Hello people of the interwebs,
It has been a very long time since I last posted. I always told myself I would resume this blog when I finally had something exciting enough going on in my life to share, but I guess my standards of exciting are just a bit too high. Let's do a recap of what's happened since my last blog post just over two years ago. There's a lot, so I'm going to do it in a list form, like I did with my old Myspace "about me" section. I may also use this form for my "about me" in my dating profiles. That might explain why I'm not very successful at internet dating... but I digress.
In housing and jobs:
-I moved to NYC (Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, to be precise)
-I initially got a job as "administrative support" (office bitch) at a private label clothing design company in Herald Square. I may write a few posts about this job alone, as it was a real learning experience. By learning experience, I mean it sucked and taught me how to live off nothing.
-I then moved to Astoria, Queens.
-I got a job at a bar in Astoria as a barback, then bartender. I made no money, but got a lot of experience drinking my ass off for free until 7 in the morning.
-I then got a job as a barback, then bartender, at the world famous Tavern On The Green. This job was so crazy that I am writing an entire web series based off it.
-I then got a job as a bartender at a Hell's Kitchen beer bar with some pretty weird owners. It didn't work out for long.
-I did random catering work, including at the Kaballah Center that Madonna goes to. It was honestly pretty weird.
-Now I'm at another Hell's Kitchen bar/restaurant a few blocks down bartending. It's pretty fun, though the money's not great.
In life experiences
-I've mastered bottomless brunch.
-I've seen Rock of Ages, Macbeth, and Book of Mormon on Broadway.
-I've skated in Bryant Park.
-I've gone on midnight bike rides through Central Park.
-I once partied too hard and woke up on St. Patrick's Cathedral's steps with a half eaten pie. I proceeded to attend the first service and get right with Jesus.
-I've been to PDT, a speakeasy you enter through a phone booth.
-I've had beers on a rock on the East River during low tide where I discussed life, love, and other things with some close friends.
-I've ridden the Hudson River Trail on my bike more times than I can count.
-I've been in two accidents on my bike: one with a taxicab undercover cop car and another with a UPS truck. Both were my fault. Always wear a helmet.
-I've won multiple happy hours that I milked for all they were worth.
-I've been a regular at Rudy's, probably the greatest dive bar in the world. $5 shots of Bushmill and a beer, $8 pitchers, and free Hebrew National hotdogs! What more could you want?!
-I've done after hours at a bar until seven in the morning
-I've seen John Legend play in Central Park really early in the morning.
-I bartended the premiere of Gone Girl.
-I worked the Opening Night Gala of Tavern On The Green.
-I've seen a bunch of celebrities (but it's New York, whaddaya expect?).
-I've gotten bottle service at a fancy club for free.
-I've gone up the Empire State Building and 30 Rock for business.
-I've lived off canned green beans for weeks.
-Also, dollars slices.
-I've traveled to Atlantic City, Washington D.C., and San Diego.
-I've given the Local New Yorker's Tour to countless friends and family.
-I've always worn Detroit stuff around the city to rub it in people's faces that The D has better sports teams.
-I was in the city during the NYC Superbowl. The activities were set up on Broadway outside my office.
-I've met a guy on Craigslist who gave me a phone holder for my guitar in exchange for a story. I told him about my close calls with Spring Awakening, GLEE, and RENT. It was actually pretty awesome.
-I've tried my best to avoid Times Square.
-I've been to see rocks shows in small clubs.
-I've been to beaches on the Atlantic Ocean.
-I've partied on a rooftop bar.
-I've partied on friend's rooftops.
-I've spent countless nights at home doing nothing but watching Netflix or Hulu.
-I watched my WMU Broncos in March Madness from a bar in Times Square where I was the only alum who showed up for a viewing party. They gave me all the free swag. I was ok with that.
-I've met some wonderful women (one that stands out in my mind) in the city who I spent a lot of time with, basically dated, but never had titles. Just because I haven't had a girlfriend since I've been here doesn't mean I haven't dated.
-I've met some people with the coolest life stories that I will forever cherish.
-I've recorded music in my small NYC bathroom for my Great-Grandmother's funeral. Not my happiest moment, but I'm glad I could do it. RIP Grandma Fridd.
-I came home to be the Best Man in my best friend's (Adam and Bailey Snider's) wedding after I was the Reverend at their first one in Hawaii. That's right, I got ordained online.
-I missed my first holiday meal with my family. It was Thanksgiving. It sucked.
-I've had to go to court against a former employer. I won. They suck.
-I have mastered the art of walking incredible distances in the city.
-One of my best friends from all the way back to middle school, Matt Mejia, moved in a block away. We're closer in distance than when we basically lived off the same road in Tecumseh.
-I've had some serious highs and deep lows, but I wouldn't trade them for the world. I LOVE NY!
In what I actually came here to do (i.e. acting, singing, writing, playing music, attempting to dance):
-I got a freelance manager who submits me for work and took voice lessons from his wife (a fantastic vocal coach).
-I've performed at the Lincoln Center about three times, singing, playing guitar, and playing piano.
-I've performed in a performance art piece in the Upper East Side that paid very well.
-I've done background work on Power, Law And Order: SVU, and Blue Bloods.
-I've had a crap ton of callbacks for a few productions of Rock Of Ages.
-I had an audition for an off-broadway show with Tony nominated director/choreographer Lynne Taylor-Corbett (of Swing! and Titanic), in which she told me I was the best audition for the role she had seen, but that I was a few years too young. She then proceeded to put my headshot into her bag and said she wanted to make sure she kept it for future productions.
-My mother made me sing a song while I was plastered at the famous Don't Tell Mama piano bar in Hell's Kitchen on Restaurant Row. I chose to do Gethsemane from Jesus Christ Superstar. If any of you know theatre, it's a hard-ass song to sing. I killed it. The whole room cheered. They then had me sing one or two more songs and the manager asked me for my headshot. I have since had a callback for them.
-I joined a company called The Actor's Project, which I will be rededicating my time to soon.
-I am currently filming a short film that may be submitted to some major film festivals and am in the process of writing a web series that I'm going to film this summer.
So, for those of you who keep asking what I'm doing and when/if I'll consider moving back home or out to LA, you can now see that I'm doing work here. I'm not going to quit anytime soon. They say if you make it within five years in New York you're an overnight sensation. I've still got three years until I even hit that mark. All of that being said, if any of you know any people working in the industry in NYC or LA, I'd love to meet them. Unfortunately, the reality of the career path I've chosen is that connections often trump talent. Not always, though.
I plan to soon write another blog where I return to true (and improved) form. Expect it to be less family friendly than this post, which I kept relatively tame for my family members who keep questioning what's going on in my life.
I'm going to keep on keeping on. I knew this path would be the hard one when I chose it and I'm not going to give up anytime soon. It'll all be worth it when my name is up there in lights.
