Birthing Babies and Business Marketing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFpNXtSjHfY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I had this marketing epiphany after seeing The Business of Being Born on Netflix. If you're a midwife, you have a business. Here are 2 things any business should keep in mind when marketing their stuff.

▶ Disney's "Frozen" and Casting question - Entreperformers

▶ Disney's "Frozen" and Casting question - YouTube: ""

As Disney changes the storylines and stereotypes to support different cultural norms, I had some thoughts about casting actors for roles and what "brand" we all project.

*Apologies to Lauren Abrams for the impersonation, as it was only a facebook conversation.
The voice I heard was strictly in my head... but I'm pretty sure it was close.

When people think of you, what are they thinking?

Sam Harris Speaks Plainly, but POWERFULLY

A Punch From Sam Harris

Maybe you don't know Sam Harris, but he's the author of several books including one I recently read "The Moral Landscape", which blew my mind.

It was about the SCIENCE of Morality.

Have you ever thought about that?
Is there a way to create a moral society using SCIENCE?
I hadn't but after reading that book, I think we can. However, there are a few things we're going to have to face about our current state of how we measure morality.

WARNING- This video may change your life.

Sam Harris - Morality and the Christian God - YouTube: ""
That video is pretty powerful to me, and I hope it is to you.

Maybe it opened your mind to loo around at things that we take for granted.
It did for me.

What was powerful for you in this?

Carlos Acosta, Reluctant Ballet Dancer Amazes The World

Carlos Acosta's story is inspiring to me.

He grew up in the slums of Cuba (Isn't communism supposed to avoid that?) where his father INSISTED he learn ballet... and now he dances all over the world, and THE CHICKS DIG HIM.

Now why did I have to bring that part into it?

See, when I was in Elementary school, we had BALLET HISPANICO across the street from my school, and I remember visiting. I remember us running across the floor, and jumping over an imaginary hole in the ground, and I also remember wanting to be a little more "graceful" about it.

But I also remember wanting girls to like me,
And Ballet isn't macho.

YES, I've seen Billy Elliot and all of that, but I'm just saying that it must have been hard for Carlos Acosta to grow up wanting to be macho in Cuba, but taking ballet all the time. The thing is, now he's got that "Cuban Machismo" (not my words!) and a powerful, confident body.

I'm pretty sure the chicks dig him ;-)

So my question for you is:
What kind of obstacles have you encountered in your art as an actor or performer?
What kind of self-doubt has crept up for you, and how do you overcome it when it comes up?

You Can Move Forward Even If This Hasn't Happened Yet

This might be a little "New Age" or a little "Therapeutic", but this is a good lesson for me about being able to move forward even if everything isn't emotionally stable for you.

Carrie Underwood Thanksgiving - YouTube: ""

Also, the idea that Carrie Underwood is doing Sound Of Music LIVE seems silly, and straight out of that Bill Murray movie SCROOGED.

Black Friday WORKOUT (At Home) - YouTube

The Thanksgiving Day / Black Friday At Home Workout

If you are going to eat as much as I plan to, you should probably figure out a way to work it off. I am working out on Thanksgiving day, since it's Thursday, and I work out on a Tuesday, Thursday, Weekend Schedule.

If you read "Half-Assed Health How to Look Good Naked WITHOUT Starving, Suffering, Or Surgery", then you'd know that I only work out 3 days a week, for about 30 minutes. You can knock this at home workout out in super fast time, and feel good, ready to eat your face off!


Black Friday WORKOUT (At Home) - YouTube:

You might notice that this is very similar to the Hurricane Sandy Workout... because they're the same thing.
Go for it today, and pick up a copy of the book for your end-of-year resolutions coming up!

Julie Taymor's Midsummer Night's Dream

Hanging out with actors, talking about Julie Taymor

Last night we went to see Julie Taymor's Midsummer Night's Dream in Brooklyn.

We went to see a friend Roger Clark, who I'm pretty sure was born to play regal characters, and will for the rest of his thick-beard having life. Good work Roger. 

I expected a lot from the production, since it was so well reviewed, and it is Julie Taymor. 

This is now the 3rd Midsummer performance I've seen out of the 5 Shakespeare shows in 2 months. 

That's a lot of Shakespeare.



https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=RVmCka_DsfE

Although I found a number of enjoyable things about this production, the one from The Titan Theatre Company I saw and wrote about (and saw TWICE) has probably ruined this play for me.

It was that wonderful.

The Julie Taymor production had some cool harnesses and projections, but where was the story?

Sure it was cool to see a puppet donkey head on Bottom, but then any jokes made by him were impossible to appreciate.

Yes, the forest of sticks made me understand that the characters were in the woods, but I wanted to feel the fun of it, not the dread. 

It felt like someone forgot that the show was a comedy. 

Titan Theatre Company's production never let my smile leave my face.

So my question is, what kind of impression do you want to leave your audience with?