5) Be proactive; get things done and DO. You want something, go after it.

These are the simple versions of what needs to be done. You can take it and grow with it. These little things create big opportunity for you. They did for me and changed my world. I began listening to people instead of relying on my talents and my lack of knowledge in how the system of entertainment worked. One other major change was, I started being around the world I was interested in. I didn't just go when I thought it suited me. I was there because it was there and I wanted to be around it, all of it. Everything, the music, the comedy, acting. I wanted to see how it all worked, and how I could help others by giving my time to them without asking for anything in return. I still live by this philosophy. Life is short, so why live your life away for other people's dreams when you should be living your own!?

A few things people, who are stuck on the road to being Jaded, do; since they “Should be discovered because they are amazing, awesome and unique!”

• Practice far too much; The idea that if you become good enough, all things will fall into place.
• I need a product; Writing Jokes, Recording Musical CD's, Film a TV Pilot / Movie, Have a book, etc. YOU are the product.
• They are in this alone; Look to your left and right. Everyone is in it, now work together.
• I am better than them; So what. It is not how amazing you are over others but how much people like you. Be nice!
• Show, Show, Show!; A show defines nothing of your brand. It is a place for fans to come see you, not grow them.
• Must have the best, be the best, perform the best; HAVE FUN, enjoy the ride. You are an entertainer.
• I am too old; So were Rodney Dangerfield, Harrison Ford, Jane Lynch, Samuel L. Jackson, Melissa McCarthy...

You are never too old to live!

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour I Am On)

Making waves

• Making waves

The world is simple; Put in an effort and you will get results. It works. I am living proof. I dropped out of high school and became a self made man. Spent ten years making waves in music. That lead me to Canada, other States in America playing my heart out. It also lead me to my breaking point. Wanting to leave music forever. I think about music, but I don't think about playing out. I remember this one time, I had not touched a stage with a band for about 5 years. I practiced and got ready to have a ball. Even got to play on stage with a drummer I've wanted to perform with since I first met him. When I got off stage 2 guitar players said “You ruined those solos. You really destroyed those songs”.

They were making waves, playing me with silly jokes. The band liked what I did, we had fun, and until that moment I thought I could do it again. I hung my head and remembered how much I hated performers at that level of the music business. 10+ years in and they were still beginners. If you have a day job, you are still a hobbyist. Even more so, if you are not paying your bills in the field you love doing for a hobby, then you are still a beginner. Why can't people just have fun and keep from tearing others down? If they are happy, and everything is going well, then stop being the quintessential hater stereotype.

It is your job to Love that you are playing, love that you are there. That is the point to performing. You want to be the best then practice, but you want to work in this business without having a day job? Be nice to everyone, because you never know who someone is or knows. I recently worked with Martin Scorsese on a TV pilot. Yeah, I was background, yeah I didn't have lines. But in my life time, I've played in front of thousands of people on a huge arena stage, had a chance to act and make Martin Scorsese laugh, and even get to hang with some of my favorite professional Comedians. I suppose when people make waves it depends where you are in the ocean for it to matter in a positive or negative way.

Then I began to think about the truth. I am making my own life happen. Good or bad, I am doing things that make me okay with dying. I have no regrets. I wrote a book, I performed, I had my own theater and brought that to life as a childhood dream come true, played music, got to be Hamlet in Hamlet, and everything under the sun that I wanted to do in my life I accomplished. If for one time, or continuously. Not many people can say that. So yeah, those two guitar players made waves in the kiddy pool while I'm swimming in the ocean of life. I took a dump in the kiddy pool a long time ago. Become what you want in this life. Take chances. If anyone deserves it, it is you. We all deserve to do the things that make us happy.

Just don't hurt people physically, or kill them and you should be good! Make your own waves to show the world you are ready to get wet!

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour I Am On)

Face the faceless

• Face the faceless

Entertainment comes with some pretty interesting people. They are even more interesting when they are on the bottom floor. The bottom floor, level, the beginning stages, however you see fit. I even consider people 10 years, or more, in entertainment, beginners if they are doing what I call the “Oh, you're an entertainer too” face filled with discussed. Or to make it easier for everyone “Face the faceless” moment. These people who give you the face you “need” to see until then figure out they can't sell you on them, so now you get the face of their true purpose. Which means, maybe they didn't care in the first place and were making a fake face to get you interested. Truth be told, the truth works better than the sale.

Great example, I deal with entertainers all the time, and most of the time they don't realize I am an entertainer myself. I approach these people, while they are “barking” for a show; (Barking is when you stand out side and ask every person passing if they will come to your show) and they give me their full attention. I listen, talk, and am engaged to what they are presenting. The moment they find out I am an entertainer they make a face and walk away. Another example would be when I talk with any entertainer hanging out near a club and they ignore you. As if “Who do I think I am?” We all start at the bottom, but sometimes these people forget they too are at the bottom.

The truth is, I get it. You need to bring in people to make money, or even more sad, to do a free show and make other people money. The worst idea is that some of these people look at you as competition and thus they give you the stink-face. I get it, I really do. It still saddens me, as everyone should be working together and supporting one another. I suppose if they could see how it works for an already successful group of people, then they might change their tune. The person you think can't help you now might turn into the next person standing in your way for your “Big Break”. Look at Ted Alexandro, or Louis C.K. always working on projects with people they like... you know, friends they made in the business.

Be nice to everyone, you never know who someone is, or knows...

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour I Am On)

Poetry in motion

• Poetry in motion

Being an entertainer is a struggle. It becomes a battle after every failed audition, bomb on stage, lack of ticket sales, and of course any expression of art turning to a flop. Even when you don't feel your creative juices flowing, that can push you to hide. There comes a point when it feels easier to run away and get a “real” job, than continuing on. Every performer has ups and downs. It comes with this job. You must have your “A” game every night, every day, every moment... oh, and you are told you should also come prepared with new material each time. Some of us are even self destructive. So, Why want this life? Is there a point if in the end we can't handle all our failures? And if there is such failure, why try at all?

Recently Robin Williams had passed away by a self inflecting end. He and I suffer from depression, bipolar disorder, and the need to make others happy despite our own impending frail sadness. I suppose recently I've been considering my end game. Not to end my life, or to give up. But, the idea that, if Robin Williams couldn't take the world anymore-- Or rather, his life within this world, what chance do I have? He was a standard in life. A person who brought purposeful glow to those sad, afraid, or people committed to a finality of any given situation. I am not here to speak about Robin's death, or why he killed himself. I am here explaining that even the unknown, and known, have their battles.

I suppose I am saying; if you can, and are willing, keep on failing upward. We will have trails and tribulations. When we lose fellow soldiers of entertainment it is our job to remember what they gave to make it possible for us to fail within a business they helped nurture. When we are on stage, respect all those who had/have been on stage and those who wished they had strength to be up on stage. A fearlessness to break free of excuses and become apart of that magic. If you can't see yourself being successful, stop, breathe and rethink your plan. If you are not Networking, Marketing and Practicing; then you are standing still in your amazing, awesome and unique talent. Poetry alone is nothing if not in motion...

“No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.” ~ Robin Williams

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour I Am On)

I hate, hate; but most of all, what the hell

• I hate, hate; but most of all, what the hell

The traveling adventures continue: When It comes to being out networking and marketing, I am a very open person. One of my well known traits is how expressive I can become around new people, or even strangers. I know my actions can be different for every person; but what the hell!? Let me explain. I was walk around New York City creating conversation with people. I walk up to groups, but rarely will I approach a single standing person. I want people to feel comfortable. However last night was different. I kept seeing individuals walking small cute dogs. Seeing this, I would look at a dog, not the person, and say to myself “Aw, look a puppy, cute puppy” And variations on that.

What am I getting at!? Oh, so there was this old lady walking her dog and I said the aforementioned statement and she says back to me “Asshole.” First off, her dog didn't bark, jump at me, look at me, or try and take her master for a run. It just kept on its way. Second, I only said it to myself, not her. The funnier part was I turned to one of my friends and said, “Did she just call me an asshole?”, and then I hear her say “Fagot.” Let me get the puns out of the way; A) do I look like a bundle of sticks? B) I am not a cigarette. Okay, with that out of the way; I was very confused by this moment as I think people should be a little nicer in life. To boot, my sexual preference is not determinate by how much I like puppies.

Her cruelty made me think about how often I am kind and open. My life is about making people laugh and entertain their emotions in a positive way. So when this lady said what she said, and all the rest of it, I also got to thinking how calling me a Fagot isn't an insult. She didn't understand situational context since I am not a homosexual. Clearly she wasn't utilizing the other terminologies of Fagot. I did place into consideration that she was very old and maybe Fagot was an insult back in the day. To me, I wish I could have just made her smile. I did nothing wrong, and maybe she wanted to be in her own space. But I was talking to myself at the time. You can't always win with people, but what the hell!?

Speak to people, it is more entertaining than you might think... plus, they have seen a different world than you!

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour I Am On)