FREE in NYC: Day 4 – MUSIC @ HIP SOULS AT THE MALL – Broadway @ Bryant

The following is Part 4 of a documentary about a week I am spending in NYC.  I have a free place to stay in exchange for watching a couple of pleasant kitty cats.  With almost no money (literally) and enough food to last for about three more days, I am set on having a great week by working through these obstacles.  It’s not going to be easy, but if it works out, it could be fun…  Check out the official page of this NYC journal to get a better understanding of the factors going into this week.  NYCBLOG[portal]

*side note- my phone and camera are still not working.  this sucks as I really wanted to share those photos with you.  My apologies for now, just give it time.  This was an incredible day for me and its great to tell someone about it and without the photos, the presentation just won’t be the same, so please check back in some near time or subscribe and you will get an update when they arrive.  Thanks…

DAY 4: Broadway @ Bryant, Music at the Mall, Dirty Urchins, Hunterfest, soulful meetings.

This was by far my most active day so far, and will probably conclude as being my favorite.  I took many pictures.  I saw beautiful sights.  I met beautiful people.  I heard lots of free music.  NYC rules on days like today.  Here’s how it all got started.

The trek downtown began on Park Ave, then up 72^nd and over to 5^th.  With a left on fifth, I was in an architectural  photo heaven.  Beautifully carved  human-made designs amplifying the natural ambiance of Central park.  The history of this area screams of wealth and influence.  This was a wonderful prelude to the rest of the day’s journeys.

Continuing down 5^th, I found myself in the hustle and bustle of 59th st, which strikes me as predominantly tourism.  Languages from all over the globe meld into one sound. In this atmosphere, one can’t help but feel like a tourist, even if they are from these parts.

My first destination was Bryant park, and 42^nd street quickly approached.  A quick right past the library and I arrived.  Amongst the 90 degree temps was a block of humidity, strong enough to weigh down a feather on the moon.  This didn’t stop hundreds of people from grabbing  chairs and flocking to the grassy area of the park.  At the head of the grass was a stage, featuring a well displayed banner describing the days events and their corporate sponsors.  Corporations love to brag about their endowments towards the arts, but who can really complain, as they spend millions to allow freeloaders like myself to enjoy a free show once in a while.  So thank you to the fine sponsors of this particular event.

Today’s sampled productions came from 4 top billed shows:  The Lion King, The Adam’s Family, Wicked, and a new hit called Next To Normal.  It was way too hot for this type of singing, but it was entertaining enough that the heat could be overlooked ( I love watching people use umbrellas as sun visors without little regard to the fact that they may be obstructing someone’s view.)  All of the performers here were very talented, but the young girl from Next to Normal was by far, a standout performance, at least for me, and judging by the applause, for everyone else who was there.  {try and find out her name.

When it was all over, I placed my borrowed chair back on the stone path and traveled back towards 5^th.  My next stop was to be at “The Mall,” a district of central park, where live music was going to take place.  It was however, about to rain, but I wasn’t gonna let that stop me from getting there and enjoying some free tunes.

Last week, I had visited a friend in New England and we up to the mountains to hike.  As we got closer to the range, it appeared that rain would soon follow.  We stopped off at some random exit and we each bought a poncho.  Fortunately for us, the rain had already hit the top of the mountain by the time we got to it, so the poncho was never used.  I did however bring it with me on Day 4 just in case it rained… which it did.

While everyone was popping umbrellas and casually hitting random tourists with their pointed borders, I was breezing on up the ave, confident in my decision, proud to be wearing my mountainous rain gear.  I think New Yorkers and Bostonians take a certain pride in being prepared for the elements.  Today, I was a prepared New Yorker!  The rain only lasted 10 minutes, but it may have been this rain that hath destroyed my telecom unit thus hindering my means of sharing photos with you.  Win some, lose some!

As I approached the park, I was excited.  I had read about a small festival that was taking place here today, and from what I gathered about it, the music was to be to my appreciation.  When I got there, it was too early, so I wandered towards Bethesda Lake.  Over time, this has become one of my most favorite spots to hang.  The beautiful lush scenery and mellow vibes never fail at bringing me calm.  And usually, there is some sort for thing going on there.  Last time they were filming a movie.  This time, there was a choir with strings singing in the tunnel.

From the warm sounds of Bach, to their inspirational covers of pop or R&B hits, The Boyd family was a charming addition to my day.  Not only myself, but scores of others gathered around under the tunnel to be captivated by their angelic sounds. A couple wearing a dress and tuxedo pranced around as if it was their wedding ceremony (which it may have been, although I suspect it was a photo shoot.)

The group contained what appeared to be the  father singing tenor, while there were 4 young kids of varying ages, two boys and two girls, harmonizing with the father all while being backed by an upright bass, an alto sax, and a cello.  This was thoroughly enjoyable and the ambiance was nothing short of spiritual.  This was a nice way to fill time in between the Broadway at Bryant, and the music that was to take place at the Bandshell.  Thank you Boyd family for being there when you were.

The Naumberg  Bandshell has provided me several musical experiences over the years.  The last time I was here, there was the solstice festival, which I will create a page for at some time.  It was at this bandshell that I saw the Yale Percussion  group and that was a great time.  At other random occasions,Ihave stumbled upon some other random shows.  So when I arrived here and no one was playing, I had to pause and wonder if I had mucked the dates up.

I approached a lady who had a positive energy flowing from her.  She seemed to be setting up some artwork for display.  I asked her when the music would start and she said that 45 minutes seemed about right…  great!  I could go back and feed the kitties, and have  a guilt free night of dancing and listening.  I thanked her and it was back to the apartment.

On the way back, I overheard a conversation from two young hippy types who had been hiking the mountains.  I gave them a thumbs up and continued on my way.  They probably thought I was crazy.  Great!

Upon arrival, I fed the kitties had a quick snack which was basically an egg and an apple, took a load off of the feet for a few, and then back out to the park.  I mention this moment because I want to emphasize what an amazing feeling it is to stay at at place in the city that is so accessible to so many things, and so close that I could stop off for a quick bite and then go back into the city and be where I was going within minutes…  most people have to travel to the city from other areas and may not have this sort of luxury.  I am very appreciative of such things and am really envious of those who can do this on a daily basis.

When I returned to the Bandshell, there was a fellow on guitar, singing.  He had a good spirit and was enjoyable to watch.  There was at this time however, no crowd, so the energy levels lacked.  Unfortunately for this fellow, there was a group of musicians playing just up the Mall and they were sounding awfully good to me, so I strolled on over.  What I got to see here was for me, quite astounding.

They combine blue grass and folk and feature a male singer/guitarist, an upright bassist who also sings, and a female guitarist who had one of the most powerful voices I have heard in a while.  I sat there for 15 minutes, with my mouth dropped…  who was this group of souls and why were they here?

They call themselves the “Dirty Urchins.”  After they were through, I immediately thanked them for a tremendous performance.  I spoke with the bassist who informed me that they were local and that they gig around town.  After doing some research, I realized that the beautiful voice of Julia Hatigan, which is what drew me there in the first place, is actually an acclaimed solo artist and apparent friend of the band who may have just been sitting in on this day.  Fortunate for all of us there, as she melds well with this group and the overall sound was very intriguing.  If this is your scene, check em out.  They really had the stuff today!

As soon as they finished, music began to emanate from the bandshell.  They were called Cryptic Skin, and it was mix of electro beats and a female vocalist.   She later invited a friend of hers to the stage and her name may have been Jen.  She is a guitarist with remarkable skills.  When the electro set was over, Jen appeared and walloped the devoted crowd with a solo rendition of Stairway to Heaven.  Very nice!

When their set ended, a fellow came out and played an elctro-acoustic guitar solo for a bit.  Turns out, he was the guy responsible for this festival of music.  It was called “Hunterfest,” aptly named for the band that he is part of called “Mr. Hunter.”  I saw an ad for this fest that they had posted on Craigslist and it seemed to be something I would enjoy.  After about 45 minutes of set up, Mr. Hunter came on and played a nice set.

They began with a jam and then a cover of Rolling Stones.  So far so good.   Then they came on strong with a cover of Breathe by Floyd and tucked a couple of other songs in between the intro and the Reprise.  I was impressed as that song is on my list.  They continued to play a mix of covers and originals, but their covers were unique in that they weren’t just covers, but alterations, adding a Jam Band sort of feel to a rock and roll groove.  This was my cup of tea.

The singer was outstanding.  She seemed to be either new or filling in as she read the words from sheets, but after her nerves settled, she really fell into the groove.   Not much dancing going on here, but a lot of foot tapping and head bobbing.  They took a song by Collective Soul and added texture to it.  That was unique.

I enjoyed this festival.  It could have been promoted more and maybe more people would have shown up, but heads like me were probably down at Times Square for Phil and Bobby anyway so it was understandable that the crowd was thin.  Nonetheless, it was a good time and this band has potential for success.  I gave an ample compliment to the singer after the show.  I went to say hey to the guitarist and founder of the festival, but he had already taken off.  Maybe he was heading to see Phil? So hey, thanks for the festival Chris.

Anyway, the real highlight of my day came when I glanced over and saw the lady that I had spoken to earlier, you know, the one who told me I should come back.  Turns out, she was one of the artists that were displaying their works.  I hadn’t even payed attention to the art as I was so focused on the music.  But during one of the songs, I peered over and was floored at how stunningly beautiful these pieces were;  Abstract design with radiating colors of a magical hue.  This is the kind of art that I dig.

I approached her after the show and we immediately were in tune in the conversation.  It was indeed her work and she was a traveling soul.  We spoke for some time about festivals and art and places where art thrives and Frida Kahlo and all sorts of other things.  Her friend was also very nice and we spoke for a bit as well.  These were kindred spirits; the type of person that I connect with, and the type of soul that is needed to keep this earth in balance.  May you both find ample amounts of joy and success on your endeavors and may prosperous times greet you wherever you may be.

By the way, her name is Alicia, and here is a link for her website…Artbyalicia

We parted on pleasant handshakes and smiles.  And I was off to capture my days events and upload them here, to this blog.  It is unfortunate that I couldn’t take more photos or have them uploaded right away.  Hopefully, soon, down the road, I will be able to share those pics with you.

This was a remarkable day filled with arts and entertainment, and most of all, positivity, which I needed more than almost anything else.  May this energy be passed on to you, the readers of this page.  Check out the artists and musicians I spoke of.  I feel it is my duty to share them with you, in case you haven’t seen or heard of them before.  Many thanks to all of them, to Central and Bryant Parks, and once again to NYC, for allowing a poor soul like myself the opportunity to enjoy music and arts for free, when I really needed them.  Peace.  See you tomorrow…

ONE LINE SUMMARY:  It is easy to feel less hungry when your are being fed free music all day!

>the dayscribber<

Screenwriting vs the Dogs!

Distractions are everywhere.  Today is no exception.

I am sitting here trying to scrib off some lines for a spec script I am working on, and for one reason or another, the dogs are barking.  Maybe they hear something outside, or maybe they just want to annoy me.  Either way, I am not getting much done.

Whereas your house or your office is normally the best place to find raised levels of production, sometimes distractions are just too frequent.  Barking dogs, the phone ringing, your grandmother talking about 1947, and the  TV shows that you would normally never watch are suddenly  masterpieces that you can’t miss.  Sometimes, you just need to get out of the office space you have built, and become part of a public office.  There are so many choices out there however and it may be difficult to choose one.

When choosing a place to write, you may try and find a location that provides a comfortable surrounding and a quiet workspace.  Sometimes however, noisy places provide just as much comfort. I have found several locations to fit the mold.  Here’s a list of three  places that I find less distracting and more inviting:

1. THE PARK:  If you have a park in the neighborhood where few kids frequent, this is a great spot to be creative.  Soak in the air and glance at the nature that surrounds you.  If in NYC, Central park is inspiring, besides its abundance of patrons, dogs, and kids.  Any park that is situated along a river is pleasantly inviting for a creative experience.  These outdoor areas offer the sounds of nature, and can provide you with  change of scenery and fresh air.  However, if you don’t have a battery that will last long on your laptop, and you aren’t the type to write by hand, I suggest-
2. A COFFEE HOUSE: Preferably a lesser known or local cafe versus the corporate chain.  I find that  the customers that  frequent such places are more likely to be the writer types.  Surrounding yourself with this type of character is beneficial to the comfort factor that encourages production and creativity; and I do find  establishments that encourage the arts and are locally owned to be more compassionate to an easily distracted soul like myself .  Locally owned businesses are like freelance writers; they are the underdogs in the overall scheme of the things and therefore I feel more at home in their environment!  A coffee house in general however, will provide you with a place to plug in your computer, a hot beverage, a pastry, and artistic surrounds, but if you find any coffee house to be distracting, why not try out-
3. THE MALL: I know what you are thinking here; no distractions at the mall?  But the truth is that there is so much going on at the mall at all times, that its easy to just sort of assimilate into the crowd and do your own thing. That’s not all!  There are also so many different types of people at the mall, that I can’t help but feel that this is a great space for finding inspiration for characters and ideas for dialogue.  Trust me,I have utilized things I have overheard at the mall for several of my half-written gems!  You may not like the mall, but you can’t overlook its scenery.  Plus, if you need a piece of pizza, some yogurt, or a useless accessory for your phone, you can find all of these things under one roof.  And, you may even score some free wi-fi along with ample amounts of benches and AC outlets.!

There are many many more places I could name, but I just wanted to get the ball rolling.  If you can recommend another one that’s off the radar, or just want to comment about my rants about local business, please leave a comment.  See you outside!

>the dayscribber<

MOTIVATION for the SCREENWRITER

This is a quick post for the budding screenwriters out there who are having a tough time writing today.
If you work alone, like I do, its easy to get distracted and procrastinate. I am doing it right now!
But here are some words from me to you to help you get motivated:
A SCREENPLAY IS NOT GOING TO BE PUBLISHED UNTIL IT IS COMPLETE. And its not going to be complete if you don’t work on it.
That’s it. Take what you want from that. Continued progress and success to you!

>The Dayscribber<

FADE TO: A Screenwriter’s Routine.

How many of you out there are self-disciplined?  Do you have the strength to get your writing done without being distracted by the noise of everyday life?  I  am not always such a person;  easily distracted by the most subtle  of sounds.   I  find it very difficult to concentrate and stay focused when things are going on around me.   What’s worse, is that I am distracted by the silence I encounter when I am alone; the ringing in my ears, I have concluded, are a means for my subconscious  to distract me from my goals and destroy any chance I have for success.  Go figure!

So knowing how I already behave going into the world of screenwriting, I have made several attempts to alter my habits and have tried to incorporate certain proven methods into my everyday existence.  These methods and habits may just allow me  to  hone in on my concentration and keep my levels of focus at their optimum.  Without such methods, I find myself to be wandering through the desert of imagination instead of picking apples  in the orchards of creativity. Such analogies are trite, but so are bad habits.

Many writers claim that the best way to break our old habits, is to create some new ones.

But what are appropriate habits for an easily distracted writer to have?  What method will not only force him to be more  productive, but will ultimately provide him a routine that will induce creativity?

CONSISTENCY !

Having consistency as a habit is sort of like providing your brain  a map ; it will almost always know where its going because it has taken that road before. So what then should you be doing consistently?

Here are three things I try and do on a consistent basis.   I find that these routines have helped me be more productive in my budding stages of being a writer:

• Write something as soon as you awake.   And It doesn’t matter what you write, or even how much, as long as you transfer  some thoughts from your head  to a written or typed form.  It can be something new, or an addition to something you’ve been working on(recommended.)   I find that getting up, going to the computer, and typing a few extra lines of a script I am in the middle of, motivates me to want to do more.  And I can do more during the day, after I truly wake up.  Getting that little bit of writing done first thing sets the tone for the rest of the day, and motivates me to want to get shit done.
• Read a portion of a professional screenplay everyday. I find that reading part of a  screenplay everyday reminds me that I have a lot of work to do in order to improve my style  and master the craft.  I also find that other writings inspire me to write, specifically if it’s a screenplay from a film that I enjoy.   A light comedy  has a tendency  to distract me from the stress I  have placed on myself  to finish my work, and  laughter can be a remedy for any ailment, including procrastination.
• Set and achieve a specific goal for each day by applying a reward system and self-discipline . I find that having goals is my new goal;  it gives me more things to to strive for.  Your goal for the week may be to type 30 pages, but your goal for the day may just be  5.    But the real goal should be the reward that you give yourself for achieving a goal, no matter how large or small the task. For example, I try not to eat certain snack foods until I complete a certain amount of writing; If I don’t finish it, I don’t have that snack(well, sometimes!) If you can be strict on yourself however, and apply effective methods of self-discipline, the rewards you set will motivate you to achieve your overall work goal.

So wake each day and type something.  Set your goals for the day and reward yourself for achieving these goals.   Read a portion of a professional screenplay. And then achieve some more goals!  A script won’t be published if it isn’t written…

In an upcoming forum, I will discuss other techniques for getting through the day.  Please feel free to comment and or offer further insight.  FADE OUT:

INT. CLASSIFIEDS – SCREENWRITERS WANTED – REALLY?

This is not a classified ad for a screenwriter position.  It sure looked promising though, didn’t it?  It probably offered you a brief moment of hope.  Well, that feeling you may have had when you clicked on this post is a feeling I get when perusing for possible job leads on the inter-tubes.  And I wanted to talk about the ads that cause these promising feelings.  I want to know if they are worth my time or just a waste of time;  after all, I am still just an amateur with no proven skills.   Are these ads legit? Do they offer valid hope for an inexperienced writer?  Are they legit even for the experienced writer? This is what I want to know, and perhaps you clicked here because you want to know too.

So I search the inter-webs, almost on a daily basis, looking for that one opening, that portal, that brief window of opportunity that will allow me  into the world of professional screenwriting.  But here’s the problem that I encounter; I have no published writing samples.  Everything that I have written to this point, has been on my own time, in my own space. And as a newbie to the world of blogging, I have very limited experiences to share with a potential employer that would  even remotely express the capabilities that I feel that I have as a budding writer.  I start this writing off, this way, so that I may try and  work through some ideas on how to  get myself into that world, without having the experiences that almost anyone in the field of production would be looking for.  I am posting this in hopes that others who have replied to ads like those seen on sites like Craigslist.org can offer their experiences and offer some insight as to whether or not they have found success or have been left to ponder as I do.

The first thought that comes to mind in relation to this subject is, “Can an unpublished writer land a gig through an online ad.”  What I don’t know is just how many people are replying to such ads.  If you are an aspiring writer with little or no experience, and you have responded to any of these ads, please share your experience with me. I want to know the success rates of such experiences, and whether or not I am kidding myself by believing that I can find a gig this way.

The next thought I have  is about self-publishing.  I have enough things written from my own spare time that I feel could  build up my presence on a web page, or on a blog, should I choose to post them.  By publishing things in this manner,  I should be able to create a more accurate picture relating to the nature of my talents.  As someone who has been very reluctant to share his work with anyone over the years however, it is a daunting task to just post such work on a public forum with the hopes of gaining positive feedback, or constructive criticism.  But one of the  recurring thoughts that an aspiring writer like myself has, is that  “if I don’t show my work, then no one will see it;  and if no one sees it, I can’t prove my talents and build web presence.”  And my guess, is that without web presence, or a portfolio of completed works, it will be a very difficult task to get noticed by those production companies or independent film makers who seek screenwriters for their projects.  But I just don’t know all the avenues just yet, and this is one purpose in posting this topic.

So, if you have an opinion on this topic and/or suggestions as to the proper way  way to build a portfolio of work without being officially published, please share it with me . This journey isn’t just for me, it’s for all of us talented writers who are scared of the implications of the business end of the creative world, and who haven’t yet taken that leap forward into the world of professional screenwriting; a place we strive to be part of.

And that is where I start this journey; by asking questions to both the experienced and the aspiring writers out there, in an attempt to get some answers to the questions that people like myself have in regards to the screenwriting profession.  I have another blog just getting going at the dayscribber. It is brand new like this one, so be patient.  If you like what I have to say here, follow me on both; it is bound to get better, all the time.

FADE OUT:

INT. DAYSCRIBBER’S MIND – PRESENT

As he types on his LAPTOP, the soothing sounds of REGGAE blend with the humorous opinions of JOY BEHAR and THE VIEW; he is after all staying with some family, and they do enjoy their TELEVISION.  Where his production levels are slightly stunted, his IMAGINATION is  in full motion; there is after all, no better inspiration for writing than one’s own FAMILY.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. DAYSCRIBBER’S JOURNEY – THE NEXT ENTRY