BOY WITHOUT A BAND

I've recently been directing a concert for a solo artist. He has an amazing voice and commands your attention on stage. Its a pop/rock concert of covers and one original song. As I sit in rehearsal, much like Fergie, I cant help sittin and reminiscin bout when I had a Mustang.....never actually had one...wanted one...Mayte got one....me...Ford Taurus...but, point being.....

Back in the day, When I was a child and adults would ask that inevitable question, What do you want to be when you grow up? My answers were always consistent. The answers always changed, but the profession stayed the same.

5 year old Alex: I want to be a pastor.

Maria Elena: Hwhy?

5 year old Alex: because they get to stand up in front of all the people and tell stories and he wears a costume and then he passes a plate around and people fill it with money for his stories.

...as the years went on...the focus sharpened.

6yr. old Alex: I don't know yet, but right now I want to be on Kids Incorporated.

8yr. old  Alex: I want to be Kevin Bacon in Footloose.

11yr. old Alex: I want to be Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing...ok, maybe I want to be Jennifer Grey.

12yr. old Alex: I want to be a Janet Jackson back up dancer.

13yr. old Alex: I want to be a Paula Abdul back up dancer.

13 1/2yr. old Alex: I want to be Paula Abdul (specifically in the Cold Hearted video)

I'm 35 now and although I just carry a tune and was only an ok dancer.....I still secretly think I should have been a New Kid....and definitely know Nsync would still be together with my presence.....and wish the fountain of youth were real so I could drink and audition for Glee, NOT for the part of a teacher.

I eventually found theatre....fell in love and never looked back. Had affairs with improv. A one night stand with stand-up.....and have been dating writing for a few years now. I think I'm ready to declare love at first sight....with directing!

The best part is....I can now put to use all my elementary school training! AAANNND....I now see a reason for everything.

There was a reason I practiced Janet's back-of-chair-stepdown from Pleasure Principal in the back yard until I bled.

There was a reason I tried to grow a rat tail and stole a black vest with gold buttons from Chess King.

There was a reason I videotaped 5 yr. old Mayte wearing one of Maria Elena's bras with white cones taped to it lip syncing to "Vogue"! (yes, this video exists...and it is coming soon to a youtube near you)

So if your little kid is currently trying to get themselves in your family's birdcage to lip sync Miley Cyrus to you...they cannot be tamed! Applaud!

If your baby Gaga is trying to glue an entire telephone to their head in order to make you a sandwich they are pretending is poisoned....eat it...and then give back a little monster claw!

Encourage all of it, because they might become the next Baz Luhrman.....or at least a 35 year old who wants to be him when he grows up.

Come see muh show, NYC betches!